Daniel snorted out a laugh, going limp in his chair and staring up at the exposed wood beams of our ceiling.
“Good to see you haven’t changed entirely,” he said. “You still have that sense of humor.”
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it.”
The two of them laughed together, sharing some private joke that would never be meant for me, and instead of being jealous, I loved that for them. I loved that Daniel had that and loved that Finn had that, and I wanted them both to have more of it—and I wanted them to have it together.
I justwanted.
“Do you still prefer a Manhattan?” Daniel asked, grabbing the empty wine bottle and Finn’s empty wine glass. He stood, and I watched Finn watch him move.
“Yeah. Yes.”
“I’ll make you one.”
Daniel left without another word, and I stared at Finn until he’d had enough of watching Daniel go. When he turned back to me, his expression was borderline sheepish. He’d drawn his shoulders in like he wanted to curl in on himself and disappear, and that simply would not do.
“More than you bargained for?” he asked, finally looking at me head on.
“Maybe, but nothing I’m scared of. This happens at work all the time.”
“Interior designer you said?”
I nodded, biting the inside of my lip. “I don’t mean to pry, but you said your last name is Covington?”
He nodded.
“And at the paint store you told me you had two brothers who were architects?”
“Marshall and Smith,” he said.
I knew both of them, not personally, but from their work. Marshall more than Smith. He had an expansive portfolio and was well known for his work in the corporate space. My own work was much more residential, but the community wasn’t so small.
“Marshall’s boyfriend too. Silas Ayres.” Finn rolled his eyes again when mine lit up in recognition. “Silas works for Cory Callahan.”
It was inconceivable to me that the man sitting across from me had a familiar acquaintance with some of the most well-known architects and designers in Los Angeles. It wasn’t something that would do me any good unless I wanted to change lanes entirely, but the proximity was still impressive.
“Is there anyone you don’t know?”
“You,” Finn said quickly.
“I think that’s about to change, don’t you?”
Daniel returned from the kitchen before Finn could reply, and he set a perfectly garnished Manhattan down in front of Finn.
“Extra cherries,” Daniel mumbled under his breath.
It would be borderline impossible to not pry Daniel for details later. The urge to crack him open like a nut later to learn all of the secrets between him and Finn was nearly tangible. I knew better, and I wouldn’t do it, but oh, how I wanted to know what the two of them had been through together.
“I think we’re okay for now,” I said carefully, grabbing my wine and standing. “Maybe we can go sit on the couch? Something a little less formal?”
Finn traced his finger along the rim of his glass, a quick crescent moon shape. Back and forth and back and forth, likehe was playing through every possible scenario and outcome of what a yes answer and a no answer would get him.
“Okay,” he finally agreed, unfolding himself from the chair and standing to his full height.
Finn was…impressively tall. Lanky, but not scrawny.
I fought back another wave of curiosity about what he and Daniel would look like together with fewer clothes on, less alcohol in their system, more want.