phone away, and Teddy had to do an awkward little twist-dive to avoid him. “We left the brochures and stuff with her, but I doubt she’s going to look at them. They’re probably already chucked into her sterling silver recycling bin.”
“I told you our success was going to rely on you and Romeo and not the promo materials.”
Great. “What kind of test is she giving us?” Teddy demanded, hoping there was no hint of a whine.
“I can’t tell you. I promised her. It wouldn’t be fair. Just follow her instructions, okay?”
He wanted to point out that it also wasn’t fair to be tested when he didn’t know on what or according to which rubric, but he glared at Romeo instead. Romeo glared back.
Teddy sighed. “How long is this going to take?”
“Three more days. Skyler’s changed your plane and hotel reservations. Can you stay in Seattle that long, or is there something you need to get back home for right away?”
A tiny apartment with drafty windows. A job that might or might not still exist when the week was up. A social life less exciting than his eighty-year-old grandmother’s. “I guess not,” he admitted.
“Okay, good. What about you, Romeo?”
Romeo shrugged. “I can stay.”
That was interesting. Was his life as stripped-down as Teddy’s? Maybe, but that train of thought could wait for later. Much later.
“Lauren, we ended up sharing a room, and there’s only one bed. The hotel people said nothing else is available.”
There was a long pause before she responded, and when she spoke, her tone was careful. “I’m sorry, guys. Is this a problem?”
Well, shit. If Teddy said it was a problem, he was going to look like a difficult little asshole. And anyway, sharing with Romeo wasn’t painful. In fact, sharing a bed with Romeo was the opposite of painful, and that was the real problem.
Teddy took the coward’s way out. “I’m fine,” he said. “But Romeo might not be comfortable with it.”
Romeo narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. “I’m fine too!” he said emphatically.
“Good,” she said. “Remember, we’ve got a lot at stake here. I want—we all want—Reddyflora to succeed.”
“Yeah. I know.” The weight of responsibility made his shoulders sag.
“So roll with the punches, okay? I need you guys to do your best. It’ll be worth the hassle if Joyce backs us. And you guys will get juicy bonuses.” Then she ended the call, leaving Teddy and Romeo to stare at each other.
“I’m not a prima donna,” Romeo said. “And I don’t think you have cooties. I’m an adult.” He looked hurt, as if he’d been offended by the suggestion that he was too delicate to deal with Teddy’s company.
“A lot of adult men would object to sharing a bed with another man. Especially with a gay man.”
A hint of a smile tugged at Romeo’s lips. “That’s because they think they’re irresistible. Like, just because a dude’s into other dudes, that means he can’t stop throwing himself at all other men. Especially straight ones.”
Slowly blinking, Teddy felt realization dawn. It wasn’t that Romeo had failed to ping Teddy’s gaydar, but rather that Teddy hadn’t thought about that aspect of him at all. Romeo was the annoying snob who’d claimed the second-most-prime office and who ruined Teddy’s designs with bulky tech stuff. It was immaterial what—or rather, who—floated his boat. Except...over the past twenty-four hours, Teddy had learned that his previous assumptions about Romeo were off base. And hey, shock! Romeo was a human being with wants and needs. And desires.
“Are you into other dudes?” Teddy asked.
“Some of them.”
A blush heated Teddy’s skin. “I didn’t mean—I wasn’t trying to—”
“I’m pan. I’ve been attracted to people of various genders. Um, not that I’ve dated that many of them. I haven’t...” He looked away as his voice trailed off.
“I get it. Work sucks up all of your time.”
Although Romeo looked as if he wanted to say something, he just pressed his lips together and gave a small nod.
The conversation had gotten surprisingly personal, and it made Teddy uncomfortable. Anyway, they needed to be concentrating on Joyce and her mysterious tests.
“I’m glad you’re understanding. I promise I’m not going to sexually harass you. I’m not interested in anyone anyway.”
Romeo tilted his head. “But you said—”
“I’m done with anything remotely resembling romance. It never works out for me. I’m spending the next five to ten years focusing entirely on my career, and I can worry about love later, when I’m established.” He’d made that resolution shortly after Gregory broke up with him,