Geoffrey Kirk has been in love with his best friend Nash since almost the moment they met. Convinced that Nash would never return his feelings, he forced himself to move on, and fell for his assistant, Sunny.
Despite his strong feelings, he never acted on them, and when he discovered Sunny and Nash together, he thought he lost his chance for happiness forever. Until Sunny and Nash make it clear he hasn't lost anything ... and he still has a great deal to gain.
Geoffrey dressed as he would for any day at the office, but lost the tie and jacket after a moment of consideration. Nash had said this would be a day off, so he thought he should try to dress down a bit. As he waited for the minute hand to move forward, he wondered again why he had agreed to this ... whatever it was ... at all.
Spending an entire day watching them hang all over each other did not sound appealing. Spending an hour didn’t sound appealing. He had fluctuated back to being horrified and sick at the thought of Sunny with Nash, and he hoped he could be happy for them once again by the time they arrived.
Geoffrey saw the situation as a challenge. A test. If he could make it through the day without having his heart torn out of his chest, then things could continue as before. He would go to work every day, he would do his best to support Nash and be friendly with Sunny, and he wouldn’t give either one of them reason to think that his little bender would become a common occurrence.
Geoffrey always did well on tests. Especially tests he was prepared for. And he spent the whole night trying to prepare himself.
He was sitting by the front window when Nash pulled up in his sleek, black car. They both stepped out, and Geoffrey’s heart stopped. Sunny was wearing a short denim skirt that hugged her curves like a second skin. Her legs were long and sleek, nicely shaped and muscled. Her blouse was as tight as the skirt, the buttons at the top hanging open, exposing her ample cleavage. Geoffrey had never seen Sunny dressed so provocatively, and though he knew she had a gorgeous body, this was the first time he had the visual proof.
There wasn’t a sight on the planet that could divert his attention from her. Except Nash. Nobody could pull off jeans and a cotton shirt like Nash. Geoffrey knew people who paid hundreds of dollars on clothes to look half as good Nash did in his simple outfit. As Sunny circled the car, he offered his arm, and they approached his door.
Geoffrey whimpered.
He couldn’t do this. How was he going to do this? Why would they want to do this to him? They weren’t cruel people. And yet, it seemed they had set out specifically to torture him.
Geoffrey’s stomach lurched as Nash knocked on the door. You can do this. It’ll be the longest day of your life, but you can do this.
He glanced at the mirror in the hall to confirm his smile wasn’t too strained, too forced. He thought he looked normal. Pleasant, even.
“Hey,” Sunny greeted as he opened the door, “ready to go, slugger?”
“Absolutely. Am I dressed appropriately? I didn’t know.”
“You look great,” Nash said.
Geoffrey looked up sharply, unable to believe that the compliment had come from Nash. “I ... well ... thank you.”
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Sunny asked.
“Just some tea,” Geoffrey answered, closing and locking the door behind him.
“Perfect. Let’s go,” Sunny said, looping her arm through his.
“I ...” Geoffrey looked down at her smooth, bare arm resting against his. Sunny was casual with contact. She was far more affectionate and touchy-feely than anybody Geoffrey had ever encountered, so this wasn’t surprising. Still, she hadn’t been sleeping with his best friend the last time she touched him.
Except, maybe she had been sleeping with Nash then. How was he to know? Either way, Nash didn’t seem to notice or care, so he allowed them to lead him to the car.
“You can take shotgun,” Sunny said, opening the backdoor.
Geoffrey didn’t argue. He watched Nash as he settled behind the wheel and started the car, hoping to find some sort of clue. He saw nothing. Nash’s face was impassive, and he didn’t volunteer any information. Except, occasionally, a tiny smile flitted across his features. It always disappeared quickly, but Geoffrey caught it out of the corner of his eye.
Geoff assumed they were going to a restaurant. But they were driving farther from the center of town where Nash’s favorite restaurants were located. He wondered idly if Sunny knew Nash’s favorite places to eat. Then he wondered why it even mattered. But when Nash finally parked the car, they were outside the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.
“I thought we were going to eat,” Geoff said.
Sunny wrapped her arms around the seat, grabbing his shoulders for a moment. “We are!”
“A picnic,” Nash elaborated.
“We’re having a picnic?” Geoffrey asked. “Seriously? A picnic?”
“Do you have something against picnics?” Sunny asked, and he realized her mouth was far too close to his face.
“No, I don’t. I just ... can’t remember the last time I had a picnic. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been on a picnic. Nash, do you go on picnics?” Geoffrey smiled.
“I do now,” Nash said, pushing the car door open.
“Good enough for me,” Geoffrey muttered, following him.
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