Free The River Leith by Leta Blake Page A

and shut it behind him with a click.
    Leith was glad he’d gone. He didn’t think Zach knew the way Leith was reacting to his presence, but he definitely didn’t want Arthur to pick up on it. Not until he’d figured out why or how this was happening to him.
    “I brought a picnic,” Zach said, smiling as he spread the blanket out on the floor space he’d been considering. “All kinds of good things from the market and some sandwiches from your favorite deli.”
    He wanted to hug Zach, but he didn’t know if that was something they’d done as friends. Hadn’t Arthur said to hug him when Zach first visited? Still, Leith hesitated. He hovered, awkward and yearning, behind Zach as he opened the picnic basket and pulled out what looked like a tinfoil-wrapped hoagie.
    Leith reached for it eagerly, his stomach rumbling, but Zach held the sandwich back, gesturing at the blanket on the floor.
    “Grab a pillow,” Zach said. “You’ll be more comfortable.”
    “What else did you bring?” Leith asked, throwing his two bed pillows on the blanket and sitting on one.
    Zach folded his legs and sat across from him, transferring the basket and bags to the ground next to him. “Hmm, some comfortable changes of clothes, Oreos, and let’s see, oh, a big container of mac and cheese from Mac Shack. Do you remember how much you love it?”
    Leith chuckled and shook his head.
    “Well, you do.”
    “I’m glad someone knows what I like,” Leith said. “I’m glad you know what I like.”
    Zach’s pale skin grew slightly pink, but he just shrugged. “You’ll know what you like again soon enough.”
    He handed over the hoagie, and Leith unwrapped it carefully. His mouth rushed with saliva as the tangy scent of mustard and pickles hit his nose, and he took a big bite. He moaned, not caring that a blob of mustard dripped onto his sweatpants. “God, this is so much better than what Arthur brought yesterday.”
    “Arthur likes the gross deli on fifth.” Snickering, Zach shuddered. “You like City Sub, but you have to walk a little farther for it.” He reached into the basket to pull out another container. It was creamed corn — another of Leith’s favorites from childhood. He whimpered as Zach popped a spoon into the container and shoved it his way.
    “Here,” Zach said. “You love this too.”
    Leith put aside his sandwich and tasted the delicious creamed corn. He’d known Zach would bring him better food than Arthur. He wondered what else Zach knew about him. Yet he knew nothing at all in return…only these intense feelings of attraction and affection, unmoored in any facts.
    “What’s your mother’s name?” Leith asked, desperately fetching the first question that came to mind.
    “Melody,” Zach said. “Why?”
    “You never talk about yourself. I don’t really know anything about you, and you seem to know everything about me. That isn’t fair, is it?”
    “Okay. What do you want to know?” Zach asked, opening up his own sandwich and picking off the olives.
    “You don’t like olives?”
    “I do, just not with this cheese.”
    “Hmm,” Leith said, thinking for a moment. He wanted to ask why Zach made his heart ache and his blood sing. Instead, he went with, “How did you and Arthur become partners in Blue Flight?”
    “Well, that’s an easy one.” Zach grinned, and then took a moment to eat a bite of his sandwich before answering. “When I first moved into the apartment, I was still working for my sister. She owns a restaurant in Harlem. It’s called Lisbet. Anyway, Maddie has a tendency to get distracted when her personal life goes to hell.” Zach snorted softly. “Some might call that a family trait, actually.”
    Leith wanted to ask about that but Zach barreled on ahead. “I managed the restaurant for her while she went through a very messy divorce followed by a poorly chosen rebound love affair.”
    “Huh.”
    “Yeah. So, when she finally showed back up ready to reclaim all the duties of