“So what do you do, Murray?” Maxim’s question winnows all the way down the table and through the varied conversations like an arrow. “For a living, I mean.”
An awkward silence spreads over the group, everyone unsure if they should wait for Wallace’s response or return to their own conversations.
“Uh, it’s Murrow.” Wallace clears his throat. “And to answer your question, I’m a biochemist. I specialize in vaccine development.”
“Wow,” Bill says with elevated eyebrows, obviously impressed. “Smart guy, huh?”
Wallace shrugs, self
-conscious and never comfortable being the center of attention. “Everyone has their specialty, I guess,” he mumbles.
“But they’re not just handing out doctorates in biochemistry over at MIT,” I say.
“Duke,” Wallace corrects softly.
“Duke,” I say, the pride I feel for my friend something I don’t have to fake. “Wallace is brilliant. He focuses on making vaccines more effective in developing nations.”
“Admirable,” Millicent says from the north end of the table, sending Wallace a kind smile.
“Lennix and Wall are actually going to administer vaccines in a few months,” Kimba adds, winking at Wallace. “This is what? Your sixth service trip together?”
“Seventh,” I correct. “And don’t worry, guys. I’m not doing anything that involves a needle.”
“What will you be doing?” Millicent asks.
“Our team is helping with some building projects,” I answer.
“Where?” Maxim asks, a frown between his dark brows.
I meet his eyes directly, as I’ve rarely done at all tonight. My single lifted brow asks what the hell it has to do with him, but I answer. “Talamanca. The Bribri reserve there has the largest indigenous population in Costa Rica. Over ten thousand.”
“Lenny’s taking a group of students from the San Carolos Reservation in Arizona with us,” Wallace adds.
“It’s great for them to see another indigenous community,” I say. “One with so much of their culture and language intact. They think we’re going to serve the people of Bribri, but honestly, these students will gain more than they give. At least that’s how it always is for me.”
“It’s safe?” Maxim demands, forcing me to meet his eyes again.
I shouldn’t have looked at him because an invisible stream of memory passes between us. Every kiss, every touch, every time we laughed and made love, flash on a superhighway from my eyes to his. It’s a head-on collision that leaves me shaken, exposed, with everyone at the table witnessing the wreckage.
I lower my eyes and draw a deep breath.
“Very safe,” Wallace answers, his voice quiet and sure. “I would never do anything to put Lenny in danger.”
He takes my hand on the table and squeezes, bathing me in the warm affection of his smile. He bends to kiss my forehead, and I know to others, it looks intimate, and it is. It’s the intimacy of a decade-long friendship that has survived bad sex with each other and broken hearts with other people, and still managed to hold fast. I blink rapidly, moved by Wallace’s unconditional friendship and still breathless from the direct look I shared with Maxim, like the airbags have deployed and punched me in the chest. Will I be bruised tomorrow?
“Well that’s really cool,” Owen says, smiling at Wallace. “Sounds like you’re as passionate about helping people as Lennix is.”
Wallace and I lace our fingers tightly, and I know he hopes they will move on to something else as much as I do. It doesn’t take long for them to turn back to discussing the latest gossip on the Hill and dissecting every season of Game of Thrones. We share a quick chuckle, and when I look up, Maxim’s eyes are fixed to the point where Wallace and I still hold hands.
“Guess I’m not such a bad beard after all,” Wallace whispers in my ear. “Maxim looks convinced. Maybe he’ll move on and find some other girl to fill his time while he’s here in DC.”
“Probably,” I say around a knot in my throat. “We did good.”
I thought I’d feel relief that he believes I’m taken, but I don’t. I’ll have to examine the contrariness of my emotions when I’m alone. I’ve already shown too much.
We make it through the next two delicious courses before Owen stands and starts speaking.
“Eat.” He waves at the table, urging everyone to continue with their meal. “This isn’t a formal meeting. I’m sure Kimba and Lennix will have plenty of those ahead of us.”