He had no answer to that question because he already knew. She was right. He’d already lost everything. Nothing else mattered.
“Sure,” he agreed, resigned. “Tell him to call me.”
Her face brightened, and she picked up her phone and tapped out a message. “Okay, done.”
“Wait, what?” Win’s head spun. “You weren’t supposed to do it that quickly.”
But she didn’t answer, too busy concentrating on her phone screen. A wide smile broke across her face. “He’ll call you tonight.” She blew him a kiss. “You won’t regret it. Besides, it’s one date. Take it from there.”
“It’s only one date,” Forrest echoed his wife. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure. Tomorrow.” He ended the call and sat staring into nothing. He hadn’t even bothered to unpack from the move here. Boxing up their things had been a painful enough chore, and while he’d donated most of Kevin’s clothes, he held on to certain things, one of them being an old teddy bear Kevin had given him their first Valentine’s Day together.
“He’s got a grumpy face, like you. It’s for when you’re out late and I can’t fall asleep because I’m worried. I think of you when I look at him.”
Now he was the one who lay in bed with only his thoughts and a sad-faced bear.
The phone rang, and he sighed. “Hello?”
“Hello, is this Winston? My name is Royce Martinez. Claudia gave me your number.” Royce had a quiet, well-modulated voice Win could imagine over the speaker on a plane, asking people to remain seated and listen to the flight attendants.
“Hi, Royce. I was expecting your call.”
“Claudia is nothing if not persistent. But if you’d like to meet for a drink tomorrow, I’m in the city.”
There was no choice. “Sure. Where?”
“How about the bar at the Grand Hyatt? I’m staying there, and it’s casual. I’m guessing you’ll be coming from work, so you wouldn’t have to change.”
Win appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Sounds good. How’s around seven? If anything comes up, I’ll call you.”
“Perfect. See you then. By the way, Claudia showed me your picture, so I’ll know who to look for. I’ll send you one as well.”
“Okay. Night.”
“Night.”
A few minutes later, a photo popped up on his screen of a man in his early forties, with salt-and-pepper hair and smiling brown eyes. Win studied his face.
“Okay. Let’s give this a whirl.”
***
The following evening, Win sat with Royce in the Grand Hyatt bar. They’d been talking for hours, and Win realized he was enjoying himself. Royce had married a woman in his early twenties and divorced after five years. He was bisexual but hadn’t had the courage to come out when he was young. He’d dated and had several relationships since his marriage ended, but nothing permanent.“I’m looking for my soul mate,”he’d told Win earlier.
Seeing the time was nearing eleven, Win finished his drink with an apologetic smile. “I hate to be a killjoy, but I’d better go. I have to be up pretty early tomorrow.”
A glimmer twinkled in Royce’s eyes. “You could stay over.”
Win shook his head. “I-I’m not ready for that.” If Royce ended it because Win wouldn’t have sex, that would be a damn shame, because for the first time in years, Win had enjoyed himself.
“It’s okay. I can wait. I have a feeling you’re worth it.”
Before he had a chance to respond, Royce leaned over and kissed him, catching him with his mouth half-open. It was a soft kiss, meant to be sensual and passionate, and Win wanted that so badly, he allowed Royce to linger a little longer than was probably wise. As kisses went, it was…nice.
“Are you sure?” Royce said unsteadily. “I think we could have a really good time.”
Win rose. “Yeah, I’m sure. But call me?”
“I’m here again next week.”
“I’ll see you then.” With a smile, Win waved and left the hotel, stopping for the traffic on busy Third Avenue.
It hadn’t been a bad first date. He enjoyed talking to Royce, and the man was certainly attractive. Their kiss had been sweet, and he wouldn’t mind kissing him again. The fact that he couldn’t picture them together in bed didn’t mean anything. It would take time for a spark to ignite between them.
That was what he told himself.
