Page 32 of Quinton's Quest

“Uh, I’m twenty-six. I don’t need that kind of pressure.”

“Hence going to nightclubs?”

“And gay bars? You bet. I also host epic parties. Valentine’s Day is next Saturday. This is your formal invitation.”

“I have the kids next weekend.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Could you, like, get a babysitter?”

“Quinton, I hardly ever see them. I’m not going to hand them over to a babysitter so I can go to some damn party. What kind of parent do you take me for?”

“Back down, big boy.”In more ways than one. “I’m just issuing an invitation. I think you’re allowed to have a life—but that’s just me. If you come late and leave early, then you’d only be gone a couple of hours. You might meet interesting people. Oh, Adam and Dean are coming. You remember them?”

“The Aussie and his husband? Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, something special’s going to happen at this party. I’m sworn to secrecy, but I think it would do you good to come.”

Another sigh. “That’s a considerate invitation, but I won’t be there.”

“Your loss.”

“Yeah. Possibly. Probably.”

I tapped my finger on the table. “Leo?”

“Yeah?” Said on a yawn.

Which, because I was an empathetic yawner, made me yawn as well. “Have you really dealt with things?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean have you really moved on with your life? Or are you still hung up on your ex?”

“Where is this coming from? Have I said anything that would lead you to believe I’m hung up on Gideon?”

I bit my lower lip. “Just…your reaction was over-the-top. I merely suggested a babysitter. Thousands of parents use babysitters, and they’re not bad parents.”

A resounding silence followed my statement.

“You don’t understand.”

“So explain it to me. Because I want to support and in order to support, I think I need to understand.”

“Why would you want to do that? You don’t even like me.”

“Jesus, Leo, even you can’t be that dense. I wouldn’t sit in my kitchen Friday night and talk to a guy I didn’t like instead of heading over to the bar to see if I might get some action.”

“Oh. Right.”

I waited.

“So I should let you go. Uh, sorry to have bothered you.”

“That’s not what I was—”

“Goodnight.” He cut the line.

I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it. How the fuck had things gone so sideways so fast? I’d said I wanted to support and in order to support, maybe I needed to understand…