Justin should’ve realized that supper wasn’t going to go as planned the moment he climbed into the back seat of Max’s car. There was a look in his eyes that screamed, Payback time. “I know Grady promised you a fancy dinner, but I have some obligations I couldn’t get out of. I promise you, the food where we’re going is great.”
Grady slid into the front seat and kissed Max for so long that Justin had to look away. When they separated, Grady patted Max’s cheek. “So, you’re changing our plans?”
“I have to. Sorry.” Max didn’t sound the least bit apologetic.
“It’s fine. But I’m totally going to make you pay for it later.”
Justin had never been so thankful to sit in the back seat of a vehicle before in his life. “Have I mentioned how disgustingly cute the two of you are? Please stop.”
Max smiled at him in the rearview mirror. “Yes, sir.”
The drive through Toronto traffic gave him time to relax. In a matter of hours he’d found, at least temporarily, a job and a place to stay. He had companionship for the evening, even if it was going to be more than a little awkward.
The constant squeeze that had gripped his chest for months now, eased. He could breathe without uncertainty, without doubt clawing at the back of his brain, making him question every move he’d made in the past year. The last two months in particular had been too much for him. His mother had made it clear that while she felt sorry for his situation, it was one of his own making. “You’ve stayed with us for six months now. I raised you better than to leave a position without having something else lined up. Consider this a lesson for you. One I shouldn’t have to teach you at your age.”
Justin knew better than to reach out to his parents again, especially after the last conversation he’d had with his mom. She’d been right that he shouldn’t have quit without having something else lined up. It had gone against not only his better judgment, but everything he’d been taught.
His parents weren’t horrible people. They always meant well, but their interest in having a child had had more to do with their public persona and less with the urge to love and care for another being. His own relationship with his parents had been the template he’d used when helping to raise Grady. Which no doubt had been the crux of most of their problems over the years.
Max pulled the car around the back of Frantic, Max’s nightclub. Justin sat up, interested again. He’d only seen the alley behind the bar on the night he’d tried to bribe Max to stay away from Grady. His previous time in Toronto hadn’t allowed for him to socialize, not when he’d been tasked with dragging Grady back to Vancouver for his brother’s wedding.
It made sense that if Max had an engagement he couldn’t break, it would take place at his bar. “What time do you open?”
“We have two hours before the crowds show up. I need to meet with the DJ before then for our monthly system check.” Max pulled into a reserved parking spot. “Grady said you like cheeseburgers. I called ahead and had the kitchen make some for us.”
Grady turned around to face Justin. “I promise, it’ll be the best you’ll ever have.”
Justin followed the two of them into the bar, trying his best to keep his gaze averted when Grady leaned against Max and touched a random spot on his body. Every contact between them felt like a small knife turning in his side. It didn’t hurt the way it once had, but neither was it an experience he wanted to prolong. Perhaps coming to Toronto hadn’t been his best idea.
“I can get you anything you’d like to drink.” Max was moving around behind the bar like an expert. The DJ was setting up for the evening, loud music echoing in the mostly empty room. “Are you a Scotch drinker? Or do you prefer something a little lighter?”
Justin didn’t know what he was these days. “Whatever you have is fine with me.”
Grady was staring at him, disbelief on his face. “That’s not the Justin I remember.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” But then Grady was probably the only person in the world who honestly knew Justin. It wasn’t a surprise that he’d call Justin on his abnormal behavior.
“It means that you are a huge Scotch snob, and I very much doubt that Max has anything back there that would meet your high standards.”
“Hey!” Max stopped moving behind the bar, his hands on his hips. “I’ll have you know I’ve improved my stock since our trip to Vancouver.”
Grady chuckled. “Sure you have.”
Max turned to Justin, his gaze narrowed. “Are you certain you weren’t sent here to take him back home? I’d be more than happy to buy a ticket for you.”
Despite his mood, Justin couldn’t help but smile. “No, he’s all yours.”
Max groaned as he grabbed a bottle of Scotch from the top shelf. “I don’t know if I should give you this, then. I was hoping someone might take him off my hands.”
The amber of the Macallan filled Justin’s class, swirling around the near-perfect glass. It had been quite a while since he had indulged, having finished his last bottle of Scotch over a month ago. It hadn’t seemed right to partake in such a luxury when he was budgeting every last dime. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. He took a sip and sighed. “Bless you.”
Max winked at him. “You’re welcome.”
“Don’t I get anything?” Grady batted his eyelashes at Max until he poured him a Coke. “Thank you, handsome.”
Justin hadn’t been certain that the two of them were going to make it as a couple when he had last seen them. Grady being Grady, there had always been a chance that the idiot would have been too stubborn to see what had been right in front of him. But as painful as it might be to no longer have Grady’s undivided attention, it gave Justin hope to see that he’d managed to move past the pain of his mother’s death and father’s controlling nature, to have a healthy relationship with Max.
It was time for Justin to move forward and start building some healthy relationships of his own. That was what this trip to Toronto was all about. A chance to start over, a chance to become his own man and not be beholden to someone, such as Grady’s father. Years ago, he had jumped from his own family and the controlling nature of his mother, right into the viper’s nest that was the Barnes household, when he’d barely had time to figure out whom he was and what he wanted. Then his priorities had had to be pushed aside so he could practically raise Grady. He was free of all of that now, and he had to take steps forward and get on with his life.
Three plates of cheeseburgers and fries were placed in front of them on the bar. The bouncer was doubling as a waiter, and not a very good one at that, as he dropped the plates of food in front of them. Justin gave him the side-eye as the brute of a man ambled away. “I’ve been promised that this is a good meal.”
“Don’t be such a snob.” Grady picked up his burger, took a huge bite, getting a drop of ketchup on the side of his mouth.
In a blink, Max reached out and swiped the errant drop from his boyfriend’s lips. “I can’t take you anywhere.”
“I know of a few places you can take me.” Grady winked at him, and there was no mistaking the lust in his tone.
Justin shook his head. “Dear God, the two of you are even more disgusting now than you were the last time I saw you.”
“We really are.” Max licked the ketchup from his thumb.
Justin fought back an eye roll as he took a bite of his burger. “Mmm. That’s excellent.”
“I’ll pass on your compliments to the chef.” Max nodded. “So, what are your plans for the next little while?”
“I plan to begin work on Zach’s project tomorrow.”
“That’s good. Then you’ll have some money to buy some new clothing so you’ll be all ready for the speed dating event.” Grady smiled, clearly knowing full well that mentioning the event would get under Justin’s skin. The downside to having your young ward now grown and more annoying than ever.
“I have no intention of attending . . . whatever the hell that event is.”
“Speed dating.” Max shoved a few French fries into his mouth. “You must have at least heard of it?”
“I’m not an idiot, nor have been living in the dark ages. But I don’t need to be shoved in front of potential mates for an awkward eight minutes of conversation.”
“It’s more like three minutes.” Grady shrugged, a smirk firmly fixed on his face. “Even you can be charming for three minutes in a row.”
Max snorted.
Grady straightened. “What, you don’t think my boy can win the heart of a suitor?”
“In three minutes?” Max looked at Justin and shrugged. “Nope.”
“You’re wrong. Justin can totally get a date in three minutes.”
Max stood up straighter. “That sounds like a bet. Are you making a bet, little man?”
Grady’s smirk blossomed into a full-blown grin. “I am absolutely making that a bet. What’s the wager going to be for?”
Justin silently groaned. “I am not being a part of any wager. Nor am I going to this—”
“You have no say at all.” Grady leaned further onto the bar. “The winner gets to pick any restaurant in Toronto to eat at.”
Max crossed his arms. “Okay. And? Because there’s no way you’ll leave it at that.”
Grady’s grin turned positively Satanic. “And the loser has to wear that thing I bought last month. For a week.”
“Fuck that.” Max uncrossed his arms. “One day.”
“Three days.” Grady clicked his tongue. “With the possibility of a reduced sentence for good behavior.”
Justin had no idea what this thing was, and had a sneaking suspicion he didn’t want to know. Best to let the two of them affectionately torture one another in private.
Max seemed to consider the idea for a moment before he nodded. “Fair enough. What are the rules and the condition for winning?”
“Justin has to attend the speed dating event, he has to talk to more than five people, and he has to receive more than three requests for a date.” Grady picked up his French fry and sucked on it. “What do you think?”
“I think that is a pretty tall order, especially for Justin.”
Justin waved his hands. “I am sitting right here.”
Both men shushed him, and for the first time in his life, Justin appreciated how he’d made Grady feel for all those years.
Max shook his head. “Are you sure you want to go with that? I mean more than three requests for a date? Why don’t we say at least one request, that way you’ll have a fighting chance?”
“Deal.” Grady stood up and stuck out his hand. “I have faith in him.”
Justin wasn’t certain that he had the same confidence in himself. “The two of you are ridiculous.” He should hop on the next flight to Vancouver while his sanity was still intact.
“Are you just figuring that out now?” Max smiled and then went back to eating his cheeseburger. “I’m liking my chances of winning this bet.”
“No way. My boy Justin here is going to prove you wrong.” Grady faced Justin. “And you are not going to let me down on this one. You owe me.”
“While that may be, and to reiterate, I have no intention of attending this event. I have more important things to figure out before I am remotely ready to consider dating.”
Chancing a glance over at Grady, Justin didn’t like the excitement that was shining in his eyes. When Grady got one of his crazy ideas, there was very little that anybody could do to stop him. Having seen the end results of Grady’s attentions before, Justin could only brace himself for the inevitable.
He really didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Grady’s enthusiasm. He especially didn’t want Grady meddling in his personal affairs. Payback’s a bitch.
“Dude, this is a fund-raiser to help troubled teens. LGBTQ teens, kids who need to figure their shit out. A whole bunch of kids just like I was.” Grady leaned his elbow on the bar, bracing his head on his hand. “While you might be a prick, I know you’re not so much of an asshole as to walk away from an opportunity to help the less fortunate. Come on, man, think of the kids.”
Of course, Grady knew all of Justin’s weak spots. “I can’t afford to buy my own alcohol, let alone make a donation.”
“But you are going to, right?”
“Unlikely.” Another lie, and from the look on Grady’s face, he knew it as well. “However, if I find some extra funds between now and then, I might consider attending. When is this stupid thing?”
Max groaned. “Please tell me that it wasn’t that easy. Justin, where’s that badass, take-no-shit personality of yours that I’d grown to loath?”
“Apparently, I left it in Vancouver.” Plus, it was fun to watch Max squirm.
“The speed dating event is in five days.” Grady laughed. “And yes, it was absolutely that easy. I told you I knew my boy. He might have all these—” Grady waved his hands in the space between them “—prickles around him, but I know he has a gooey center in there somewhere.”
“I would never have guessed.” Max shook his head. “You have my condolences, Justin.”
“Thanks.” Once again, Justin was equal parts annoyed and impressed how Grady had talked him into doing something that he didn’t want to do. “Though, I think he’ll have a harder time with the next two steps.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.” Max’s eyes widened. “No offense.”
“It would take more than that to offend me.” He had accepted that truth about himself many years ago. Affection wasn’t something that came easily to him, nor was it something that he had been encouraged to seek out. His parents had enjoyed his academic accomplishments, had been pleased at the numerous awards he had won as an orator as a teen. But they’d been strict and stingy when it came to doling out hugs.
It had taken him a long time to get used to Grady and his naturally affectionate touches when he had arrived at the Barnes household. Now as a thirty-seven-year-old, Justin had finally stopped flinching whenever someone touched him in kindness.
“I think we have freaked poor Justin out enough for one evening.” Max refilled Justin’s half-empty glass. “Tell me where you were thinking about starting on Zack’s crazy project?”
Justin had hardly had time to consider his living arrangements, let alone know where he was going to start on the development project. “Tomorrow I’ll take a look at the building, get a feel for what I have to work with. After that, I’ll determine building permits and contracting options.” It wasn’t the most exciting project he had ever worked on, but it was something he was familiar with, something he could get his feet wet with, and use to establish his reputation in Toronto.
“I have no doubt you’ll make the place amazing.” Grady stole a French fry from Max’s plate. “Who knows, maybe you’ll turn it into a hot spot for bachelors and you won’t want to leave.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “For my horde of future dates? Maybe I’ll set up a revolving door with single clients from the gym. I’ll have to be sure to schedule them appropriately—I don’t want the men to run into one another in the stairwell.”
Max laughed. “You’ve changed, Justin. That’s not a bad thing.”
Had he? I guess I have. A lot had happened to him in the past six months, not all of it positive, but all of it had played a part in pulling him away from his old patterns of behavior and toward a different outlook on his life. Some of those transitions had been uncomfortable, and not exactly what he’d wanted, but he knew deep down that they had been the right things for him to do. Even if he had more he needed to accomplish.
Coming to Toronto was part of that fix, to address some of the mistakes he had made over the past few years. With any luck, this new project would set him on the right path to a happy life.
If that was something he was allowed to have.