Yes, Chef

Chapter 9: Male Bravado

~Mads's POV~

I am more than a little irritated by Benedict's brutish inquiry about my relationship with Garrison. Yeah, he is my brother's friend but over the past couple weeks we have been developing our own thing after learning we frequent the same gym. It is obvious Garrison is attracted to me, and while I like his attention, I am apprehensive about taking it too far.

Why?

Well, I don't know. Part of me thinks it's because of his relationship with my brother. If things go south with us, I didn't want it to impact their friendship. I could tell Vic isn't particularly keen on us starting anything up. He hasn't said that exactly but he discourages Garrison every time he so much as looks my way for too long. He'd really lose his shit if he knew how Garrison treats me at the gym.

The first couple times we saw each other there, it had merely been coincidence. But it became obvious that Garrison was now invested in using gym time to flirt unabashedly since he was free of my brother's threats. Glances and flirty comments had given way to some incidental touches. He is harmless and it makes the gym way more enticing.

He's the one that suggested I join them for bowling today except when I mentioned it in passing to my brother, he never intended to be at the bowling center today because his car was getting serviced. He ended up having the shuttle drop him off. He curtailed Garrison's plan for some alone time with me and read him the riot act for trying to pull it.

I apologized for mentioning it to Vic and Garrison said I could make it up to him by going on a real date. That's what tonight's texts had been...him trying to convince me to give him a chance. But I was resisting.

Do I find Garrison attractive? Absolutely. My body pings when his comes into contact with mine, on purpose accidentally, of course. And even today, he was brave enough to give me bowling tips that involved him touching my body to bring me into proper form.

But even though the attraction is there, I still don't know. It has been awhile since I dated, being too involved in my work and exhausted as a result to entertain a relationship more than hooking up a time or two. That wouldn't fly with Garrison because of who he is to my brother. And while I am phasing out of work and am substantially less busy, I still have a few more months working with Benedict and I am starting school soon. Maybe that's my hang up.

I need to be up front with Garrison before this gets too messy but for now I am just enjoying his attention. What I didn't expect was Benedict's reaction. He is sitting next to me fuming for God knows what reason. He seems to be calculating his next words very carefully.

"How's your brother feel about you two talking?" He asks.

"I don't even know why we're talking about this." I avoid the question.

"He doesn't like it, does he?" Benedict reads right through my avoidance.

"It's neither his nor your business. Look, if we can't get back to you, I'm calling it a night. I don't need this." I slam my beer can on the coffee table and stand.

He doesn't say anything, his jaw ticking with tension. I bend down to grab my bag and he catches my wrist. My heart rate skips from the contact with him every time too. My body seems to crave human contact. Stupid body.

He groans drawing my attention back. "Fuck. Don't go. I'm sorry. I'm being stupid. Please stay."

I put my other hand on my hip and fix him with a sharp look. "Are you sure?"