In Which Nick Is Not As Subtle As He Thinks He Is And Mike Is Not A Client
When Mike asked him to lunch the next day, he had to say no--he has little enough time off work when he's actually awake, he needs to spend some of it with his brothers, instead of catering to the strange whims of charming noblemen, but when Mike's face falls, he's surprised to find himself proposing meeting up the day after.
Of course, he hadn't remembered Brendon's Big Fat Mouth, so first he had his brothers grilling him on what was happening (was it about his job; would he be going to the City; was this guy a spy or a plant or a psychotic killer? Kevin didn't know whether or not to be offended by the order there).
When he met Mike at the pre-arranged time back at the cafe, he counted maybe a dozen people overtly or covertly staring in through the window. He led Mike to a table at the back, as far away from them as possible, and sat down.
Mike smiled. "A part of me didn't think you were actually going to show."
Kevin made a face. "I have no idea why I did, to be honest."
Mike beamed. "There," he said, signalling for a server. "I guess that makes us even."
And even though he hated himself a little bit for it, Kevin couldn't help but find that a tiny bit charming.
Kevin decided he'd justify the continuing regularity with which he'd been meeting Mike by calling it stealth training for his brothers--he's not entirely certain how they're still alive if the way they've been tailing him on dates is an example of their best.
Of course, for a while they managed to keep Mike, at least, from noticing them, but an hour into the fifth day, Mike turned to him and said, "I don't mean to sound paranoid, but I'm pretty sure that kid's been following us."
Kevin thinks, actually, that Nick's trying to be seen at this point; hiding Frankie behind the potted plant was the antithesis of subtle, and even Nick can't think that leaning against a wall and flipping a knife in the air is any approximation of casual.
No, at this point, Nick's angling for an introduction, and Nick is a tenacious kid. Giving a quick prayer of thanks that at least Joe was out on rounds, Kevin beckoned his brothers over.
Mike takes it remarkably well, maintaining the effortless grace that declared the upper classes better than fine clothes or fancy words.
Nick at least waits until they're alone before he turns on Kevin. "What do you think you're doing with him? He's a gent!" He stares closer at his brother. "Kevin, please don't tell me you're falling for a client."
Kevin winces, tasting bile. It's the first time Nick has just come out and directly addressed Kevin's job. "He's not a client," he manages, and it's mostly the truth. Mike never paid him for that night they didn't do anything. Mike isn't a client.
But he isn't quite sure what he is either.