Page 28 of Before It's Too Late
“I could arrange that,” Cael teased, though a part of him hoped he could. Zach had let him jerk him off before. Maybe he’d be able to wrangle a kiss out of him.
God, what was he thinking? Cael couldn’t use his best friend like that. Never mind the simple, obvious fact that Zach wasn’t gay.
Emma whispered something to Chloe. Chloe nodded, and wide, knowing grins stretched across both their faces. Zach’s elbow bumped Cael’s side, and Cael turned to look at him.
Zach held out Taylor’s snack bowl full of Apple Jacks. “You want to hand these to her?”
“Oh, sure.” Cael popped the lid and set the bowl on the table in front of Taylor.
“You okay?” Zach asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“You just suddenly got quiet.”
“Oh.” Cael shook his head, trying to make sense of his thoughts, but having Zach so close in a setting such as this was proving to be difficult. “No, I’m good.”
The drink server arrived, delivering drinks that Chloe had apparently ordered prior to their arrival. She knew exactly both his and Zach’s alcoholic preferences. Moscow mule for Zach and rum and coke for Cael.
Cael took a drink and almost coughed. This place definitely did not skimp on the alcohol or water the drinks down with too much ice. If the drinks were going to be like this tonight, he’d better stop at one so he could drive home. That way, Zach could relax and enjoy the evening.
“So, Emma,” Cael said, “how’re things going for you lately? Enjoying Manhattan?”
“Love it.” Emma took a quick sip of blackberry tea. “My job’s wonderful. I’ve got a really cute apartment not too far from the museum and close to Central Park. Plus, with my cousin Heather and her family there, I get to play aunt for her foster kids. Oh, and I’m four months pregnant, but you probably didn’t notice.”
“Really? Congrats,” Cael said. “So, who’s the lucky guy?”
“Guys,” Emma replied, trying to hide her smile.
“I’m sorry, what?” Zach asked.
Emma’s smile fully surfaced. “I’m a surrogate.”
“Oh,” Zach said. “That’s cool.”
“Yeah. I thought so too. I met Lucas and Jordan through Heather. She’s known Jordan for years. He makes clothes for foster kids and beautiful, custom wedding gowns for low income brides. He and Lucas adopted one of Heather’s teenagers, and now that she’s in college, they decided it was time for one of their own. So, I offered to be their surrogate.”
“That is pretty awesome of you,” Cael said.
Emma shrugged. “I really felt for them, and finding a surrogate is so hard sometimes. It was the least I could do. Lucas and Jordan are so sweet together, and they’ve done so much for the kids in the community.” Her thoughtful gaze shifted between him and Zach. “You know, if you two ever think of having kids, let me know. I’d be happy to help.”
Zach about choked on his drink.
“Uh, yeah,” Cael chuckled. “That’s not going to happen. Zach and I are just friends.”
Emma looked confused. “Really? Because you two seem, I don’t know. Closer?”
“They do make a cute couple, don’t they?” Chloe chimed in, raising a brow at her brother as she nudged his shin beneath the table with her foot.
“We aren’t a couple.” Cael widened his eyes and gave her a look, silently begging her not to say anything that could inadvertently reveal the true feelings he harbored for Zach. He wiped his sweating palms on his pants.
“We are close,” Zach said, his voice hoarse as he still tried to recover from almost inhaling his drink. “Just, uh, not like that.”
“Exactly,” Cael added. “We just mess with each other. It’s what guys do.”
Zach held his glass to his lips. “Yeah. What he said.” He downed the rest of his vodka and ginger beer, following it with another small cough, no doubt the alcohol still burning in his windpipe.
Emma didn’t seem convinced, but let the topic go. After appetizers and another round of drinks—Cael opted for water this time—Cael’s awareness of Zach’s slightly closer proximity increased, as it always did when they sat close, but they were usually at home on the couch playing video games or watching TV, not in public with his sister and her friend watching his every move.