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I've made it my personal mission in life to make Marnus Brooks smile. A lot.
He does look tired. We've all been busting our asses today, but there's something more going on with him than just regular exhaustion.
I lower my head and find his eyes. "Would it make you feel better if I told you you're a disgusting human being who smells like a dehydrated fart?"
His lips twitch. "Actually yes, yes it would."
I laugh.
Fuck, I love this. Being stupid and goofing off with someone who's on the exact same wavelength as you, who totally one hundred percent gets you—there's no better feeling in the world.
Too bad Marnus is straight, and too bad I'm—
"But I really am tired, and I'm on the early shift tomorrow. As are you," he points out, tapping my chest.
I curl my fingers tightly around his wrist. Taking a step forward, I bring our bodies so close I can practically feel the heat emanating from him. "You weren't going to say goodbye to me?"
He shakes his head. "Nope. You only deserve this."
He wrangles out of my grip and gives me the finger, right up close in front of my face.
Grinning like the sexy fucker that he is, I bet he thinks he's got this one over me. Yeah, like I'd ever let that happen. I'll show him.
I lean forward and plop his finger into my mouth. His eyes widen, eyebrows making love to his hairline. There. That shut him up good.
"Uh… Pierce?"
My eyes snap open. Oh, shit. When did they close?
What is happening?
And why do I have a finger—my own fucking finger—in my mouth?
No wonder Marnus is gaping at me like I'm some sort of self-finger-licking bonehead.
I remove my finger from my mouth. "Right. Tired. Yeah. Same here."
Marnus gives me a look. It's the look he gives me from time to time. The look I'm scared to question because I'm afraid of what the answer might be. Sometimes, it's better being in the dark, living in a delusion, than confronting reality.
As long as I don't know what he's actually thinking, I can convince myself that there is something between us. Something more than just two friends fooling around and giving each other shit. Something deeper.
But what if I ask and find out that he legit thinks I'm just an idiot?
Nope. Can't risk that.
What Marnus and I have is more than just silly back-and-forth banter. It's my dream relationship. At least in my head. And due to the small matter of our incompatible sexualities, that's where it will have to stay.
Marnus is straight, and I have every intention of honoring that. I know better than most what it feels like when your own label isn't respected and gets thrown in your face. It's horrible, and I'd never treat him that badly.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Marnus asks, the dark, unreadable look still lingering in his hazel eyes.
I force a smile. "Yep. Bright and early."
* * *
Okay. So I got the early bit right. The bright part? Not so much.
Mornings are not my friend. If they started at ten or eleven, then things would be different. Or at the very least, tolerable. But as it stands, checking guests out at six thirty while trying to appear like a friendly human requires every ounce of my energy.
