Toxic (The Complete Series): Contemporary Gay Romance by Kensie King

Author:Kensie King [King, Kensie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Published: 2019-03-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

RYAN

I slid the last plate of spaghetti across the counter and wiped my hands on my apron. It was just after ten and since it was a weekday, and the restaurant was getting close to closing down.

And not a moment too soon. I walked to the sink to wash my hands. It felt like this week was taking forever.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Mason. I had to wait until this weekend to see him and it was nearly killing me. But it was hard to find a window of time to spend together—especially since I wasn’t sure how he felt spending time with Tucker.

That wasn’t exactly romantic having a kid around. But it was my life.

Once I’d taken off my apron and said goodbye to the staff, I walked outside and got in the car just as my phone dinged with a text.

I peeked at the screen and grinned when I saw the message. It was from Mason. Is it Friday yet?

I wished. Only two more days. And it was agony.

Instead of answering him, I set the phone aside and drove away from the restaurant in the opposite direction I normally went. It was a short ten-minute drive to Toxic.

I didn’t want to wait to see Mason anymore. And since I’d gotten off early and Tucker was probably already asleep, I had a few minutes to spare. My babysitter was a saint and kept her evenings open for me often to help with Tucker. I paid her well for it because she was so accommodating.

When I reached the bar, I stepped outside, realizing I hadn’t been back since the last time I’d been stood up. It felt strange coming here for another reason besides dating or drinking.

Inside, the band played a song I’d never heard—maybe something original—and I walked to the bar when I spotted someone familiar. One of the guys I saw there frequently.

“Hi,” I said. “I was hoping Mason was around.”

He grinned. “Are you Ryan?”

I blinked. Had he talked about me? Or maybe the other bartender, Bea, the one I was friendly with, had said something.

“I am.”

The man held out his hand. “I’m Tate—Mason’s partner. He told me about you.”

“He did?” The thought warmed me. It felt nice to be talked about. Nice because Mason cared.

“He did. He doesn’t normally talk about his dates, so I listened. He’s actually back in the office working—I can show you.”

Tate was cute, and I put two-and-two together as I followed him away from the noise and to a quieter hallway.

“Are you the recently engaged business partner?” I asked.

Tate stopped at the door to turn to me. “I am. Guess Mason talked about me, too.”

I laughed. “He did. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” He opened the door and peeked his head in. “You decent?”

My mouth dropped open, but then I heard Mason’s joking response. “Very funny.”

Tate opened the door wider and let me in. “You have a visitor.”

Mason stood when he saw me. “Ryan. This is a surprise.”

“A bad one or a good one?” I asked, glancing at Tate.

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