Page 74 of The Hang Up

They were so cute together. Perfect for each other. And I wasn’t sure if anyone else noticed the way Ben reacted to the hint of authority in Sean’s tone.

Sean and I were still close, but we were no longer roommates. Sean had moved in with Ben. And I had moved in with Joshua. We’d stayed connected, and although we shared a lot, we didn’t tell each other everything. Sean didn’t want to know certain things about his dad, and I really didn’t need any details on Ben wanting to be tied up during sex.

“I thought you had to be there two years to become a supervisor.” I still hadn’t gotten the whole story. Sean and Ben glanced at each other, and Matthew grinned. Yup. There was a story there.

“Joel got fired,” Sean said. “Mr. Odell finally got tired of his man—” He seemed to realize what he was saying as he darted a glance at Ben and shrugged. “He needed to go.”

“Here’s to one less prick at Coxx Communications,” Matthew said, raising his glass. Everyone toasted with a cheer.

Nevaeh returned to take our order, and I ordered the ribeye. It was exceptional here.

As she started to leave, I snagged her apron. “Is Chef good with you playing server?” I asked in a low voice. Mitch was telling a story about Joshua and a fundraiser in Des Moines that I’d heard a million times. No one was paying attention to us.

“What he doesn’t know—”

“He doesn’t know?”

“Chef had to leave. Some emergency.”

“You guys are short a cook?” And not just any cook. The one in charge. I started to stand.

“Stop, Brock. We have it handled. We called in Yancy.”

Ugh. I still didn’t like Yancy. But he’d lost some of his attitude and was a talented chef. Still arrogant though.

“The point is…we’ve got this. And,” she added, with a glint in her eyes, “I’d rather be working than at home.”

I laughed. “Is tonight the girls’ sleepover?”

“We have ten seven-year-olds at our house.” Nevaeh shook her head. “Missy loves this stuff. She had a big family. I’d much rather sweat over a hot stove so my boo can have a night out with his man.” She winked at me and was off.

“Did someone mention a sleepover?” Joshua said, threading our fingers together and ignoring the conversation going on around us. “I’m down for that.”

My face fired up faster than a gas burner, and it felt just as hot. Joshua and I had finally gotten comfortable enough in our relationship and our past to do a little role-playing. He would have never taken advantage of me as a teen or even thought of me in that way, but it seemed grown-up Brock playing out his teenage fantasies was a total turn-on for him.

“I would like to enjoy my meal without the distraction of a hard-on, thank you very much. But if you’re good, we can consider having a sleepover.”

“With dessert?”

“Of course. We always need dessert.”

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