Page 65 of How Not to Date a Griffin

“Besides you?”

Nolan was just as shocked as Reid was at the blatant line, and heat rushed to his face as the moment stretched on. Reid’s eyes were dark as Nolan cleared his throat. “Even I’ve heard about the crème brûlée,” Nolan informed him. “Especially after yesterday, when you were the talk of the entire convention.”

His brows furrowed, lips pursing in doubt. “Oh, come on, now, that’s an exaggeration.”

“It’s really not,” Nolan pressed, turning in the booth to face him. “Honestly, I passed several groups yesterday raving about your food.”

In the moment, just the sound of Reid’s name had made Nolan’s chest tight with affection, and it bloomed into pride the second he’d realized what the groups were discussing.

“Really?” Reid asked, disbelief in his voice.

“Really. Honest truth,” Nolan swore. “It’s part of why I was so excited you invited me here.”

Like they were in orbit, Reid leaned into him, too. “What’s the other part, then?”

“I’d think it's obvious by now,” Nolan began, “but I quite like you, Reid. I want to learn everything I can about you.”

If Nolan was a decent person, he would’ve left well enough alone days ago. Why be cruel and drag this out when they both knew it only ended one way? He was a greedy, terrible person, already threatening Reid’s business, his life. And apparently that wasn’t even enough; no, Nolan wanted every piece of Reid the man was willing to divulge. He’d take every crumb he was offered and stow it away for safekeeping. Because if each crumb was as delectable as the crème brûlée—and it had proven to be thus far—he wanted to savor them for as long as possible.

And if a tiny, quiet part of him wondered if there was another solution, he ignored it completely. Didn’t even give thought to… quitting. Leaving it all behind. His lonely apartment and his soulless job, his terrible father.

Maybe if he was brave, he could mold any kind of future he wanted from this moment. But Nolan was no fucking sculptor.

After the dessert was cleared, the restaurant did too, and Reid left him briefly to lock up after the night shift. He returned with two glasses of ice water and presented them with a flourish.

“Don’t tell night shift.”

“I’ll take this secret to my grave,” he vowed, and accepted the crisp, clear glass.

They talked for what felt like forever, and yet it passed in the blink of an eye. They were facing each other, legs pulled up in the curved booth to better see one another. Reid still glowed long after his rival, the sun, had set, leaving him the brightest thing around.

When a lull in the conversation finally provided an opportunity, Nolan tilted his head and bravely asked Reid the question he’d been pondering all day.

“Would you want to be my date to this... schmoozing party? It’s a brunch on Friday, after the conference concludes. I do have to give a little speech, but my father is mostly having me attend so he can have photo evidence framing him as the perfect dad. After that, I’m usually left to stand in the corner and hate my life for a few hours. Want to make it a little more bearable for me?”

It was selfish to ask Reid to suffer alongside him for a few hours, but, well, maybe it wouldn’t be suffering at all, if Reid was there.

“After that enthusiastic invite, how can I decline?”

Nolan smiled, sipping his drink. “Good. I look forward to it.”

“Won’t your father have something to say about you bringing… me?”

“Oh, I’m positive,” Nolan nodded. “But he won’t do it where there’s an audience, so I don’t care.”

“You really mean that?”

Reid stared at him for a moment, and Nolan tried to imagine the direction of his thoughts. Lights flashed through the window, briefly illuminating his features.

“Of course I do,” Nolan said softly, leaning against the table, reaching out to rest his hand on Reid’s forearm. “Listen, Reid, I’ve been thinking—”

A loud crash interrupted, and Nolan and Reid shared a wide-eyed glance. Glass shattered, echoing around the empty restaurant like a threat, followed by the thunk of something heavy.

“Stay here,” Reid said, and before Nolan could argue, he was gone.

For once, Nolan didn’t listen, and followed right after him.

Reid