"Can I get an iced tea with lemon and no sugar…thanks." The guy nodded and smiled looking across at the table. I sighed and kicked up both my legs hitting two knees. Kendall and Carlos pulled away from their smooched faces and blushed clearing their throats. "You know what…just two cokes for them. Thanks man." The guy laughed but nodded and walked away shaking his head. "If I had known you perverts were going to be like this I would have not offered to buy you lunch."
"Kendall doesn't know how to keep his hands or his lips to himself. Not my fault."
"You're just jealous Logan isn't here because if he was you'd be doing the same thing." I rolled my eyes and looked down at my menu sighing softly. "So…who was on the phone bro?" Kendall leaned back putting one arm around Carlos's chair and stared at me. "You said sorry but no thanks…what was that about?" Carlos slowly raised his head along with a questioning eyebrow. I swallowed hard knowing if I said anything that might hurt…or upset Logan, Carlos would be on top of me "beating" me as best as he could. Carlos and Logan were close.
"Well…I got a job offer in New York for Sports Center. I turned it down." Both their mouths dropped open and I put my face back into my menu trying to figure out what sounds good for a light lunch. I guess I could do a sandwich because we've been walking around L.A. since dropping Logan off at work but then again, maybe a salad would be better because I didn't want to fill up for dinner.
"Dude…that would be an amazing job for you." I looked up quick at Kendall who was now glaring at me. Like I just told him…hockey is stupid or something. "I know it's not the greatest place because it's s far from here, but that would be awesome for you."
"Yeah but Logan's job is here. And my life is here. It would be a stupid decision and I decided not to do it. Plain and simple."
"Well I can't imagine Logan being behind that 100%..." I looked to Carlos and felt a little bad for not telling him but I knew what it would cause to tell him. "Oh wait…you didn't tell him, right?"
"Well obviously he did because he turned it down."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? I can't make my choices without Logan's approval?" Kendall raised his hand sin defense and shrugged.
"You're words not mine." I tossed my menu on the table making Carlos sigh and stare back at his boyfriend.
"Don't be a jerk. All I'm saying is Logan likes to be informed in your life James. It's a strong point in your relationship. Even if you truly didn't want to take the job, you should have told him about it." It was unbelievable. It was like Carlos knew everything going through my mind without me saying one word. It was a quality I loved about him. Well and that he looks out for Logan at every chance he got. "That would be like Kendall keeping something huge form me like that. I would be so mad he didn't even have the balls to tell me." Carlos said the last bit with a hint of ice in his voice while staring back at him. "Like your real motive for coming out here." I sat up slowly, left eyebrow raised and saw Kendall clench his jaw also sitting up. "Go ahead Kenny…tell James why we came out. Tell James why you are suddenly interested in L.A.s real estate." I set my elbows on the table looking between my two suddenly pissed off best friends. When he didn't say anything away Carlos shook his head and looked back to me. "Kendall has something wrong with his heart. He can't play any more." It felt like my entire head was knocked off my body and my heart stopped. Kendall looked away still clenching his jaw. "As he put it, he wants to move out here so we can be closer to you guys incase his heart gives out or something and I'm not left alone. Real considerate aint he?"
"Dude…"
"He's over reacting James." Kendall finally faced me and forced a fake smile. I still saw the pain and maybe fear in his eyes. "The doctors are still running tests. They know for sure something is wrong with it, but nothing is certain. As a precaution they don't want me playing one of the most brutal games in professional sports. I'm sure everything will come back squeaky clean and in the mean time I was just thinking of moving back to the golden coast to see you guys some more and get a nice big house on the beach for my stubborn and paranoid and adorable boyfriend and I to grow in."
"I swear to God Knight…" Carlos picked up his glass of water and sipped it while Kendall leaned in and kissed his cheek.
"Whoa...back up a sec guys. Kendall…are you alright? I mean…what started it?"
"Nothing right now James. It's okay. I just started having horrible chest pains after games and practice and sometimes they would make me weak and sometimes they would make me cough really bad. I went to the team physician who sent me to a doctor and I'm here now. Everything is fine. I'm too young and too good looking to croak now." I rolled my eyes and smiled small. He might have a heart condition but it won't stop his ridiculous sense of humor. Carlos on the other hand didn't find it funny and turned to him quick, anger written all over his face. Kendall leaned in again to steal another kiss but Carlos turned his attention to the waiter who was setting our drinks down smiling.
"Alright guys…you need some more time deciding?" I shook my head and picked up my menu.
"I'll have the soup and salad of the day." He nodded writing it down and taking my menu turning his body towards Kendall and Carlos.
"He's going to have the bacon cheeseburger, no onions, and no mayo with fries, and I'm going to have the meatloaf meal. Please." I smiled small watching Carlos melt away his anger when Kendall order his favorite to the waiter. Kendall sat back in his chair picking up his glass and sipped it watching the waiter walk away. Carlos also grabbed his glass smiling small and leaning back into Kendall who chuckled, more to himself wrapping around him. "When I hear anything, I'll let you know." I nodded slowly. "But not James, my sports reporter friend. James, my best friend who can't tell a soul." I raised my left hand and crossed my heart with my right hand. Kendall laughed and sighed out looking around the restaurant.
While we waited for our food we made small talk, no one bringing up the small chance one of my closest friends might not be healthy as he made everyone think. It worried me and I knew exactly what it would do if Logan heard about it. Do I risk it and tell him Kendall not be okay and have him find out the hard way? Or do I leave him in the dark. Either way I'd be fucked. Logan's really close with Carlos but Kendall and him have an odd relationship. They've known each other longer than any else of us, and lived next door to each other since they were two. Their moms are best friends and their dads would drive them to hockey practice and then take them out for hot chocolate afterwards. The first time Logan got a bully problem, Kendall was there to stick up for him. He got put in the time out corner in kindergarten for pushing the kid down and he's still proud of himself for that day. So if Logan were to find out something was wrong with Kendall…it would crush Logan to the point of not being okay, for a long time. "So…what do you know about Logan's job, and his boss?" I snapped out of my thoughts and frowned at Kendall. He laughed sitting up and grabbed Carlos's hand lacing their fingers together. I was getting a little sick of all their lovey dovey cute crap, but let it slide. "I mean…I run background checks on all the people Carlos comes in contact with. Just to make sure he's safe."
"No because you're a prick." Kendall let Carlos's comment slide and I laughed.
"I haven't run any background checks. I just know he works for a huge company for a guy name Louis Stevens. Logan said the guy told him to call him Mr. Louis. Pretty formal and casual I guess so he won't work Logan to death hopefully. He also said he thinks he's gay which can either be a good thing or a bad thing but I trust Logan." Before either of them could say anything our waiter came to the end of our table and started putting out plates in front of us. We all smiled warmly at him and I thanked him but he frowned and put his tray down at his side.
"I'm sorry…I don't mean to interrupt or stick my nose in your business but did you say Mr. Louis? As in Louis Stevens of CbV Financial Corp?" I nodded slowly and he rolled his eyes pooping out his left hip. "I know you trust your boyfriend I assume, but that doesn't mean he can't be swayed." I opened my mouth ready to start yelling at this douche but he beat me to it. "Mr. Louis as a way of…convincing guys to do whatever his tiny little brain desires. He didn't hire your boyfriend because he's smart, even thought he'll tell him that. He hired him to have a nice little…toy during the work day. And he'll start off by buttering you up with your own office with the latest in technology, and he'll let you slide past stupid shit and make other employees do your work just so you can go run errands with him. Then he'll suggest you move into his office with him so you guys could work closer together to get things done better and faster but that ends up being banging on his desk every day after everyone else goes home. Forget about a boyfriend or any social life outside Mr. Louis's. He tells you he loves you and just like that you're his. You either play along with his game or you're fired."
"Let me guess…you were the guy before Logan?" Our waiter turned to Kendall and smiled.
"I left my boyfriend for Louis. I moved in with the bastard hoping to get ahead by sucking his dick and look where it got me." My mouth dropped open and he smiled around at all of us. "Let me know if you guys need anything else." He turned sassily and walked away fast. I helplessly turned to Kendall and Carlos who were…eating. Like everything that guy just told me wasn't ground breaking and Earth shattering. To me, it sounded like Logan had already had an affair. But that wasn't Logan. He wasn't that kind of guy. He couldn't do anything like that to me.
I ate, hardly any of my food, my mind and stomach somewhere else in complete silence. Carlos and Kendall talked and laughed quietly telling me every way and then the guy was just bitter for being fired and to trust Logan. I did. I sure did trust him but I suddenly wasn't a fan of him working. With our waiter came back, Matt, he gave the check to Kendall who demanded it and turned to me waiting for Kendall to pull out some money. "When Logan decides he can get farther with Louis come find me here." He gave me a flirty smile that painfully reminded me of Logan. I dumbly watched him walk away and felt like my heart was ripped out.
"Well he gets off in three hours…we spent more time here then we planned but we can go to the mall or something I guess." I blindly agreed and followed them out of the restaurant wondering why Logan hadn't called or even text just to say his day was going great. I let Kendall drive and sat in the back hoping the next three hours went fast.
I let my mind go numb with no thoughts or worries as I walked next to Kendall as we made our way around the huge two story mall. They would go in a few stores pointing things out to each other every now and then and share secret glances with cute smiles. That was half the reason I didn't want to think about Logan and his…boss. But when Kendall told me it was 4:45 and we should be heading back downtown to pick him up my heartbeat picked up speed. I stayed in the backseat as we parked in a timed spot and Carlos got out to pay for it. Kendall asked me one last time if I was alright and I nodded once, not letting one word slip out of my mouth. I waited patiently and stared out my window like a lost dog. Something weird was happening to me. It was a feeling I had felt before. Many times actually. And this feeling always came when Logan was around another other man. I felt this way sometimes when he was around Kendall or Carlos, especially Kendall. But it has never been this bad before. This was bad. This was the first time, in a long time where I was jealous to the point of oozing out green slime. I just wanted to lock Logan up and keep him as mien forever, with no one touching or seeing him ever. All mine. "Here he comes…5 on the dot." I sat up quick and took my seatbelt off. I put on a big, huge fake smile and opened the back door. When he spotted us he walked over quickly smiling ear to ear. At least he had a good day. But seeing him made my smile fade. He had a decent sized box in his arms with his messenger bag, full to the brim of paper over his shoulder and his jacket lying on top of the box. His sleeves were rolled up on his arms and his hair had fallen flat. His tie was loose around his neck, and he looked exhausted, yet I had never seen him more adorable.
"Hi baby. Long day?" I quickly took the box from him as he got closer and pushed it on the floor of the back seat. I turned back to him and let him collide into my body wrapping around my torso.
"Long exhausting and killing day. But…it was so worth it. I've already done so much James. I mean I feel like I could easily run this company already. I had to negotiate with a French guy today and my boss told me he was so impressed as soon as a higher job was open to actually work for the company instead of him, he was going to put my name into the mix!" I forced my pained smiled again kissing his head and hugging him tight. "And I know this might sound odd but I'm actually excited I have to do work tonight! I mean, it's not a lot and it's mostly things for HR, but I actually get to be an active member of society." I chuckled over him and let him push off me. "And on top of al that, on Saturday I was invited to a company party and I can bring friends, and a date so get your tux out." I frowned and took his bag off his shoulder helping him in the back of the truck. He said his hi's to Kendall and Carlos who joked about him being a nerd. He sat down sighing softly and put his head back yawning.
"My tux? Sounds formal. Will I be able to meet your…boss?" I got stupid looks from Kendall and Carlos but shook them off.
"You will be able to meet everyone I work with. You guys to. If you're still hear that is. When are you guys going back to Minnesota?" The whole truck went quiet and Kendal gripped the steering wheel looking at Logan in the rearview mirror.
"Actually…Carlos and I need to talk to you about something." I quickly grabbed Logan's hand and squeezed making him sit up and turn worried very quickly.
"What's wrong? What's going on?" I looked to Kendall unable to believe he'd want to get the third degree from Logan right now but decided to stay out of it. I would rather be there as his shoulder then his punching bag when he found out Kendall kept it from him for this long.