Trade Deadline - Avon Gale Page 0,62

you can’t have kids if you are going to cuss literally in front of everyone always,” Justice hissed over his menu. “Also, are you a youth therapist with that mouth?”

“Kids these days still curse, Jus. Shockingly.”

Micah laughed at the two of them, examining his own menu and sipping his overpriced mimosa. It was a gorgeous day, the sun was shining, and he felt a lot better after a night of sleep. Bleu really did have the best brunch in a location easily accessible to everyone and with free parking, and it was a rare treat to see his friends two days in a row.

Micah also had a text from Daniel, that just said thank you for understanding, though there was no hint if he’d be coming to brunch today or not. Micah tried not to pay too much attention to the seat they’d left for him, just in case. Or to his phone, which remained obstinately silent with no new text notifications.

God, this was exactly the sort of uncertainty Micah hated in relationships. Other people loved the new, exciting phase, but not him. He was in the middle of trying to decide if he wanted to fill out the special omelet order form when a hush fell over the table, and the light, playful bickering stopped abruptly.

Glancing up, Micah smiled despite himself. Because there, standing tall and gorgeous and a little awkward, was Daniel. Holding a bouquet of flowers, which he held out with his usual charming grin—not to Micah, but the table at large.

“I hope one bouquet is enough, but, I wanted to say sorry for missing happy hour. I’m Daniel.”

Micah was flush with pleasure as Daniel took his seat, while Justice took the flowers and plunked them in the middle of their table. He made the introductions, and Daniel seemed his old self—happy to be there, chatty, just as good with people as he’d always been.

“I’m sorry I didn’t make it out last night,” he said, with complete sincerity. “I told Micah I was in a pretty bad mood, which I promise isn’t always the case after a loss. This one was just tough.”

“We heard the booing,” Bethany said. “They had the game on at the bar.”

“You could hear that?” Ash asked her wife.

“Um.” Bethany cleared her throat. “Yes?”

Daniel shook his head. “If that means they were booing at the bar, don’t worry, I know it happens. I once had a guy come up to me at Winn-Dixie in the produce aisle and tell me how I could fix my goaltending for the season. I’m not a goaltender,” he added, with a grin. “But I guess every fan is a coach.”

“I’ve never watched hockey in my life,” said Bethany. “But I was the president of the fencing team in college.”

“You went to one meeting and they made you president because you were the only undergraduate there,” Ash pointed out.

“Hi, we’re nice, I promise,” Quinton said, to Daniel. “But thanks for not coming out and being a bummer, it would have really ruined our drinking and talking about how much we hated the last episode of 90 Day Fiancé.”

“Don’t tell me,” Daniel said, his hand warm on Micah’s knee beneath the table. “I have it on my DVR for when I get home after practice. What’s good here, Micah?”

You and me, buddy. Micah smiled. “I like the omelets. They have healthy ones, too. And orange juice without champagne, you poor bastard.”

Brunch was a lively affair, with Daniel asking plenty of questions about Micah’s friends, clearly interested in Bethany’s youth center work and patiently answering all of Ashley’s questions about hockey players and their teeth. He and Quinton had the same taste in reality television, and Justice—who was trying to get into a new fitness routine—asked some questions about healthy protein supplements and weight training.

Daniel tried to pick up the check for missing out on happy hour, but was soundly vetoed and instead ended up with everyone buying his breakfast—very healthy omelet, wheat toast with no butter, champagne-less orange juice and all.

Micah’s phone started buzzing the second they were alone. A cursory glance showed a bunch of thumbs-ups on the group chat. “I think they liked you,” he said, showing the messages to Daniel—which, at that exact moment, featured Justice sending two eggplants and the water droplet emojis. Micah turned beet-red and Daniel just laughed and walked with him to his car.

“I’m sorry about last night,” Daniel said, once they were standing by Micah’s vehicle. “Are you mad at me?”

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