Page 8 of Tricking an Introvert

“Ignore him, he’s a heathen. If it can’t be slapped in a burger bun, he’s probably not interested.”

Tessa looked at him and sighed. “Well, I suppose no one can be perfect.” She returned her attention to Michael. “Maryland blue crab is to die for. They have these big lodges open to the public. You buy an entry ticket and they bring out the crab in bushel baskets. They give you mallets, and waitresses walk around with drawn butter. That’s it. No plates. Fuck plates.”

“I think I’m in love. Can we go now?”

“Must we?”

“Yes,” Tessa and Michael replied as one. With a grimace of disgust, she added, “I suppose they might have chicken or something if you request it.”

Cole cheered up. “Okay, let me pull the car around.”

Tessa made a mental note. He helped Michael with covers, marketing, publicity, and was an occasional driver too.

Michael must have thought something along the same line, because he said, “He babies me.”

Tessa shrugged. “You’re his boss.”

Michael shook his head. “I don’t pay him for half of what he does, and he knows it.”

His tone had changed, become darker. A little melancholy.

Suddenly, Tessa blushed. It hadn’t really clicked until now, but she’d read somewhere that Michael was gay; were he and Cole an item? She hadn’t gotten that vibe, though that would explain why he hadn’t been interested by Cutie or Perky Titties. That would also explain why he was so eager to talk to her. Tessa got along with gay guys, in general, as there was no attraction on either side.

She felt stupid for not having realized it before.

“So, you work with your boyfriend? That must be complicated.”

Michael laughed. He laughed so hard he had to bend forward and hold his sides. He looked like it might hurt after a while. When he could breathe again, he replied, “Er, no. No, not at all. And that would be majorly weird. Like, dating-my-brother weird.”

“Oh.” She blushed again. Damn, she was normally good at gauging people.

“It’s just…we're codependent, and I don’t even think he realizes it. I don’t put a stop to it because it suits me. Basically, he allows me to stay in my bubble. I allow him to not have time for other people—so he doesn’t need to take risks, open up. It’s unhealthy. If I’d been here alone, I would have had to take some transport, or walk around. Chat with people, maybe.”

He looked away.

“Well, you’re chatting with me,” she supplied.

Michael chuckled. “There’s that.”

She knew exactly what he meant. Hell, she was him—without the hunky aide.

“And we’re going to a local event, too.”

“Yes, I suppose we are.” Michael got to his feet. “Let me take care of the bill, and we can wait for the car outside.”

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