Page 177 of Tech Bros

“So, can I come in?”

“I guess.” Evan finally steps out of the way, and I take my hands out of my pockets when I walk into his apartment.

He flips on a light, and it illuminates the small entry hall we’re in. Beyond that, I get a sense of how big the apartment is. How modern. “Is Apollo here?” I ask.

“He’s sleeping.”

I almost laugh. “Some guard dog, huh?”

“Yeah, well… Do you want some coffee or something?”

“No. I had a lot on the drive.”

“Then I guess I need some.”

Evan shuffles into the kitchen, and I follow. More lights come on, and I take a look around. Mid-century modern? I think that’s what it’s called. I spot Apollo’s familiar bowls near the kitchen island. My gaze drifts to the terrace doors, and I think about Isaac.

He hadn’t wanted me to leave tonight, but he and I both forgot it was Easter weekend. I didn’t remember that until I got back to my apartment. When I realized it, the impulse to come down here hit hard. I tried to shake it off by doing a lightworkout and taking a shower, but when it was time for me to lie down in bed, I found myself shoving clothes into a duffel bag and packing up my laptop.

So here I am to deal with our shit face to face like we should have in the first place.

I turn to look at Evan whose back is to me as he watches his pod of coffee brew. He’s shirtless, his hands braced on the counter with his head hanging between his shoulders. He’s got one knee bent, and his ass is slightly popped to the right. I lift my gaze to his shoulders instead.

I’m in a relationship now, and it wouldn’t be right to check out another man—even if that man is someone my partner still wants.

I didn’t want to wake Isaac with a call or a text to tell him what I was doing. It’ll keep until morning, or tomorrow afternoon. I might even be home by then. “This place is nice.”

“Thanks.”

“Wasn’t easy to find parking, though.”

“At this hour? I imagine it wasn’t.”

“Do you have a car now that you’re here?”

“No,” he says. “I can walk to work.”

“What if it rains?” I ask.

“It’s always sunny in Los Angeles.”

I frown. That can’t be right.

He turns, and I guess he sees the look on my face. “I use an umbrella when it rains. That was just a saying.”

“Yeah, it didn’t sound right. But I guess it is the desert, huh?”

Evan picks up his mug of coffee and turns while looking down at himself. “Let me go put some clothes on. I’m assuming you want to get started right now.”

“Do you mind?”

He huffs a laugh. “It’s fine.”

He crosses the large living room, passes the terrace doors and disappears into another room. I take my bag to the large, brown leather couch and set it on the floor. I sit, unzipping the duffel to pull out my laptop. Setting that and my phone on the sleek, wooden coffee table, I log in.

Evan returns in a hoodie, gray sweats and white socks. He’s got his laptop, too. Instead of sitting next to me, he sits in a chair, propping his feet up on the coffee table and leaning back. He sips his coffee and uses his other hand to get his computer up and running.

“Do you know how to share your screen with me?” I ask.