Page 6 of Burning Up

Bryce smiled. “Yeah, I’m a little too big for the backseat.”

“That you are,” Toby said, sounding like he was saying something dirty.

Yeah, Bryce was big all right, all over, but he wasn’t about to respond with those words, no matter how much he wanted to. “So where you want to go?” Toby asked as he slid into the backseat.

“You seem to have this all planned,” Bryce retorted, realizing his words sounded more annoyed than he intended. They were trying to be nice, but he didn’t want anyone being nice, because he didn’t want anyone noticing his weakness.

“Elmer’s?” Matt suggested with no hint he’d taken offense.

Bryce considered. Saturday mornings brought in a big crowd, but it was only ten after eight so it wouldn’t be bad yet. “All right,” he agreed, still not allowing himself to show any real enthusiasm despite how much he loved Elmer’s French toast.

“You hardly ate last night. You’ve got to be starving,” Toby said.

“I ate.”

“You—”

“Toby.” Matt’s voice held a warning.

“Sorry. I can be a bit of a mother hen sometimes. It’s that oldest kid thing.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever been mothered by someone half my size,” Bryce said.

Toby laughed. “Get used to it now that I’m on your shift.”

“He has a hard time with boundaries,” Matt said.

Toby reached around the seat and slapped Matt’s shoulder.

“Hey, I’m driving here,” Matt protested.

Bryce loved the easy camaraderie between them. The drive to Elmer’s Diner only took a few minutes. He’d predicted correctly that they’d beat the crowd, and they got seated right away in a corner booth.

“Coffee?” the waitress asked. All three men nodded vigorously. She smiled as she filled their cups. “I’ll be back to take your orders soon.”

“You’ve been here before, right?” Toby asked.

Bryce nodded. “Yeah, several times.” It had actually been one of the first places he’d discovered. Mason had recommended it, and it was only a few streets over from the duplex Bryce was renting. Mason tried to get him to try the chocolate chip pancakes, but despite knowing that cinnamon sugar French toast with syrup was just as sweet, chocolate chips in pancakes seemed like too much.

Matt smiled. “Good. You got a favorite order?”

“I’m partial to the French toast.”

“Biscuits and gravy is my favorite,” Matt said, his words dreamy like he was being mesmerized by the menu choices.

Toby was about to share his choice when the waitress arrived.

She took Toby’s order—banana pancakes and sausage. Matt ordered biscuits and gravy with a side of scrambled eggs. And then it was Bryce’s turn. “I’ll have the cinnamon French toast platter with scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns.”

When she walked away, Bryce realized Matt and Toby were grinning at him. “We knew you were hungry,” Toby said.

Bryce laughed. “That’s nothing. There’s a lot of me to keep going.”

“I can see that.” Toby let his eyes roam. Whoa, he was way too bold for his own good. Bryce was going to have to watch himself if he intended to keep work and sex separate.

“You were right, though. I’m starving. Thanks for suggesting breakfast.”

“Sure.” Toby’s eyes twinkled. He seemed very sure of himself.

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