“Looks like dinner’s on Chris,” Kelly says, smiling and nudging Daniel as he rubs her back.
I ignore them both, reading the message Alexander sent.
Alexander
How’s your head? You around later…
He sent it just under an hour ago.
I twirl my thumbs over the screen, wondering how to respond, when Kelly snatches the phone out of my hands.
“Give it back!” My voice is loud enough to have the tablenext to us turn and cut us a disapproving stare. I reach toward Kelly to retrieve my phone. But she leans back just enough so I can’t reach, and then passes it across to Daniel so he can read the message.
“Sounds like someone’s got a booty call,” Daniel says, his eyebrows waggling up and down like a Mexican wave.
I can feel myself going red from embarrassment as I slide down into my chair. But maybe he’s right. Maybe tonight is finally the night something happens.
My attention snaps back to reality when I see Daniel’s thumbs rapidly tapping away.
“What are you doing?” My voice is even louder this time.
The woman at the other table turns around again, tutting this time. I snarl at her. My eyes tell her in no uncertain terms toFuck off and mind your own business. My glare quickly makes her turn her neck back to her own table partners.
“You’re welcome,” Daniel says, and hands my phone back to me. He leans back and places his hands behind his head.
I look at the message, feeling mortified.
Not had any complaints. Yeah, I’m around. Your place or mine?
What is Alexander going to think? I mean sure, I’ve been dropping not-so-subtle hints. But this? This is taking it to the next level. The anger at Daniel causes a burning in my chest. Or maybe it’s just heartburn.
“Why would you write that?” I ask, lowering my tone so the woman won’t turn around again, and placing my phone back on the table.
“Oh, come on. Rodrigo at the office shows me his Grindr messages all the time. You gays don’t beat around the bush. You get straight to the point.” Daniel lowers his hands from behind his head and reaches for his pint to take another sip.
“Right, ’cause all us gays are the same, aren’t we.” I shake my head disapprovingly.
Daniel decides to double down. “Well, you do all use Grindr like Drag Race, get a little over-dramatic at times, and worship at the altar of various divas—do you not?” There’s not a hint of sarcasm lining his face or in his words.
“Hold on, let me just consult the manual of how to be a gay man,” I say, reaching into my pocket to pull out an imaginary book. I lick my finger and start flicking through imaginary pages. “Oh God, I skipped that chapter!” I pretend to put the imaginary book down. “What would us gays do without straight guys like you out here to remind us how to be?” I mock bow down to Daniel.
“Come on guys,” Kelly says, trying to mediate our escalating stand-off. She reaches for her coke, taking a gulp.
“My bad,” Daniel says, holding his hand out for a truce.
“It’s okay. Us gay guys are used to straight guys and their correctile dysfunction,” I fire back, batting his hand away with a smirk. Kelly laughs, spraying the coke she’s drinking out of her nostrils.
“What does this Alexander guy look like anyway?” Kelly asks, putting down her glass. She grabs a napkin and wipes her face with it before retrieving her phone and firing up her internet browser. She stares at me expectantly, waiting for me to reveal Alexander’s full name.
There’s no point in fighting Kelly on this. She’s like a dog with a bone and will only do this later without me if I don’t give in now.
“Morgan,” I say, grabbing my glass and downing the rest of my pint in one.
“As inTHEAlexander Morgan?” Her eyes widen, like I know of more than the one. She immediately types his name into the search bar, bringing up a handful of images of him.
Daniel leans over to get a better look before looking at me.
“Go on, my boy,” he says, grabbing his napkin and throwing it at me. His raised eyebrows quickly drop back down as Kelly scrolls and clicks on a link.
