Love Him Free (On the Market #1) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,97

Simon all but whispered. His face was burning—everyone was staring. Everyone was staring, they were whispering. He heard the faint tittering of laughter—just like before, even if it wasn’t his date this time and…

“Hey.” A warm, strong arm curled around his waist, and another body slid up next to him. Simon’s eyes were blurred, but the voice was familiar as a hand plucked the card from his fingers and handed it off to the manager. “I think his date would like their stuff packed to take with them.”

The arm holding out the card wasn’t organic—it was sleek and black, with mechanical fingers. Simon turned his head fully and saw Parker Alling smiling at him. Beside him, the larger man, was Ronan looking gruff as ever with his heavy brows and scowl.

“Let’s head outside,” Ronan said, his voice roughened even more since high school. He used his hold on Simon to propel him while Parker stayed behind to take care of the bill, and Simon let Ronan lead him to a bench under a yellow flood of lamplight. Simon’s legs went weak, and he sat as Ronan stood back a few paces. “Are you okay?”

Simon’s laugh was high and tight. “I don’t know?”

“You were having a panic attack.”

Simon laughed again. “Was I?”

“I’m pretty familiar,” Ronan said, then let out a small huff that might have been something like a laugh. “Was that your boyfriend who dragged that guy out?”

Simon studied Ronan’s face, searching for the awkward teen boy he’d last seen up close in their senior year. He was there, beneath the beard, beneath the receding hairline and the wrinkled forehead. He was there in the way his eyes were still soft, even if he always looked angry.

“I think so,” Simon admitted. “That guy was his ex.”

“What a dick,” came another voice. Parker was walking back with bags of food in his hand, and the card pressed between two fingers. Simon took them from him, then laid the food at his feet and bowed his head.

“Sorry. God, that was mortifying.”

Parker’s prosthetic hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed with an unexpected gentleness. “For him,” Parker insisted. He still had the barest hint of accent from learning English as a kid—a lot like Simon. He’d shown up in Cherry Creek with both of his parents straight from Norway, though he took to English a lot faster than Simon had. “He was the jerk who interrupted your date.”

Simon bit the inside of his cheek, then stood up and straightened his back. What he wanted was Rocco—what he wanted was his boyfriend to hold him and tell him that this wasn’t ruined—that he wasn’t cursed. He found Rocco’s car parked right where it always was, but didn’t see him anywhere.

“I saw him go around back,” Parker offered with a half-smile.

Simon scrubbed both hands down his face and groaned. “This is a nightmare. This was my first date and it was just…a nightmare.”

“You and your boyfriend haven’t gone on a date before this?” Ronan asked.

Parker gently touched the man’s elbow. “I think he means ever.”

Ronan’s eyes widened a fraction. “You’re serious?”

“Well, I had one in college but it barely counts.” Simon’s blush was furiously hot in his cheeks, and he glanced away. “It’s not that weird.”

“No just,” Ronan said with a huff. He’d never been great with words, and after the fire—after that trauma of almost losing Fitz—he was even quieter. “You’re attractive. Really attractive. I’m just surprised.”

“He’s allowed to be picky, Ro.” Parker smiled at Ronan softly, then turned to Simon. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s ruined. I think he’s trying to save it still.”

Simon only regretted that he couldn’t see what was probably a furious ASL fight—wherever they were. But he wanted to give Rocco space to deal with whatever was left of Eric. “You two should get back to your date. I didn’t mean to mess it up.”

Parker shook his head. “This wasn’t a date—we’ve been married for like a hundred years. Dinner no longer counts as dates.”

“Still,” Simon insisted. He didn’t have the heart to tell them he just needed a minute, but they seemed to get it because Parker nodded and started away.

Ronan followed at his heels for a minute, then he stopped and turned, facing Simon. “I’m glad to see you tonight. Maybe…I’ll see you around? Soon?”

If the night hadn’t been such a shit-show, Simon might have felt better. As it was, he still felt elated and surprised. He nodded and licked his lips nervously. “Yeah.