The bar is packed with locals and tourists. I brought him to a straight bar because I figured it would be a little bold to take him to one of the gay bars Ifrequent.
The bartender points to me, and I say, “A margarita on the rocks.” I turn to Jesse, who stands behindme.
“Make that two margaritas on the rocks,” hesays.
While the bartender mixes our drinks, I start talking to Jesse, raising my voice so he can hear me over the crowd. “My son mentions you a lot. Well, not that I talk to him that much, but when I do, you usually come up. You guys met incollege?”
“Yeah, freshman year,” he says. “We had Chem 101together.”
“Chemistry,huh?”
His gaze drifts down to my lips and lingers there a little too long. There’s no question in my mind that Jesse wants to fuck around with me. He was too obvious back at the condo, standing in the doorway of my guest bedroom, with his raging hard-on and that hungry look in hiseyes.
The bartender sets our drinks down, and I throw down somepesos.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jessesays.
“What?”
“Paid. I’ll get the nextround.”
Socute.
“Kid, I’mfine.”
“I get that. I just… I’d rather pay mypart.”
I’m surprised by how serious his expression is. Most people, when I pay for things, they just accept it and thank me. But Jesse doesn’t seem as appreciative of my generosity as he seems surprised by it…maybe even a littlebothered.
“I’ve been mooching in your guest bedroom, so the least I can do is get some drinks,” Jesse explains before taking a sip of hisdrink.
“I appreciate that, I really do, but it’s only onedrink.”
My words don’t appear to soothe his uneasiness, so I change the subject. “So what did you major in at Georgia Tech? Ty tells me you’re in softwaredevelopment.”
“Computer science. I’m actually between jobs right now. My last workplace let me go. I interviewed for a company, Mincer Corp, right before coming here with Ty. They seemed pretty interested, but we’llsee.”
“I have some contacts with a few companies in software development. I could see if there’sanything—”
“No, no. I’m good. Thank you,though.”
I’m startled by how quickly he refused my offer, and he must have noticed because he says, “Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate it, but I’d prefer to do it on myown.”
Once again, something about him I can respect. Funny, considering my son would jump at the opportunity to get something the easyway.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be rude,” headds.
“It’s fine. You want to be a self-made man. I get that. Just keep in mind that there’s nothing wrong with getting a hand now and then. No one gets to where they want to be without a little help. I sure as fuck didn’t. But sorry. It’s your business how you go about your life. I’ll let it go. So what have you guys done since you have beenhere?”
“Spent some time at the beach. Gone out partying with some people we’ve met here. That’s about it. Been trying to convince Ty to take some surfing lessons with me. He already knows how to surf, but he doesn’t really enjoyit.”
“I surf,” I tell him. “I could showyou.”
“I’d really like that,actually.”
“Just saywhen.”
“Forsure.”
