Well-Tailored (Thorne and Dash 4)

Marc managed to arrive at the shop two minutes early. Darius glared at him and pointed to a fabric order that needed to be organized.

Right. Normal start to the day.

The morning dragged by—tux fittings really weren’t very exciting—and it became apparent they were not going to mention what had happened the night before.

Riley texted Marc, saying he’d gone to the lake on his own because Thorne thought he needed to take that time.

Marc sighed.

“Something wrong?” Darius asked.

“No, not really.”

“Then get back to work.” Apparently, Darius was even more of an ass when he was pissed at himself for letting his cock take charge.

Marc had promised Darius he’d stay until midafternoon, but he was feeling the need to escape for a bit, so as soon as they finished the fittings, he asked to take lunch. Darius waved him off, and he headed toward Ivan’s. He’d fought his bagel craving long enough. No way in hell was he going to invite Darius to go with him, considering he’d said less than twenty words all day and that counted the ones he’d spoken to customers.

He pulled out his phone and called Riley. If things were better with Thorne now, maybe Riley could help him figure out what the fuck to do about Darius.

“If you’re calling to bitch at me, don’t.” Riley didn’t even bother saying hello.

Before Marc could say anything, Riley kept going.

“I’ve spent the day beating myself up about everything. You were right, okay? I’m an ass, and I need to apologize to Thorne, but I haven’t worked up the nerve to tell him that yet.”

“I got the job.” There. It was out. No more stalling.

“What? With Darius?”

“Yes. That one. I was going to tell you last night, but it didn’t seem like the time.”

“That’s fantastic! When do you start?”

Riley wasn’t going to like this. “Last week.”

Riley made a choked sound. “What? And you didn’t tell me then?”

“You’ve been a bit busy, you know. School. A new business. Falling apart over Thorne’s high-handed generosity. And you didn’t seem to think it was a good idea.”

Likely Riley thought exactly what Marc had thought himself: Marc would fall for Darius, make stupid choices, quit, and keep being an escort. Riley wanted Marc to find a direction as much as Marc did himself.

Riley sighed. “I…fuck, Marc. I suck at being a friend. I suck at being a boyfriend. I’m just shit right now.”

Marc wasn’t trying to put a guilt trip on him, just stating facts. “No, you’re not. It’s fine. I started the day after he hired me. I was eager.”

“I bet you were. Is he as good as you expected?”

Marc hesitated. He’d intended to tell Riley about what had happened with Darius the night before and ask his advice, but now that it was time for him to actually form the words, he couldn’t do it. “I never kiss and tell.”

Coward.

Riley didn’t say a word. The silence lasted long enough that Marc wondered if the call had dropped. “You there?”

“Yeah, I’m just patiently waiting for lightning to strike.”

“Ha! Fine, I always kiss and tell, but this is…” So Marc had never hesitated to tell Riley about his conquests in the past. This was different.

“Do not say complicated.”

Since when had he become a cliché? “But it is.”

He heard Riley clattering around. He was probably baking something. Finally Riley said, “You’re being rather cagey.”

“So is Darius.” Cagey was a hell of an understatement.

“You mean you haven’t fucked yet?” Riley sounded shocked. Was he that predictable?

Tell him. He’s your best friend.

Marc considered it. Why was it so difficult? It had never been this hard to talk to Riley, even when he’d really screwed up.

“Um…can I just tell you about the actual work?”

“Sure.” Was that hurt in Riley’s voice? Disbelief? Confusion? “How’s it going? Do you think you’ll like it?”

At least Riley wasn’t going to push him about his non-relationship. “Darius can be an ass to work for, but actually, yeah. I like it. I’ve already learned a fuckload about creating by instinct and not being hampered by a pattern or preconceived ideas.”

“Is it tiring?” Riley asked.

Did he sound that bad? “Yeah, but part of the time I’m just standing there holding pins. Watching Darius measure someone for a suit is fucking mesmerizing. His hands are so… And the way he moves… I had to hold some fabric in front of my fly the other day, and of course Darius knew why.” At least he was comfortable confessing that much. Riley would hardly believe he’d behaved like a monk.

“He was probably working you up on purpose.”

“Yeah, he would.” The bastard. “So when are you going to call Thorne?”

“I don’t know. He told me to call if I wanted him to join me here, but—”

“Fuck, he said if?” Dear God, do not let them break up.

“Yeah, he did.”

“Damn.”

“There is no if,” Riley insisted.