“You have a wife? A girlfriend?”
“What?” His head jerks up. “No. Merde—God, no. Nothing like that.”
“Catholic parents who’ll condemn you to hell?”
Sab laughs, and it’s almost as gorgeous as he is. “No, my parents don’t give a shit about stuff like that. And my brother is married to a literal man. It’s not an other people thing, it’s all me, and even I don’t understand it, so…”
He trails off like it’s not worth explaining. Or like he expects a reaction from me that’ll make him feel like shit. Makesmewonder who he’s had this conversation with before. Definitely not the brother. Even without the dude marriage, Sab has the same look on his face Logan gets when he talks about his twin. A bond that doesn’t fit the mental flinch he’s trying to hide.
It’s in me to be subtle as a brick and just ask. Not here, though. Not tonight. That he came is enough, and it’s probably about time I told him we’re neighbours.
But Sab speaks before I can. “There’s no good reason for me to be so weird about being into blokes. It’s just kinda new to me.”
“New?”
“Yeah, I mean…” Sab tears his gaze from whatever fixates him about my wrist. “Tam—my brother, he’s always been open about liking just about everything. But it wasn’t a thing for me. Even being with girls didn’t do much for me until I got off the—fuck. I’m oversharing already. Sorry.”
I’m hanging on every word that falls from his lush mouth, and he’ssorry?
Unacceptable.
I shift my arm a little, the one behind him. It brushes him like a passing feather, and he sucks in a breath that makes me wish I’d worn short sleeves. That he wasn’t wearing a shirt and we’re skin to skin.
Focus.“You’re not oversharing. We’re having a conversation. Getting to know each other. I asked you a question and I’m here for however you get to the answer.”
“Why else are you here?”
“I like talking to you.”
“So you really are on that app just to talk?”
“No.” I tell him another truth. “I’m on the app because I like sex and I’ve never been bothered about relationships.”
That frown comes back. The one that seems like it hurts.
I give him more. “swingers apps are safer for women cos they usually have their fella with them. Which leaves the best of both worlds for me if he wants to play too, and I’m not too fussed if he doesn’t.”
Sab absorbs that, reaching for his untouched beer. But he puts it down again without taking a sip. “I was thinking abouthooking up with some bi couples. Getting a taste, you know? But I ended up putting just blokes on my bio and now my inbox is fucking wild.”
“I’ll bet. See anything you like?”
“I haven’t looked.”
“Why not?”
He picks up the beer again. Drinks some, his gaze sliding away from me. I want it back. But my gut tells me that this, perhaps more than if I’m ever lucky enough to get him naked, is a moment I need to be careful.
To give him space.
So I don’t coax him back to me.
I let him be, let himbreathe, and I wait while the music hollering from the wall speakers takes advantage of my distraction and does a number on me.
Fecking Bob Geldof.
“Hey.” Sab rubs the back of my hand. The one hanging off the seat and so very nearly touching him. “It’s loud in here. Wanna walk?”
Walking means going outside.
