Leo hands him the menu back. “I’ll have the almond-crusted sea bass.”
“And I’ll have the shrimp and grits.”
The server leaves to put in our order. I worry that the conversation will grow awkward or stale, but it doesn’t. I’ve got to stop projecting. Just because I’m terrible at dates doesn’t mean he is.
“You have a daycare business? Is that correct?” Leo asks.
“Yes, it’s more like a drop-off babysitting facility. It’s gotten quite popular, so I had to open other facilities to meet the demand.”
“Exciting. You must do well. Are your kids there? Three of them, right?”
“Sometimes they do, but tonight they’re at my parents’ house. They’ll stay the night with them.”
Leo leans forward with a smirk resting on his face. “All night? So, if all goes well with our date?”
My face burns, and I mask it with a sip from my beer. His implication is clear. He wants sex. It’s something I prepared for, but I’d forgotten how bold men can be. Malcolm had been the same way. And Ididmiss sex. We don’t have to get serious, right? God, I want a relationship, not a one-nighter. Maybe I’m rushing too much, but I’m not some single guy anymore. Simply fooling around doesn’t work when you have three kids. Still, my hand is getting old, and my kids won’t be home until tomorrow. I mean, why shouldn’t I have some fun for a change?
“Maybe if all goes well,” I say eventually.
Conversation during dinner is light and easy. I don’t recall smiling so much. And Leo seems so… normal. I especially like that he’s a single dad like me. It really helps. Not to mention his attractiveness. I have to admit, Edmundo did well in setting this up.
“So, you were married to a woman? What changed, if you don’t mind me asking?” I need to know if he’s dated men before. If he hasn’t, I’ll call off the date.
Our server stops at our table before Leo can answer and clears away our dishes. When he leaves, Leo takes a sip from his second old-fashioned. “Our divorce ended amicably. We separated when I came out as gay to her. I’ve always known, but living in the shadows, always hiding who you are, takes a toll on you, you know? My parents are homophobic, so I sat in the closet, married my high school sweetheart, and had a child. She wasn’t surprised when I told her, but she was grateful I was honest with her.”
“She wasn’t mad at all?”
His story is similar to Slade’s.
“Not really. As I said, she wasn’t surprised, and she knows how my parents are. I love her, and she loves me, but it was time for me to be true to myself, not only for myself but also for her. She deserves someone who’s all in.”
“How did your son take it?”
“Colby? He’s struggling with it. He accepts me as I am, but he didn’t think we needed to get divorced if we still loved each other. I went to therapy with him to help him get through this transition.”
“How long have you been divorced?”
“Almost four years now.”
Okay, that’s good to know, so he’s probably dated other men before me. However, I’m not sure how I feel about his marriage. He lied to his wife by omission for years. I guess, if she’s okay with it… Still, it’s a yellow flag for now. While my friend Slade went through something similar, I’m not on a date with Slade. His personal life has no impact on mine.
Leo leans back in the booth and waggles his finger at me as he smiles crookedly. “You’re worried about me only being here to experiment, or you’re worried that I didn’t tell my wife sooner.”
I shake my head and huff a laugh. “Edmundo didn’t tell me you’re a mind-reader, too.”
His laugh was deep and addictive. Honestly, I love that he’s not offended. “Well, you seem to wear how you’re feeling on your face. I’m also a lawyer. I’ve learned to read body language and what’s left unsaid pretty well.”
Said face burns again. “Oh, yeah. That’s why I’m usually terrible at poker.”
He laughs again. “Ah, yes, the infamous poker team of single dads. Edmundo has been trying to get me to join, but I know nothing about poker. Besides, on game night, I have my son. My ex has custody, and I get visitation, so I don’t want to miss a moment with him.”
I smile at that. That yellow flag has turned green once more. That he’ll do whatever he can to spend time with his son is a bonus.
“I really like that,” I said.
Leo winked at me. “AndIlike you.”
“Why? Honestly, I’m kind of boring. Somewhere down the line, after my ex left, I’ve simply become a dad and a business owner, not much else.”
