It's Complicated: A Reservations Story

After a small patch of rustling, Beckett heard Levi’s voice say, “Thane, stop. Give me the phone.” Levi sounded as irritated as both Beckett and Thane. Seconds later, Levi said into the phone, “Beckett?”

He had to take a quick breath to keep from barking at Levi. He liked Levi. Levi was the only one in the whole club to take pity on him and reveal bits and pieces about Julian.

“I’m here,” Beckett finally said, trying for a lighter tone. “I thought you were moving to Maryland.”

“I am, once Logan graduates. Listen, Julian’s not here. He’s had a… Well, he’s taken a few days off. He should be back tonight. Can I give him a message for you?”

“I…” What did he say? Thane threw him off course. “Yeah. I’m coming into town for about a week. I’d like to…schedule some time with him.” Oh holy hell, that sounded stupid as fuck. End the call. “Could you just have him call me?”

“Levi, hand me the phone,” Thane demanded before Levi could respond.

“Why? You get angry when Julian oversteps, then you do this? This is none of your business,” Levi countered.

“But it is my business.” The jostling noises let Beckett know there was a struggle for control of the phone. One which Thane obviously won since his voice sounded loud and clear as he said, “St. Clair. We need to meet. Lunch tomorrow.” Not a question, but a demand.

“Early dinner,” Beckett countered, refusing to let go of the control.

He and Thane both said, “Away from the club,” at the same time.

Beckett was still firmly in the kicking Thane’s ass mode.

“Where?” Thane barked.

“You have my number.” Over this conversation, Beckett clipped out, “Tell Julian I called.”

Beckett started to lower the phone when Thane said, “I will after we meet.” Then that psycho control freak ended the call on Beckett.

He drew in a deep breath to release his irritation and lowered his cell. His good mood had plummeted. A while ago, he rationalized that he and Thane might have some tension because Beckett’s normal table was in Levi’s section, but that was Thane’s fault too.

If Thane didn’t like Levi having friends at the club, he should have thought about that before he’d hired his boyfriend to work there. Thane could financially take care of Levi. He didn’t have to work in a place where he catered to so many men. If given the chance, Beckett would do that for Julian in a second...

Wait, slow down. He’d just taken a pole-vaulting jump into the stratosphere.

His already souring attitude took a full nosedive. He scrubbed a palm over his face while scolding himself. He needed to let it go and concentrate on his trip. There were a million things to get ready before he could head out in the morning.

Beckett went for his bedroom to dress, whipping the towel off his hips with more force than necessary. Man, he wanted to kick Walker’s arrogant ass.

Julian quietly took each step up to the night club’s office, listening to Levi and Thane. He couldn’t tell if they were fighting or mating. An argument might intrigue him; them getting their sex on, not so much. At the top of the stairs, Julian paused, tucking his chin to his chest, concentrating on deciphering the unusual exchange. Julian tilted his ear toward the door to better hear the heated words.

Levi surprised Julian. Thane’s forceful personality even had Julian giving into that demanding side more often than he cared to admit. Levi never did, though. Thane had met his match in the young med student. Levi gave Thane the one, two punch over whatever they were fighting about.

Thane demonstrated a deep need to care for his boyfriend, but Levi was just as determined to take care of Thane. He could see how the two might butt heads while trying to balance one another out, but this disagreement sounded different.

Their voices grew louder, and Julian heard his name used.

Thane implied Levi held back some information… Julian raised his eyebrows at the mad respect he had for Levi, which grew by leaps and bounds as Levi refused to spill Julian’s secret.

Then Beckett’s name got tossed into the mix, and Julian straightened his spine as he edged closer to the door. Thane put his foot down about Julian dating someone they didn’t know. Levi insisted it was none of their business.

Julian gave a curt nod of agreement. Damn straight. He was sick and tired of their merry-go-round with that topic. By God, he could date whomever the hell he wanted to.

He didn’t wait another second to bust through the office door to see Thane putting the landline in the cradle as if he’d been talking on the phone moments ago instead of just arguing with Levi.

“What in the WWE SmackDown is going on here?” Julian asked in such a way that made it clear he’d been listening and knew exactly what happened.