Page 94 of Burden of Proof

“Have you heard anything specific?” he pressed.

“No, Finn.”

My brother made a very unhappy noise on the other end of the phone.

“What are you doing right now?” I asked.

“Trying to find a spoon to dig my eyes out with so I can stop looking at this spreadsheet,” he said. “Why, what are you doing?”

“Telling myself I need to take a lunch but not actually getting up from my desk.”

He laughed at me. “Glutton.”

“I didn’t make partner by taking lunch breaks.”

“Did you want to get lunch?” he asked.

“Definitely.”

“I’ll text you a place,” Finn said, then he hung up.

A handful of seconds later, he sent me the address of a Thai place in Venice, so I powered down my laptop and headed to the parking garage. In the elevator, I ended up with Winters, whoasked if I was looking forward to the little celebration they’d put together for the coming weekend. I was, so I told him as much, and I told him my brothers and my boyfriend would all be coming. This seemed to please him, and we said our goodbyes before heading to our respective cars.

Before I backed out of the parking spot, I texted Lincoln to let him know I missed him. He was quick to respond, sending me a selfie of him and Feeny. A shot of disappointment rolled through me knowing he was at his apartment and not mine, but I also knew he was exceedingly mindful of where he spent his time. I would’ve had him film all of his content from the comfort of my place, and unpack his clothes in my closet, and his sex toys under my bed, but I didn’t want to scare him off.

Even after we’d confessed our young and possibly premature feelings to each other, Lincoln was skittish. He was careful to not take up too much room in my life, to always clean up after himself, leave no trace behind. If I was being honest, I hated that. When he went back to his apartment, it was as if he didn’t really exist, and I hated that more than anything else. I wanted him to leave underwear on my floor or a toothbrush on the edge of my sink.

I texted him back.

Will you come over later?

I was there all weekend.

You don’t have to. But I’d like you to.

If you’re sure.

I have some work that I’ll need to take home, so bring your laptop if you want. You can edit while I finish up. I’ll order dinner. You can stay the night.

Okay.

I could hear the hesitation, even through the phone.

Bring an extra toothbrush too. To leave.

I don’t mind traveling it.

I mind.

A long pause, so long I pulled out of the parking spot and headed to the street. I’d just swiped my parking card to get out of the lot when he replied to me.

Is that an order?

Heat flared out from the base of my spine, and I tried to shove it back down considering I was at a green light in the city and on the way to meet one of my brothers for lunch. Of all the things Lincoln and I had talked about as we set the ground rules for the things we did in the bedroom, taking those things out of the bedroom had never been on either of our radars. I had the impression that was the way Marshall chose to live his life, and kudos to him for that, but it wasn’t something I’d imagined for myself. But I’d never imagined someone like Lincoln for myself either. Never imagined this kind of relationship, but here we both were.

I left the message on read until I pulled into the parking lot of the Thai place Finn wanted to meet up at. His car was alreadythere but empty, so I imagined he’d already gone in to get us a table.

Do you want it to be?