It's a livin' thing

 

Ari was at a loss for words. What was happening here? Was this what he thought it meant?

Not that Pan was acting randy or anything around Wade out at the steakhouse, but when they started to share each other's plates, it was just a little too intimate for Ari. 

Well, he'd never.

"Here, taste this?" Jade pushed a fried shrimp into his mouth. Her smile was so silly. She knew perfectly well Pan and Wade were more than just friends. He felt like the last to know.

Ari almost choked. No way was he sharing his rib-eye with her. He just didn't do things like that. He wasn't raised that way.

Wade asked how their month was going. He even talked to Jade a bit about where she worked. Which startled Ari. After all, Wade never said much.

"I have to start going to the gym again," he said as he sipped water while playing with his baked sweet potato. Pan handed him more butter as if he knew exactly what Wade needed.

Ari knew he could accept it, but he felt a little weak in the chest. How had it turned out this way? When did it happen? Had it always been like this?

By the end of the evening, Pan said they should do this again. Of course, Pand and Wade paid for Ari and Jade's dinner.

"We'll get dinner next time," Ari agreed. No way was he expecting free meals. And it felt weird this time getting a hug from both Pan and Wade.

"Oh, I don't know what you're worried about," Jade said later when they got home from the heavy meal. Of course, Ari got out the red wine as if he needed it.

He settled on the couch without a smile, holding his glass of wine while Jade only went for half a glass and filled the rest with Bubbly.

"Look, if we ever have a kid, they'll be the best uncles ever." She told him. He looked at her blankly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She was drinking wine too. She couldn't possibly be-.

Jade laughed out loud and took a sip of wine as she folded her legs under her short skirt on the couch and looked him in the eye.

"Gotcha!" She practically poked him in the stomach. She then talked about growing up with uncles who weren't blood-related. "We were on a lot of different bases. It's not that big of a deal."

"Yeah, but..but I kept thinking..maybe..maybe Pan and Rox would get back together," Ari said after he drank some of the red wine. He sighed.

"Oh, baby..those two are never ever getting back together," Jade chuckled. She said she'd seen how Rox worked hard at Mel's and Elvis was Wade's little brother. "Those two are getting it together."

"How would you know?" he scowled.

"I talk to Dale all the time," Jade mentioned how she sometimes dropped by the place. She didn't always see Dale. Sometimes, Dale would leave her little notebooks of information about where Jade worked. "I see Elvis and Rox occasionally."

Ari nodded. He was beginning to think he might be the antisocial instead of Jade. Still, if he could only get her to want to go out with Justin and Vada.

"Oh, you know they have no money," Jade squinted. "The best we can do is invite them over for dinner."

Ari remained even-lipped. It was true Pan was the best even if he had boyfriend now.