“Wow. I’m stunned at how good you are at that. I would never have guessed you could pull off badass calligraphy.”
“A lot you don’t know about me, Ty.”
“Speaking of which, what exactly was it you did for a living?”
“Your father hasn’t mentioned it?”
“The way he talked about it, sounded like some corporate gig. I mean, you’re obviously retiring at a young age with a cushy retirement package, so must be good.”
“Young age? There’s that flattering again. I work in data analysis and auditing.”
“Oh, I’m in accounting. Kind of been taken on as a part-time employee at the moment while I finish my certification.”
“My job doesn’t have much to do with accounting, though. I’m more checking systems and making sure they’re working right for other people. It’s a little complicated.”
“You seem complicated, so I guess that’s fitting.”
He enjoyed my teasing, saying, “It’ll be nice to get out of it now. I think it’s given me some of these grays.”
“The sexy grays, you mean? Yeah, I really feel bad for you.”
“Sexy grays, huh? Is that what they are?”
“There might be a few sprinkled in that sexy dark hair of yours, but other than that, nah, you’re good.”
He simpered at the compliment, so I decided to take advantage. “So now that you’re retiring, there’s gonna be a lot of free time on your hands. You might just make your way down to Atlanta and see us for a bit. You have my number, after all.”
“Yes, I do have that.”
“I don’t know if you’ve ever been to the Georgia Aquarium, but it’s very nice.”
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“Not a date—just two friends hanging out at the aquarium.”
“It sounds like you’re trying to trick me into going on a date with you.”
“I think you’re too smart to be tricked, Liam.”
“Even still, it sounds like you’re trying to trick me.”
“What does it matter if we get together to see some fish? What’s the harm in that?” Even as I spoke the words, I knew what I was really getting at, and it was indeed a bit of a trap, but not one I wanted him to walk into unwillingly.
“I plan to head to my place in Chicago after I retire. Got a place in Boystown. You familiar with it?”
I shrugged.
“It’s like Midtown. Plenty of sexy men to go around.”
“That sounds like a good place to be retired.” It made me think about all the ass a man like Liam could get in any city, let alone one crawling with horny men.
“But if I happen to find myself in Atlanta for some reason,” he added, “perhaps I’ll take you up on this offer.”
“You’ll have a lot of free time on your hands, and I can be very good company. Just ask Jesse or Eric.”
He laughed, and I felt so goddamned victorious. There was something about being able to evoke a natural at-ease response from him that was so rewarding.
“From my limited experience, I can already vouch for your company, sowhenI find my way to Atlanta, I’ll hit you up for a chat.”
