"He sticks to beer, knows his limits. Except for right after, it's never been a problem for him. Not like me. He worked through it."
"I've heard that a couple of times today. From him, from Natalie. I'm glad. I mean he's a good man. I was afraid-"
Nathan came into the room, his hair wet, smelling of shampoo and aftershave, dressed in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and a huge scowl. "Damn, can't we find a topic other than my mental wellbeing? Come on, it was a long time ago. It's done, it's over. I'm not a basket case. I can function, and they let me carry a gun. So I must not be a danger to myself or the town."
"I'm sorry, Nathan, I didn't mean anything. We were talking about beer." Chagrined didn't really cover how Drew felt at that moment. "Okay, all that's off limits. It's the only common denominator we have. What do you want to talk about? Baseball?"
"Dude, I hate baseball. Nathan dragged me down to Atlanta for a Braves game and I fell asleep. Now rugby, there's a sport I can get into," Quinn chirped before Nathan could jump in.
Nathan opened a beer and came to lean on the island with them, a grin on his face. "That's because it's nothing but hot men wearing short-shorts and crawling all over each other."
"Well, yeah, I don't know what the point of the game is, but who really cares, you know?"
"Quinn, you are so fucking gay, it isn't funny," Nathan said with a grin, nudging his hip with his.
"Hello? What was your first clue?" Quinn's voice rose an octave as he slipped into a falsetto and batted his eyelashes. "Otherwise I wouldn't be the one making you scream into the pillow every night, now would I, sweet cheeks?"
"Oh, Lord, TMI." Drew nearly choked on his beer. "Really, guys, too much information. Do not need to know the play by play."
"Sorry, Drew, I forget you're not one of us sometimes." Quinn laughed, he had no shame in his sexuality, but Drew knew that. Nathan, however, had the good sense to blush. "I mean, if I'd met you before Nathan and I got together, I'd have made a play for you. Straight or not."
Nathan snorted, his eyes sparkling as Drew just sat there speechless. Really, he had no idea how to respond to that. "Okay, so I think I'd rather talk about torture and mental illness after all."
"Or we could talk about Drew's love life. He didn't even bat an eye when Natalie came out in next to nothing. Of course, with Emma keeping us all entertained, maybe I missed it. Is there a future Mrs. Walker, hmm?"
"You don't have to answer that, Drew. Quinn, leave the man alone and behave."
"Or what, you'll spank me?"
"Seriously, Quinn, tone it down. Drew doesn't know you're playing with him."
"I know. I just don't know what to say that isn't pathetic." Drew hardly knew either one of them. That he was embarrassingly comfortable letting Quinn pick on him should at least be understandable, but it wasn't. And Nathan with his scary, cold silver eyes staring at him as if he was a long-lost friend … "The job is tough, you know that. It's tougher at the federal level. I don't have time for a relationship. Hell, there are times I don't have time for a quick fuck before I get a wheels-up notice. Women don't stay long."
"Sorry, man," Quinn said suddenly contrite. "I'm the one who leaves. I hate leaving. Sometimes I wonder why he stays with me."
"Because I get to stay. It's why I didn't join the FBI when I had the chance." Nathan didn't bat an eye, but Quinn sure did. Drew did too. "What? Don't look at me like that. It was a long time ago. I'd just made investigator, just finished law school. They came knocking. They needed someone with my negotiating skills."
"Why did you turn it down? Why didn't you ever tell me about this?" There was hurt in Quinn's voice.
"The answer to both questions is that I was getting married. I didn't want to leave Kim at the time and start over somewhere else. I was happy here. And I wrapped all that time up and put it away. I don't think about it. Anyway, it's done and can't be undone now so why mention it." Nathan shrugged but Drew could tell Quinn wasn't satisfied. Apparently so could Nathan. "Quinn, there are things in your past you keep to yourself for whatever reason. If it was something important, I would have told you. It wasn't important. I was asked. I didn't even consider it. End of story."
"Hell, Nate, if I could remember most of the shit I did, I'd tell you everything. Okay, maybe not everything. There are some things I don't even want to dig in there deep enough to remember." Quinn's laugh a mildly self-recriminating sound.