Elgin

Something was wrong with Wallace. There was a paleness to his cheeks as he flitted his eyes across the busy restaurant, tracking random people as they passed by the small cove that obscured their table. He was usually so focused, so spirited, but ever since Elgin had come home for dinner, only for them to immediately turn around to head out to the restaurant, things had been off.

“Is it a sex thing?”

Wallace spluttered, grabbing for his glass of wine and smothering his laugh against the rim. It was clearly too late. His eyes were already sparkling, color flushing into his cheeks again. His soft cheeks and the smattering of freckles were some of the first things that had made Elgin realize he was in love.

That hadn’t changed…not for years.

“Are we getting dessert and leaving early?” asked Wallace, waggling his eyebrows. The server chose that moment to walk by, a grin touching her lips as she swiftly changed direction.

“No way.” Elgin shook his head, running his finger along his lower lip. I must’ve been imagining things. Nothing had changed. They still had the same jokes and laughter. Maybe it was time for him to give Wallace a break. The man was a CEO and worked for a living.

Wallace leaned in, pushing his half-eaten soup to the side so he could set his elbows on the table. “Then do tell. What is ‘the sex thing’—and when are we having it?”

Anyone who looked at Wallace probably had no idea about the mouth on him—or that dirty mind that was locked behind blond hair and blue eyes that were so expressive he could see the world in them. He was the type of guy who stopped to help someone pick up their groceries if they dropped them or would fund a kid’s university tuition because the teacher had called him up.

Elgin was the only one who really knew him.

“Did you see the bathroom at this place? There’s a couch in there, along with crested hand towels. Not many places have that type of thing anymore.” It helped that they would drop a thousand dollars between the two of them over dinner. The hostess would probably stand guard at the bathroom door if he tipped well enough. Which I always do.

“A bathroom?” Wallace quirked his lips. “Kinky.”

The door to the restaurant must’ve shifted open, as a bit of cool air swept into their bubble. They always had the same spot in the private area just inside the place. It was far away from the kitchen, so it was quiet, and it was the best place to people watch. Most didn’t notice the small inlet tucked to the side that had a view of most of the main dining room.

Two men shuffled by their little hiding spot, the second one catching Elgin’s eye. “He’s going to propose. I bet you five— No…twenty dollars.” He narrowed his eyes. “The excessive cologne, tie and the way he’s overdressed makes me wonder if it’s a surprise. And the way he keeps reaching for his pocket tells me that’s where he must have the ring.”

Wallace let out a soft sigh, running his hands over the tablecloth. “I love weddings.” His smile brightened. “Oh, look. We’ll have a front-row seat.”

The couple was seated just outside their bubble of privacy, the scrape of their chairs audible against the floor. They would be able to hear every single word from their spot.

The hostess reached over, lighting the small candle at the table before sweeping away and leaving a trace of her perfume. With the low lights and soft ambiance, the candle was almost the brightest thing in the room. Elgin strained to catch every detail.

The one who was reaching into his pocket every few seconds was tall, with visible sweat gathered at the edge of his dark hair that was styled to fall just above his ears. His gaze wandered the restaurant as he shifted, pulling his chair up tight to the table before he rested back again. He fiddled with his napkin, running the material through his fingers over and over.

“He’s so nervous, poor guy,” said Elgin, staring shamelessly. Glancing at Wallace, he was momentarily caught. “What? This is exciting.”

Wallace’s cheeks were flushed, his lower lip red as he released it from between his teeth. The sweater he wore was perhaps a size too big, but it dragged Elgin’s thoughts to how light Wallace would be when he tossed him onto the bed later.

“It’s okay,” said Wallace, his eyes dark. “You’re just really invested in another man right now.”

As if. Wallace was his everything, and he meant that in every sense of the word. His husband was sweet, like a cinnamon heart that had the hidden bit of spiciness he was never expecting. But that wasn’t the half of it.

“You just don’t want to bet against me,” said Elgin.

The second of the pair had no nervousness to speak of and didn’t seem to notice his partner’s state—or much of anything, really. He was buried in his phone, the glow of the white screen flashing against his glasses with the video’s reflection glaring on the pane.

“This is a nice place. Do you like it, Ralph?” the nervous one asked, running his hand through his hair. He must’ve had gel in it or something because he scrunched up his face, wiping his palm on his pants a moment later.

“Meh.” Ralph shrugged, running his finger over his phone screen. “I told you I didn’t care, Annan. Sophie was here last week, and she didn’t like her vegetables much. She said they weren’t even cooked.”

Elgin turned his head away from the scene, taking a sip of his water. Poor guy.

“I might take that bet, after all,” said Wallace, smiling at the server as she brought their main course. Elgin’s steak appeared seared to perfection and topped with a crusting of cheese and two thin spears of purple asparagus. Wallace’s portion was tiny in comparison.

“Fifty bucks says Annan will back out. Another fifty if Ralph leaves before the main course arrives,” said Wallace as soon as they were alone again.

Elgin glanced at the couple out of the corner of his eye. “It doesn’t seem like as much fun without a wedding at the end.” He wiped his cheek dry of a pretend tear. “I could have been the best man.”

Wallace bit his lips as if he were struggling to keep the smile off his face. “You’re right. Everyone should propose the way you did—no chance of rejection that way.”

That’s not fair. Elgin shook his head, grabbing his fork and knife and cutting into his steak. The blue cheese coated his tongue as it melted in his mouth, a groan catching in his throat. Ralph didn’t know great food if he was worried about a few al dente vegetables.

“I gave you a heads-up when I proposed,” said Elgin, eyeing up Wallace’s food. “Is that all you’re going to eat?”

“Gotta save room for dessert.” Wallace licked his lips, dragging his gaze over Elgin’s form.

How fast can I finish this steak? Elgin wondered.

“But sending me a message on social media is not a ‘heads-up’,” said Wallace, laughing as he shook his head. “I’ll never forget when Lenny called to congratulate me when he saw a picture of the ring on your feed and told me that you had updated your profile to ‘engaged’.”

“Hey.” Elgin pointed his fork at Wallace. “You’re telling it all wrong. I got down on one knee just a few days later when you got back from your business trip. The post was my heads-up.”

Wallace sent him a light glare. “You are as romantic as a jar of peanut butter—sweet, satisfying and unexpectedly dangerous.”

“Please put that on my tombstone.” Elgin framed his hands. “Here lies Elgin, sweet and unexpectedly dangerous.”

Wallace’s smile dropped as he swirled his spoon in his bowl of soup. He’d barely touched it, a few vegetables floating around the top of the thick cream base. There was bread on the side that was sprinkled with herbs and a dusting of cheese that smelled divine.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Elgin lowered his voice. “We can get the rest to go, and I can light the candles and get the massage oil out. You look tired.”

Wallace rubbed his forehead before shaking his head. “No. I’m fine—really. It’s just been a long week. Rachel at the office thought it would be a great idea to bring in a crock pot of chili for the potluck this week, and everyone got food poisoning. Two general managers and the COO were all out of commission. The vegetarians were safe, at least.”

“Thank God,” said Elgin, shoving another forkful of steak into his mouth.

“Besides, I can’t miss this.” Wallace looked to the side, his not-so-subtle gaze focused on the couple. Ralph still hadn’t looked up from his phone, and Annan was pulling at his tie, his hair ruffled and shiny where sweat dotted his temples.

“I feel bad for the guy,” whispered Elgin, leaning his head on his hand. He’d never admit it, but he’d been too terrified to propose to Wallace in person, taking the easy way out and telling the world first to give Wallace a chance to make a break for it while he could.

It had been worth it to see his husband laugh when Elgin had picked him up in the airport, holding a ‘future Mr. Bekker?’ sign in his hand. And every time they revisited the story, Wallace’s eyes lit up. Worth it.

The nervous one named Annan shifted in his chair, and Elgin perked up, turning sideways so he had an even better view. With one hand in his pocket, Annan stood, rounding the table and dropping to one knee. He winced as he landed, grabbing for his tie as if it had choked him.

“Aww.” Wallace reached across the table, tangling his fingers with Elgin’s.

Ralph raised one eyebrow without looking up from his screen, his posture stiffening in his chair. “What are you doing? Unless you fell, get back in the chair. You’re making a fool of yourself, Annan.”

Ouch. Elgin winced, trying to look away, but he couldn’t. Annan seemed like a nice guy, in a rugged sort of way, with blue eyes and a five o’clock shadow that was genuinely attractive. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, pulling a small case out of his pocket.

“Ralph,” Annan started, clearing his throat when his voice caught. His voice was deep and smooth but had a nervous waver to it.

You can do it, buddy. Elgin gripped Wallace’s hand tighter. All joking aside, he was fully invested, just about ready to grab Ralph’s phone from his small hands and toss it across the restaurant.

The server paused her approach, turning around and heading back to the kitchen. She, at least, had qualms about eavesdropping on what should have been a beautiful moment. Not me.

“Ralph—”

“Seriously, Annan, get off the floor.” Ralph slammed his phone on the table, the sound of the hit putting Elgin on edge. “I’m leaving.” He reached for his coat that he’d hung on the back of his chair, despite several hooks being available.

“Can I ask you a question? Then we can go home, Ralph. I promise.” Annan seemed to falter, clutching the box tight in his hands. His knuckles were white, the little velvet package looking close to buckling.

“No.” Ralph pushed his chair back. “I can’t believe this.” He shook his head, his eyes going wide.

“Oh no,” said Wallace, squeezing his hand tighter. “Elgin, I can’t watch. Tell me when it’s over.”

Elgin couldn’t look away, every muscle in his body going progressively tighter. He knew how fucking hard it was to be in Annan’s position. At least give the guy a chance.

“Will you marry me?” Annan blurted out, his fingers slipping on the box as he tried to pry it open. After a moment of fumbling, he managed to reveal a thin black band nestled on a pillow of white. The jewel in the center was small and barely noticeable in the low light, but it was beautiful, nonetheless.

Ralph snorted, covering his mouth with his hand as he laughed. The high-pitched sound drew every eye in the restaurant, another server peeking around the corner as the room went quiet. Forks and knives hovered above plates, as people held their collective breath.

“No,” said Ralph, slipping his coat over his shoulders. “Why the hell would I want to marry you?” He spat the last word, an icy venom dripping from his lips. The way he crinkled his nose gave him a semblance to a pig who had just rolled in its own waste.

Elgin narrowed his eyes.

“Why not?” Annan muttered, dipping his gaze to the box to stare at the ring. His hands were trembling and his gaze unsteady as he stared at it. It was tiny in his large hands, and Elgin could almost smell the sweat that seemed to pour from him.

“Don’t get me started.” Ralph shoved his phone into his pocket. “You’re boring as hell, you don’t have any friends and you’re not even that attractive—not to mention, all you care about is your stupid animals, who smell terrible, by the way. I can’t stand getting into bed with you, even after you’ve had a shower, because you reek, just like they do.” A cruel smile spread across Ralph’s lips. “To be honest, I’m just here for the food.”

Wallace gasped, ducking his head while Elgin clenched his jaw.

The box fell from Annan’s hand, and he dropped his arm to his side, slowly standing. His head was ducked, his eyes glassy as he looked at the floor, his forehead scrunched. “I have friends.”

“No, you don’t, because there isn’t a single person in this world who can stand you.”

Elgin rose to his feet, releasing Wallace’s hand before he even knew what he was doing. Crossing the short distance, he strolled to the couple’s table, relishing in the way Ralph’s gaze snapped to him, his eyes going wide.

“Annan, is that you?” asked Elgin, grinning as he stopped a pace away from the table. “Oh wow, it is! I haven’t seen you in years.” He didn’t spare Ralph a glance as he held his arms out, pulling Annan into a bear hug.

A woodsy, earthy scent tickled his nose, along with something else he didn’t recognize as he embraced Annan. Their heights were near level, but Elgin was broader, his frame dwarfing Annan a bit as he drew close to his ear, whispering quietly, “Just play along.”

Elgin drew back, catching Annan’s eye and releasing his grip. Annan blinked, his forehead still drawn in confusion. “Hell, it’s so good to see you. It’s been, what? Six years? You look great.”

He did look even better up close. His hair had some natural curl to it that was trying to break free from the product, little wisps going astray. That, and he was built under his suit that didn’t fit all that well.

“Elgin, remember? Elgin Bekker.” He spied Ralph’s eyes widen in recognition. It felt good to throw his name around a little for a good cause. Wallace was probably hiding his head in shame, though. “We met at the retreat. Those were some of the best weeks of my life.”

He patted Annan’s back, turning to Ralph for the first time. Letting his smile drop, he stood a touch straighter. Wallace always claimed that Elgin had the patented ‘resting bastard face’, and the best part was, it was as natural as breathing.

“It looks like your friend is leaving. Care to join us for dinner?” asked Elgin, dismissing Ralph with a glance and putting his back to him. Annan was holding onto himself, his eyes still shiny but dry. “It will be my treat.”

“Sure.” Annan drew out the word as if he wasn’t exactly sure what he was saying. He glanced to the floor, spying the box that had snapped shut and rolled under the table.

Elgin ducked down, grasping the small velvet box and pressing it into Annan’s hand. “Wouldn’t want to lose this.”

“I can stay. I don’t have anywhere to be.”

Elgin turned at the sound of Ralph’s voice, giving him the same unimpressed look. Ralph’s gaze was flitting from Elgin’s watch to the cuff links on his jacket, then down to the very expensive shoes he’d worn to the restaurant. He would have much preferred sandals, but he’d dressed up for Wallace.

“I’m afraid I don’t know who you are,” said Elgin, grabbing Annan’s chair and hefting it off the ground. “Here, Annan, follow me. I’ve told my husband so much about you. He didn’t believe me when I said I saw you in the same restaurant where we were grabbing dinner.”

With his back to Ralph, Elgin held out his arm, looping it through Annan’s. The poor guy still looked as if he were in shock, staring at the box in his hand. Helping him across the space was an easy task, and he tucked the chair at the end of his own table, clearing away the breadbasket and the tiny plates so Annan would have room.

“Wallace, this is Annan.” Elgin grinned at his husband before peering back over his shoulder. Ralph was staring at them, his jaw hanging slack and something like determination in his gaze.

Elgin narrowed his eyes at the man, jerking his head toward the exit. Get the fuck out. Ralph stumbled back, nearly tripping over his chair in his rush to get away. It was the same way a new intern would scurry away if they didn’t realize that ninety percent of Elgin’s body was made of dry humor and sarcasm, and that he had only fired two people in his entire career.

Wallace groaned, holding his hand out to Annan as he shook his head. “Elgin, you are in so much trouble.”