Page 459 of Seasons of Love
But I was still twenty-nine. So, to prove I could still be as immature as Zak, I ran to the water and threw myself onto him, making us dive under the water.
Maybe it would be okay to be a little late for work just this once.
20
GRIFF
“How do I look?”
Mal perused me from head to toe, scratching his short beard and squinting.
“Come on, don’t be a dick. I want to look good. Am I okay?” I asked.
He didn’t have time to answer before the door to Frank’s house was opened by Frank himself.
“Gentlemen, come on in,” he said with great flourish, gesturing for us to go inside. “Hello, Mal. And what a pleasure to see you again, Griff. How’s business?”
“Everything’s great, Frank. Thanks for asking. In fact…” I opened my backpack that held Jake’s birthday present and took out a large envelope.
“Oh my goodness, is that what I think it is?”
He smiled as if it were his own birthday.
“It is indeed. An early copy of Tough Love.”
“You make an old man very happy, Griff. Who knew I’d get into gay romance in my old age, hey?”
“You’re definitely not old, Frank. And I think you could score a nice girl if you wanted to,” I said, winking at him.
“Oh no, not you too. Jacob’s onto me to join one of those dating apps.”
His face made it clear what he thought of Jake’s suggestion. I actually could imagine Frank with a nice woman who’d be there for him but also challenge him. He definitely still had a lot of life in him. Goodness, he was barely sixty.
“Frank, I hate to bring up business today, but do you think we could catch up for a moment?” Mal asked.
“Of course, follow me to the office.”
“I’ll go find the birthday boy if that’s okay?” I asked.
Mal leaned over to kiss my cheek and whispered, “You look stunning. Go get him, baby.”
While Mal and Frank disappeared down a hallway to Frank’s office, I went toward the kitchen to see if I could find Jake or Gabe.
I’d only been in the house once, but the kitchen was fairly easy to find, especially since there was music coming from that direction.
As soon as I turned into the kitchen and saw a small crowd of people, my nerves shot up. I didn’t exactly have social anxiety, but walking into a party on my own was my version of my worst nightmare.
I thought Jake was only having a few friends over, not this many people. I stood by the door, scanning all the faces and hoping to find someone familiar, without success.
Stepping back out and leaning against the wall, I tried to get my heart rate down a little. Maybe Jake was in the garden.
After all, how hard could it be to find the birthday boy at his own party?
“Griff? Is that you?”
I looked up to see Sam standing in front of me with a drink in hand.
“Sam! Hi. Nice to see you. I didn’t know you knew Jake.”
