Page 45 of Bean

“Like…?”

“Owning a bar,” he pointed out. “I thought they were going to go through the roof when they found out I liked men. It turns out they were fine with that, but when I shaved my beard and started drinking beer, my mother acted like I’d taken a piss on a prayer rug.”

I hid my laughter. My family was religious—not in the same way, but the pearl-clutching was out of this world, and it was easier to just keep away from them. “I don’t talk to my family much. They weren’t super cool with me being gay. Though it was that quiet, I’ll love you in spite of yourself kind of way.”

Zayd grimaced. “Yeah. I hear that a lot working here. It’s rough.”

“I deal with it. I like my brother. He’s a good guy. His company’s rebuilding the townhouse I bought, which has been a bigger project than I anticipated.”

Zayd gave me a pointed look. “You mean you thought a complete reno would be easy?”

“I never said I was a smart man.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Fair enough. It’ll be sad when you’re not a block away from here.”

I scoffed. “Like I’m giving this place up.”

Zayd shot me a grin and another wink. He was definitely on the market, but Zayd was a white-picket-fence guy. Our first conversation, he’d talked about his failed engagement—how he still loved his ex, but their lives had diverged in ways they couldn’t make work.

My crush on him had fizzled right after that, and it was good because I liked having him as a friend, and there wasn’t a chancein hell I’d rather have something with him than this shot with Bean.

No matter how it ended.

“Anyway, let me go check on your?—”

“Someone ordered tacos?”

My heart kicked up a notch when Zayd stepped aside and Bean appeared. He looked absurdly good in his checkered shirt, even though it was stained with sauce. But what really got me going was seeing the bear pendant hanging around his neck, nestled between the chain holding his dog tags.

“Ah. So now you can meet him officially,” Zayd said. He took the plate and set it in front of me. “Jarek, this is Bean. Bean?—”

“We’re old friends,” Bean interrupted.

Zayd blinked in confusion. “There’s something I’m missing.”

I couldn’t help my laugh. “Yeah, but don’t worry about it. Thank you for the tacos. They look amazing.” I met his gaze, and I could tell he knew I wasn’t speaking about the food.

Bean swallowed heavily. “I hope you enjoy them. I have to go finish my side work before I clock out.” He turned on his heel and left, and I found myself under Zayd’s pointed stare.

“So…”

I shook my head and focused on my plate.

Zayd’s hand fell on the counter an inch from mine, like he wanted to touch but didn’t. “It’s better if I don’t ask, isn’t it?”

I finally looked up at him. “I don’t like lying to my friends, but it’s also really not my place right now.”

Zayd nodded, backed away, then leaned in again. “Whatever this is, I’m happy for you.”

I wasn’t sure if he should be. I wasn’t really sure what this was or where it was going. I knew what I wanted, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it aloud, but it wasn’t up to me, and I wouldn’t push Bean, who was already dealing with a lot.

I could take it. A little heartbreak never killed anyone, and I had a feeling my life would be better for having known Bean, even if it ruined me a bit in the end.

“So.”

The moment was awkward. I felt it the second we settled on the couch with our feet up on the table. The dynamic had changed between us since our impromptu date, but we hadn’t really talked about it much except to say we were friends with benefits.

I could sense tension rolling off Bean in waves, and I felt like it was my fault.