Upside Down(55)

“He’s in the bathroom,” Jordan said, “and before he comes back, I would like to apologise in advance for anything he may say or do.”

“Um, why?”

“Well, I told you he’s a painter,” he said. I nodded, and Jordan sighed. “He’s high as a kite on industrial adhesive.”

I snorted a laugh. “Really?”

Merry nodded. “Really. And anything he says or does on a good day is questionable, but he’s adorable and we love him.”

“I’m sure he’s not that bad,” I said before pouring myself a glass of table water and taking a sip.

Jordan grimaced. “Just please promise you won’t hold me accountable.”

“I promise,” I said, smiling at him.

“Good, because here he comes.”

The only guy walking our way from the bathrooms was short and stocky, well-muscled, well-built, tanned, and handsome in a rugged, outdoorsy way. He had sandy-blond hair that was short and mussed up, brown eyes—well, I think they were, they were barely slits—and he had a wide smile. He was also wearing a Hawaiian shirt that was so bright it could possibly be used to land aircraft, and faded jeans with a hole at the knee that didn’t look artfully created. More like he’d tackled someone and ripped them. He also wore work boots. Again, not the stylish Timberland variety, but more of the ‘just came from the building site’ kind.

When Jordan had said he and Angus were complete opposites, he wasn’t joking. They were poles apart.

“Man, those lights in the bathroom are freaky,” Angus said as he sat down across from me, a slow drawl to his husky voice. “Heyyyy, you must be Hennessy.”

“I am. Nice to meet you,” I said, offering my hand for him to shake.

His hand was rough and calloused. Definitely had tradesman’s hands. “Like the cognac,” he said, nodding.

“Yep, like the cognac,” I replied. I wasn’t sure if him being high was the reason he spoke slow and spaced out or if that was just him, but it was hard not to like him.

“You’re the guy who’s got Jay all tied up in knots.”

Jordan groaned. “Thanks, Angus. That’s not embarrassing at all.” I slid my hand onto Jordan’s thigh and he gave me a smile.

“So many knots,” Angus said, then he snorted and laughed. “And all the smiles and there’s been gliding.”

Jordan’s eyes closed slowly, but Merry tilted her head and squinted at Angus. “Gliding?”

Angus nodded enthusiastically. “Much gliding. He gliiiiiiiiiides.” He panned his hand across the horizon. “He never used to glide. The gliding is new. As is the smiling. But then—”

“Thanks, Angus,” Jordan said, then cleared his throat. He shoved a menu in front of him. “Have you looked at the menu yet?”

Angus nodded slowly. “Indeed I have. I’m feeling the eggplant, the lamb, and the chicken.”

Jordan looked at his menu, then to Angus. “That’s three mains.”

Angus stared at Jordan. “I’m a tad peckish. You really shouldn’t judge or food-shame me, Jay. It’s not like you, and frankly, I’m a little surprised.”

Jordan and Merry both stared at Angus, and I tried not to laugh but it won out in the end. “He’s right,” I said with a grin. “Food-shaming isn’t cool.”

Then Jordan and Merry turned their wide eyes to me, and Angus laughed. “See? My man Hennessy is a’ight.”

I nudged Jordan’s shoulder and leaned in really close to whisper, my lips brushed his ear. “I like him, and he thinks I’m a’ight.”

Jordan blushed and he opened his mouth to say something, but Angus beat him to it. “Hennessy, are you familiar with limericks?” he asked.

That was one hell of a subject change. “I am.”

Jordan whisper-hissed across the table. “Angus, there will be no limericks.”

Angus laughed and nodded. “There once was a man called Hennessy,” he said, grinning. “Who caught the bus numbered three-five-three.”

“Oh, God,” Merry said, looking around the restaurant. “We need a waiter.”

Jordan cringed and I laughed.

“Now Jay here was smitten.”

Jordan rubbed his temple and Merry looked on with horrified resignation.

Angus leaned in and put his hands in the shape of a ball. “Like a cute little kitten.”

Jordan squeaked. “Such a disaster.”

But Angus raised his hands, waving them to me with a flourish. “But Hennessy was too, as anyone can see.”

I burst out laughing and Angus offered me a fist bump. Jordan slumped in his seat but nudged my thigh with his. “Don’t encourage him.”

“That was pretty good,” I said to Angus. “Are limericks a specialty?”

“I have lots more,” he said. “There was a man called Jay. Who liked men because, you know, he’s gay.”

“This is going to end terribly,” Jordan mumbled.

Merry was now trying not to smile and I put my arm around Jordan’s shoulder.

Angus grinned. “But they were all out of luck, because Jay don’t like to—”

“Angus Walter Spears,” Jordan whisper-shouted across the table. “You will not finish that line.”