Page 51 of Unrequited Sloth

“I think Sergio wants to drag you back to his cave.”

Gabriel snorted, but also flushed with embarrassment, so it came out as more of a pig grunt. He’d done it before, and Bobby usually made the same noise back at him. Not today. He still had a moody look on his face. His eyes looked over Gabriel’s shoulder, so he followed where he was looking. Sergio was watching them intensely, and it seemed these two men were in some kind of stare-off. Was Bobby jealous of Sergio? No, that couldn’t be it. He was probably just pissed off that Gabriel couldn’t keep him company tonight. They had fallen into a bit of a domestic routine the last few weekends. Bobby was just annoyed that Sergio had stolen his . . . well, the toy analogy kind of worked here, although Gabriel wasn’t sure about referring to himself that way.

“Maybe I want him to take me back to his cave,” Gabriel challenged.

“I thought you said you didn’t do that on the first date.”

Gabriel shrugged and went to walk away before Bobby grabbed him by the arm.

“You can’t go back with him,” said Bobby, who now had an angry look on his face.

“Why not?”

“It might not be safe. You hardly know him.”

Gabriel chuckled. “I’ve been back to guys’ houses and not even known their names.”

“What?”

“Bobby, what’s going on here? Is it because he’s your colleague?”

Gabriel found Sergio attractive, and there was chemistry there, but Bobby was his priority. If he was upset by Gabriel dating Sergio because they worked together, then he wouldn’t take things any further. His friendship with Bobby was too important to risk over something that might go nowhere beyond a few fucks.

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Then what’s the problem?” asked Gabriel, exasperated.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why the fuck not?”

“Because you’re my husband!” he shouted.

“Whoa!” said Sergio, who had appeared next to them. “You two are married?”

Gabriel glared at Bobby, who was smiling. The fucker had done that deliberately. He must have seen Sergio walking over. Why had he done that?

“It’s . . . complicated,” said Gabriel. What else could he say?

“Can I have a word, please, Gabriel?” asked Sergio.

“Of course. You stay here,” he added, pointing at Bobby.

He walked back over to the booth where he’d been having a lovely evening with Sergio until Bobby had arrived.

“No judgement from me, Gabriel, but I don’t get involved with poly guys. I only have monogamous relationships.”

“It’s not like that.”

“I thought Bobby was marrying a woman. I don’t know him that well, as we’re in different departments, but I didn’t even know he was queer.”

“He’s not. He was supposed to marry my sister on Valentine’s Day.”

Sergio’s eyes widened. “And he married her brother instead?”

“Long story short, she cheated with his best friend. We were on his stag do in Vegas. Got drunk. Woke up married. Getting it annulled.”

Sergio looked a bit surprised and then started laughing.