“Dexter. It was my grandfather’s name.”
Luc nodded. “Dex suits you better.”
He snorted. “I know.”
Luc held eye contact until Dex had to look away. Luc drummed his fingers on the side of his glass. “I’ve never been here before. It’s very appealing.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Dex could tell Luc was scanning the room. The space was unmistakably queer, especially when you got a closer look at the pictures on the walls, or read any of the messages scrawled on the bar top.
“Appealing is one way to put it.”
Luc turned to face him. “How would you put it?” He cocked his head slightly as if he were waiting eagerly for an answer.
Dex squirmed. Luc’s brown eyes were intense. His focus wasn’t unwelcome. Just a lot. “I don’t know. I’ve come here so much that it’s more familiar than anything.”
“But you agree on the appeal?”
“Yeah, totally.”
Luc nodded. “I had a good feeling about coming in here.”
This conversation was bizarre. That last statement could almost be a line, but Luc didn’t add a cheesy,and seeing you, I know why, or whatever to bring it home.
“So you wandered in on a whim?” Dex asked.
Luc shrugged. “What brought you here?”
Dex’s insides twisted. There was no way he was admitting his home was so depressing, he couldn’t stand going inside. “I came to visit a friend, but she isn’t working today.”
“Did that make you sad?”
Dex’s eyes widened. Blunt much?
“Sorry.” Luc’s smooth brow creased. “That was rude, wasn’t it?” He sounded like he was genuinely unsure.
“Maybe not rude, just very forward.”
Luc nodded, his brief confusion evaporating. “I meant to be direct, so I’m not misunderstood. If I want people to believe me, I have to speak plainly and tell the truth.”
“Uh-huh.” Dex sipped his beer. He’d totally stereotyped this guy, thinking he’d be smooth and socially adept because he was hot. He had also assumed Luc came over to hit on him, but it didn’t feel like that at all.
“Do you not usually tell the truth?” he couldn’t help asking.
Luc’s mouth tightened around the edges. “Depends on who you ask.”
“I’m asking you.”
Luc smiled, his intense eyes gleaming as his cheeks flushed slightly. “I’m trying to tell the truth more than I used to.”
Weird to basically admit to a stranger that you were a liar, but okay. At least Luc was trying to do better.
“Good for you. Personal growth counts for something.”
“Hmm.” Luc didn’t sound convinced. “In that case, I shouldadmit that when you asked if I came here on a whim, I evaded your question.”
Dex shifted on his stool until he was squarely facing Luc. “Why?”
“Because I didn’t want you asking the reason. It wasn’t a whim.”
