Page 83 of The Chemist

Diesel shrugged. “Had my appointment with the head shrink, then stopped for a bite to eat. Here,” Diesel said, tossing a brown paper bag to Zero.

“What’s this?” Zero asked, opening the bag and pulling out a sandwich.

“Tuna and cucumber. I bought three sandwiches, ate two and didn’t want the third. I’m going to go shower.” He turned and jogged up the stairs.

“Mmm, my favorite.”Zero moaned to himself as he turned the sandwich over in his hands.

“Want half?” Zero asked, turning to face a smirking Jared. “What?”

“Nothing,” Jared answered in that teasing tone of his.

“What’s with thejackassface?”

“Man, you really are dense,” Jared said, sitting up and grabbing the floor plan once again.

Zero was so confused. “I don’t get it?”

Jared chuckled. “Diesel hates tuna. There’s no way he would have bought himself that sandwich if he wasn’t intending on giving it to you.”

Glancing down at the sandwich, Zero tried to remember if he had ever seen Diesel eating tuna before. Had he ever mentioned to Diesel that he loved tuna and cucumber sandwiches?

Pulling back the wrapper, he opened one half. “Well, that was really nice of him. You sure you don’t want some?”

“No thanks.” Jared paused and turned his gaze toward him. “You do realize what this means, right?”

Zero shrugged, not sure where Jared was going with his train of thought.

“Diesel buying something for someone else is huge.”

“It’s just a sandwich,” Zero noted, taking a bite and watching Jared’s face contort into something that resembled a parent who just realized that their child does not know what a rotary telephone is.

“No. You don’t get it. Diesel is one of the most selfish people I know. He doesn’t think about anyone but himself.”

“He cares about you and the guys at the club,” Zero added, finding it really hard to believe that Diesel was that much of an asshole. Yes, he had first-hand experience with that selfish douchebag side Jared was talking about, but the man wasn’t all bad all the time.

“Yes, Diesel is nice to me and the other guys, but with people he doesn’t know and people he doesn’t care about, he is the biggest prick you’ll ever meet. His buying you a sandwich is the equivalent of him buying you a commitment ring. It means that he likes you and that he trusts you.” Jared smirked and leaned back in his spot. “Guess you’re one of us now.”

Like? Trust?Was Diesel really warming up to him in such a way?

A small smile tugged at his lips. Perhaps he really was worming his way into the little prick’s heart.

He took a bite of his sandwich and let that gooey feeling spread throughout his belly.

Diesel… liking him.

Who would have thought?

Then a thought came to him. He turned toward Jared, hoping he was doing the right thing.

“Do you mind covering for me tonight?”

“Sure thing, man. Why? What are you up to?” Jared asked, eyes asking for confirmation for what he suspected.

“Just something I want to check out.” Zero hopped up from the couch, ignoring the cocky smirk Jared had plastered to his face, and bounded up the stairs.

The shower was already running in the bathroom that they shared. Zero gave a knock, hoping Diesel’s mood hadn’t soured in the ten minutes since he had last seen him.

“Yeah?” Diesel’s voice called from behind the closed door.

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