Page 76 of Studious
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The next day, with a heavy heart, I go with Alden to Southwinds Coffee at lunch. While I’m tempted to put my arm around him and claim him as mine, I can let my baby bird go. I think.
We order separately, even though I want to buy him everything he desires. We shouldn’t look like we’re together. This way, he can grow. It’s better for him.
He gives me a small smile, and then I go to a café table for a date with my laptop and a brief, and he heads off to find someone to sit next to.
I can’t help watching him more than my screen, though. He stands for a moment, holding his iced mocha and sandwich, then spies a young guy with glasses who’s sitting by himself at the long bar, drinking a latte.
I hate the guy immediately.
But Alden smiles and points at the stool next to him. The guy smiles back, gesturing for Alden to sit down, and I want to punch something.
I can’t tell what they’re talking about, but I notice their body language. The guy perked up when Alden approached him. Alden isn’t anywhere near as fidgety as he was when I first met him. Although I don’t think he’ll ever be a smooth operator, I’m proud that he seems to be getting through a conversation with this guy without tripping over his tongue. Or anything else.
After a while, the guy pulls out his phone, and Alden does something on it. Probably giving him his number.
That pisses me off, even though it’s exactly what Alden should be doing.
I try to focus on the brief I have to write, but the words on the screen are meaningless. When Alden finishes his meal, I can’t stand it anymore. I slide my computer back into my bag and stride over to him.
“Alden!” I say cheerily and wrap an arm around his shoulder.
He gives me a confused but wide smile. “Hey, Danny. This is Joel.”
I shake his hand in a death grip. “Nice to meet you.”
“You, too,” Joel says. “Alden has a lead on where I can get an originalFireflyhat.”
“That TV show you like?”
Alden hops off his stool and nods. “Yeah.”
The guy eyes where my arm ends up—around Alden again—and he seems to get the idea.
I should feel evil about sabotaging Alden, but I don’t. He did what we came here to do: he talked to someone. I just don’t want him to get farther than that. Is that really so bad?
The guy gathers his things. “Nice to meet you, Alden. Danny.”
Alden gives Joel a little wave. “See you around?”
“Sure.”
After the guy leaves, Alden gives me a weird look. “Ready to go back to the office?”
I nod.
Alden follows me out of the shop. When we get into the elevator, thankfully alone, he asks, “What was that about? I thought I was doing okay. I didn’t need a rescue.”
I rub my hand over my face. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal. There was no spark. I didn’t think he was someone I’d want to get together with. But he could be a friend.”
“That’s not what he was thinking.”
Alden puts a hand on his hip. “If I didn’t know any better, Danny, I’d think you were jealous.”
I gulp. The elevator doors open, but we don’t immediately get out. “Yeah. I think maybe I was, a little.”
