Page 77 of Perfect Storm
“Ha,” Levi said. His gaydar had never been wrong yet.
Except, of course, when Aidan had told him that he was into guys and he’d been floored.
Another waitress—young, with a sweet smile—showed up with their waters, a bowl overflowing with salad, and two plates.
“You ever look at guys?” Levi asked as Aidan heaped salad on their plates.
Aidan glanced up at him. “Seriously?”
“What, it’s an understandable question,” Levi said. “Your best friend’s Landry, and even though he’smybrother, I can say objectively he’s damn good looking. Best-looking person in our family by a mile.”
“Hey now, don’t sell yourself short,” Aidan said, sounding honest to God a little offended.
Levi didn’t particularly need the ego boost—he was intimately aware of his pros and cons, probably even more than Aidan was—but Aidan’s easy retort still felt really good.
“Aw, thanks,” Levi teased, like Aidan hadn’t been as serious as he’d been.
Because Aidan beingthatserious about it sort of threw him.
Made him wonder, before he shoved the thought down, if thiscouldbe a date.
“To answer your question though . . .I don’tthinkso, but then, I didn’t think I was into guys at all. I think . . .sometimes I think I wasn’t even paying attention. Like just too caught up in everything I was doing, to wonder about what Iwasn’tdoing.”
“Yeah, I get that. I had Logan—but then, I think I came to terms that the fact I was gay a lot sooner than he did, even, so I’m not sure he really helped all that much.”
Aidan smiled. “Why do I think you probably helped him more than he ever helped you?”
“Maybe. I’ve just . . .I just always knew.”
“Lucky,” Aidan said, a little wryly.
“Hey, you got there eventually.”
Aidan had the nerve to look sulky. Levi hated it. Wanted to wash the look off his face, but he knew he couldn’t. Not here, not now.
“Eventually,” Aidan added quietly.
They ate their salad in silence, Levi mentally searching for a way to cheer Aidan up that wasn’t just grabbing him and kissing him in the middle of this little neighborhood restaurant.
Knocked his foot against Aidan’s casually, but other than a brief curl of his lips, Aidan didn’t really react much.
Aidan’s plate was almost empty when his phone dinged. Levi didn’t think he’d actually heard it make a noise since he’d arrived in Toronto, and Aidan had to get a shit ton of messages, so he was surprised to hear it actually notify him.
Aidan glanced over at it, and whatever it was,whoeverit was, was enough to drive that look off his face entirely.
God, what if it was Mo? Levi suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Jealous, even though he didn’t want to be, and guilty because of it.
Dom had been bad enough, with his curly dark hair and his handsome, friendly face.
But before Levi could figure out how to ask who it was that had put that smile on Aidan’s face, Aidan murmured under his breath, “It’s Riley. Just wants my advice on something. I’ll text him back later.”
“Oh yeah? How’s the kid doing?” Levi said it, knowing it would pry some kind of reaction out of him.
Aidan shot him a glare. “Don’t call him that.”
“Chill, it’s a joke,” Levi said, smiling.
“He’s just . . .Ijust . . .” Aidan took a deep breath. “I screwed up a lot and I’m trying to be a better brother.”
