Page 69 of Make the Play
“Everyonedoeslike Jason, because he’s really fucking nice,” Charlie says, laying his suit on the edge of the couch before crossing his arms. “Jason is the nicest guy in the world, and a lot of people, especially his exes, knew that. They liked it because it meant they got what they wanted. The thing about Jason is that he’s always had one giant flaw—his shit taste in women.”
That wiggly uncomfortable feeling in Emerson’s gut magnifies, both at the reminder of Jason being straight and at the idea of him being used.
Despite what some people think, Emerson is not naive. Just because he doesn’t always understand or recognize a lot of social norms doesn’t mean he isn’t aware they exist. He’s smart enough to know that a man like Jason—handsome, built like a brick house, and kind—might get used. He just has a hard time reconciling that objective knowledge with the man he knows, a man who deserves to be treasured.
“Jason has always picked the kind of women who would wear his hoodie in public but never in private. He was as much a trophy to them as the ones he helped his teams win.” Charlie pushes off the chair, inching closer to Emerson. “You, on the other hand, had no idea I would be here when you got dressed.”
“I just borrowed it,” Emerson blurts, bunching the overly long sleeves in his fists. He kind of feels like he’s in trouble even though he’s a grown man who didn’t technically do anything wrong. “I uh, I’m going to give it back. I wasn’t—I mean?—”
“Relax, Emerson,” Charlie says, grabbing his suit off the chair. “I like you. I can see why Jason does too. You know if?—”
“Charlie King, get your ass out of my store,” Denise says, half a smile on her face. “Stop bothering my clients.”
“One day, you’re going to take me on as a client too, Denise. I can feel it. I’m growing on you.”
“You’re growing on me like a weed. Get out of here and tell that sweetheart brother of yours I set up an appointment in December for that suit fitting.”
“What December fitting? Where’s Andrew going? What’s he need a suit for?” Charlie rapid fires.
“You can ask him that yourself.” The look she gives Charlie would make Emerson cry if it were directed at him. “Now get out of here so I can finish with Mr. Miller without you loitering around making a nuisance of yourself or worse, ruining my samples.”
“Oh for fucks sake, it was one time, Denise.” Charlie sighs heavily when he gets no response. “Fine, but just know that I am only leaving because I need to call Andrew and find out about this mysterious event he’s going to that I don’t know about and not because you’re making me.”
Without breaking eye contact with Denise, he slowly inches his way towards the front door.
“You can tell yourself whatever you want,” Denise says, “that doesn't make it true.”
“Women,” Charlie grumbles, before plastering a smile on his face and turning to look at Emerson. “It was good seeing you again. Say hi to Ariel for me.”
“Who’s Ariel?”
“Jason, obviously,” Charlie answers, as if it’s obvious. He is easily one of the most chaotic people that Emerson has ever met, which is saying a lot since he spent several hours with Jason’s younger brother Alec last week. Charlie makes Alec look, well, easy. “That was his nickname when he was little because he was so obsessed with the Little Mermaid. I swear he used to parade around the house wrapped in a blanket saying it was his mermaid tail. He was a cute kid. In hindsight, his thing with redheads started early.”
Emerson barely resists the urge to touch his own red hair. It’s too bad he’s not a woman, maybe he’d have a chance with Jason.
“Great talk we had, Emerson. We should definitely do it again. Have Jason give you my number so we can get lunch.”
“Okay,” Emerson agrees automatically, having absolutely no intention of following through. Honestly, if that counts as a talk it’s no wonder Emerson doesn’t talk to very many people. That entire interaction was confusing and left him feeling like he definitely missed something he shouldn’t have, though to be fair that’s his default feeling talking to most people who aren’t Jason or his students.
“Are you alright to do your final fitting?”
“Sure,” Emerson replies, refusing to admit he’d temporarily forgotten Denise. At least it’s only them now that Charlie’s left the shop though.
“You don’t sound excited,” she says, nodding towards the back room. “Second thoughts about the suit?”
“Not exactly,” Emerson hedges.
“You wanna talk about it?”
“Is this one of those trick questions where someone asks that but doesn’t mean it?” Emerson questions. “Because if it is, please just tell me so I don’t embarrass myself. I promise you won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t actually want to talk to me. Lots of people don’t and?—”
“Emerson,” Denise interrupts, moving to stand in front of him. She’s considerably shorter, but her aura makes Emerson shut up and pay attention. It’s not scary, but it is commanding. “Listen, doll face, I spent a lot of years saying shit I didn’t mean to get along in this world, and I don’t do that anymore. In case you didn’t hear me with Charlie, I have no tolerance for bullshit anymore.”
“You don’t like Charlie?”
“Charlie King is a good man, talented beyond belief, and also a raging pain in my ass. But I handle him because his brother is one of my favorite people on this shitty planet we call Earth, and he loves Charlie. He’s not bad, but he’s a lot to handle, you know?”
Emerson remains quiet, unsure if he’s supposed to actually agree or not. He feels like he shouldn’t, because Jason loves Charlie. But then again, Jason spends a lot of time calling Charlie a shithead, so maybe it’s okay if Emerson’s feelings for him are adjacent to his feelings about holidays—something you like in small doses but find overwhelming after prolonged exposure.
