If I Told You (17 page)

On Sunday night, as I stand in the living room, my breath catches when Flynn walks out of his bedroom. He’s wearing a suit, and he looks fucking amazing in suits. His hair is perfectly styled, he’s clean shaven, and basically the sexiest man alive.

“You look great,” he says, when he sees me.

“You too.” I exhale slowly. “Is it weird that I’m nervous?”

“Kind of. You know all of us. I’m the one that should be nervous.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s a series of first. First time hanging with Jill, Rhys, and the first time I’m going on a double date with you. The last time we went on a date, it was ours.”

“Formally speaking, I guess. We go out all the time though.”

“Right, but not under the title of a date.”

“True. Maybe it just makes me a little nervous that I know Rhys is going to be paying attention to every little interaction between us.”

“And?” he asks, walking toward me. “We have nothing to hide.”

The fuck we don’t. “Right, but our friendship is unconventional, to the say the least.” The intercom buzzes indicating Rhys’s arrival.

“Don’t be worried.” He smiles. “Ready to go?”

“Let’s do this.”

We walk out and head down the elevator meeting Rhys in the lobby. He greets me with a smile and a sweet kiss on the cheek, then shakes hands with Flynn.

“You know Jill’s address?” Rhys asks as we pile into the car.

“I do.” I give it to the driver and sit back in the seat, next to Rhys and across from Flynn. Rhys rests his hand on my thigh, and I just smile in response, while Flynn looks out the window.

“So, Flynn,” Rhys begins. “First date with Jill?”

“Yep.” He nods, not offering anything else.

“Well, hopefully it will be a good one. Have you heard of the place we’re going?”

“I looked it up after Brooks told me about it. Sounds interesting.”

“I thought so. The co-owner and I go way back. I knew him in college. It’s his little brother’s baby,” he smiles, “so I hope it’s good.”

“Are you reviewing?” Flynn asks.

“Not tonight. It’s a soft opening. Just a few close friends and family invited to help kick things off. I’ll go back once it’s more established. There will be kinks to work out and that’s just not fair to do to a new restaurant.”

“That’s thoughtful of you,” I say.

“I’m not a total dick.”

I laugh. “You’re not a dick at all.”

“Tell that to the nine restaurants that received negative reviews from me. Some of them even closed.”

“Yeah, Flynn told me about that.”

Flynn nods. “I follow your reviews. I’ve eaten at the some of places you’ve been, and I mostly agreed with you.”

“Any that you disagreed with?” he asks.

Flynn seems to think for a moment. “Just one that really stands out. It was Rascals on Fifth. You said the service was atrocious, but the food was worth dealing with it. I went a week after your review was published. It must’ve been a bad night because the service was fine, but the food was bad. My steak was overcooked and Brooklyn’s pasta was cold.”

“Oh, you went with him?”

That’s his takeaway from the story? “I did.”

Rhys nods. “Well that’s unfortunate. I hoped they would work out the problem with the rude wait staff while maintaining their food quality.”

“Could’ve just been a bad night when we went,” Flynn says.

“Do you two go out to eat a lot?”

I shake my head and start to answer, but Flynn does instead.

“No. We stay home a lot. I work late hours obviously and Brooklyn goes to bed early a lot with her studio schedule. Usually I cook or we order in, or we don’t see each other at all for days at a time, except maybe for a brief cup of coffee in the morning. Occasionally though, I want to go out and get a good meal with someone that I don’t have to fuck afterwards. Sometimes, I just want to eat with a friend. Brooklyn’s my friend.”

Rhys smiles. “Fair enough, Chef.”

The conversation ceases as we pull up in front of Jill’s apartment. Flynn steps out to go to her door.

“Are you satisfied now?” I ask.

“With what?”

“My relationship with Flynn.”

“Just asked a question. Nothing wrong with that is there?”

“No.”

“Kiss me, Brooklyn. I’m dying over here.”

I nod as his lips close over mine, and his hands move behind my neck, pulling me closer. As we kiss, I remind myself that this is who I want. Rhys is available to me in every way that Flynn isn’t. This is good.

We separate as Flynn and Jill come back to the car, joining us.

“Hi, Brooklyn,” Jill says.

“Hi. This is Rhys Camden. Rhys, this is Jill.”

They shake hands. “Nice to meet you,” Rhys says.

The driver pulls onto the street as we start our drive to Brooklyn. Jill fills the car with chatter, and I can tell she’s nervous to be with Flynn. For his part, he seems interested. Rhys holds my hand in his, and I find it both possessive and sweet. He definitely wants Flynn to know he’s into me, as if he didn’t already know. Rhys is wasting his energy though. Flynn might be physically attracted to me on some level, but he doesn’t give a fuck who I date. Not one single fuck.

After a while we pull up in front of the restaurant and walk inside. Rhys is greeted like a king, which I guess in this world, he is. After introducing us to the chef and his brother, we’re led to an intimate table for four, tucked in a corner with the best view of the dining room and kitchen. Jill continues chattering about the décor, the table, the lighting. Flynn nods and smiles, keeping his attention on her which makes me happy. Jill needs a guy like Flynn to remind her she’s attractive and funny and kind. She looks great tonight too in a form fitting black dress and spiky heels. Her equally black hair is piled into a messy bun with tendrils falling down around her face. Her blue eyes pop from smoky gray eye makeup and she leaves nothing to the imagination in the cleavage department. In contrast, I went with barely-there makeup, loose, wavy hair, and a nude colored dress with heels to match. She’s like the yin to my yang tonight. I wonder what Flynn thinks. Is he attracted? Will he fuck her tonight? Do I want him to?

“Whatcha thinking?” Rhys whispers, as he nibbles my earlobe.

“Just about the menu.”

“We’ll get some wine ordered soon.”

“Cool.”

“Did I tell you that you look breathtaking tonight?”

“No.”

“Well you do. Incredible.”

“Thank you.”

“Still panty-less under there?”

“I don’t even own a pair.”

“Jesus, you’re fucking hot.”

“So are you, Rhys.”

“A true compliment coming from you.”

“Don’t give me that. You know you are.”

He grins, running his finger under my chin. “Yes, but when it’s recognized by someone as exquisite as you, it feels better.”

“You’re such a flatterer.”

“Is it working?”

“Yeah, it is.”

Rhys laughs, getting the attention of our dining companions. We look up as a server drops off a bottle of wine for us and fills our glasses. Rhys lifts his glass.

“A toast to new friends.” We clink glasses and sip the wine.

“This is so good,” Flynn comments.

“I agree,” Rhys says, swirling his glass around. “We should find out what it is. Perhaps Flynn’s could offer it.”

“Yeah, it would rock with some Italian food.” He glances at Jill. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s good enough to drink.” She laughs, looking at me. “Brooklyn?”

“I like it, but I’m easy to please.”

“I don’t think that’s true at all,” Rhys says, grinning.

“When it comes to wine, it is.”

“I’d like to find out about the rest.”

“Maybe you will.”

Flynn clears his throat. “There are other people at the table with you.”

Rhys chuckles, nodding. “Forgive me. I get a little carried away around Brooklyn.”

“You and every other guy,” Jill says, before taking a sip of wine.

“That isn’t true,” I say.

“Yeah it is.” She pats Rhys’s hand. “You should see the looks on men’s faces when they walk in and she’s at the front. It’s like those cartoons where their eyes pop out of their heads.” She laughs. “I imagine they get instant wood, too.”

“Oh my God,” I mutter, before drinking more wine. “You’re no slouch either.”

“Compared to you?”

“Don’t say that about yourself,” Rhys says, softly. “You’re quite lovely, too.”

Jill’s cheeks turn pink. “Thank you. It’s just that… nothing. You guys don’t need to hear this stuff.”

“What?” Flynn asks.

“Honestly? I’m sitting with three of the most spectacular looking people I’ve ever seen. Ever. I don’t know how I got here.”

“Jill…” I say, softly, grabbing her hand. “You’re beautiful.”

“I’m pretty. You’re beautiful.”

I start to open my mouth, but Rhys speaks first. “That’s where you’re wrong, Jill. I’ll agree with you that we’re a table of very good looking people, but you’re included in that. Am I right, Flynn?”

“Absolutely. When Brooklyn suggested a double date with you, I didn’t even hesitate. Right, Brooks?”

“Right. He didn’t.”

Jill shakes her head. “Thanks, guys. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to dump my fragile self esteem on everyone. I just went through a breakup and it’s shaken me a little.”

“His loss,” Rhys says.

“Thank you.” She puts her napkin down. “Excuse me. I need to go to the ladies.”

“I’ll go with you,” I say, standing with her.

We walk off leaving the guys alone.

I watch Brooklyn and Jill walk away then turn my attention back to Rhys. “You’re pretty good at knowing the right thing to say, I see.”

“It was genuine.”

“I don’t doubt it. Jill is pretty. It’s unfortunate she doesn’t see it.”

“Well, she does have a point about Brooklyn. It’s hard to see anyone else when she’s around. Don’t you think?”

“I don’t look at her that way.”

“No?” He swirls his wine. “Surely you notice her beauty.”

“I’d be blind if I didn’t. It’s just that I see so much more that I’m not distracted by it anymore.” If only that was true.

“I can’t say the same.”

“Understandable.” I look around the restaurant for an awkward moment. “So, thanks for the invite. It’s cool you thought of me.”

“Sure. Chefs usually enjoy trying new places.”

“I do.”

“And I figured since I plan to be in Brooklyn’s life for a long time, you and I might as well get comfortable with each other.”

I nod. “That’s cool.”

“Is it?”

I sigh. “Listen, Rhys. You seem like a cool guy. I respect you a great deal professionally. Personally, I’m totally fine with you dating Brooklyn. Truth be told, if Brooklyn and I wanted to fuck, we would’ve by now. I’ve known her for years, I’ve lived with her for years. You in her life doesn’t change a damn thing. Can we just let it go?”