I cast a look toward the table in the corner. I recognized Lyle and Truman. Wasn’t so sure about the other two. They were all wearing matching smirks as they watched Damon talk to me.
“You didn’t come here by chance tonight, did you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
I pinned him with a look. “Are you here to fuck up my date?”
He snorted. “Looks like Percy is doing that well enough on his own.”
I shoved Damon’s arm. “I’m serious. It’s not cool. Do you think dating iseasyfor a gay man in this town?”
“Kinda.” He waved toward the table full of gay married couples. “There’s lots of same-sex couples here.”
“Yet, a lot more straight couples,” I said. “You go to a bar and there’s like, what, ten or twenty women you could potentially chat up? I go somewhere, and there’s maybeoneguy. And sometimes that one guy is Percy.”
“Aha!” Damon grinned. “I knew you didn’t really like him.”
“Unbelievable.” I slammed my glass on the bar. “I’m going back to my date. Percy may not be perfect, but at least he’s not a fucking manbaby.”
“Rude.”
I turned away, but Damon caught my arm. “Mav, wait.”
I glanced back, wary. “What?”
“I’m sorry you don’t have better options. More of them.” He shrugged. “You deserve better than Percy.”
I had no real desire to return to my table, where Percy was only half-present at best, anyway. I picked up my glass again. “Thanks for the drink.”
“No problem.” Damon hesitated. “I know I give you a lot of shit, but um…we’re cool, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “We’re nevercool, Damon. You’re a pain the ass. I put up with you because you’re easy on the eyes, but you also make me want to strangle you.”
He chuckled. “I get that a lot, actually. From my girlfriends too.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Funny coincidence, huh?”
“I mean, it’s not the same,” he said quickly. “I just… I’m a bit of a dick.”
“Good thing I like dick,” I teased.
He spluttered on his sip of beer. “You did not just say that.”
“It’s all true, baby. And if you keep barging in on my dates, I might just think you want a taste of it, too.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” He took a step back, holding up his hands. “I am not that curious.”
Notthatcurious. But a little curious?
I hadn’t forgotten Jory’s comment about the way Damon looked at me. Had I stumbled upon the gay man’s wet dream? A super hot straight guy who secretly wanted to fall to his knees?
Before I could explore the possibility any further, Percy remembered we were on a date and approached me at the bar.
“Is this guy bothering you?”
“Seriously?” Damon said. “You’re gonna go all protector after you’ve been ignoring him on your date?”
Percy colored. “Sorry, Maverick. I’m going to do better. Come back to the table?”
