With a chuckle, he shook his head. “Definitely not. I mean, I date. But it seems like none of the dates get past the first try.”
“He’s very picky,” Jackson called as he leaned over the table to break.
I shrugged. “Nothing wrong with being picky. It’s your body, your life. Do what you want with it.”
The crack of the balls careening into one another interrupted us. We both looked toward Jackson, who’d made a stellar break. “Don’t tell him that. He needs to get laid. Less picky is good sometimes.”
I rolled my eyes. “Who are you into? Maybe I can link you up with one of the guys on the crew.”
“I, uh, I’m straight.”
“Tragically,” Jackson interjected. “He’s so cute and he could easily get any guy he wanted.”
I nodded and laughed. “Understood. I know a few of those in New York, too.”
“Although…” Jackson continued. “I bet you could turn him around.” He leaned over and checked out my ass, whistling appreciatively. “I mean, that ass could convince anyone.”
The laugh that burst out of me was loud and I shook my head. “Thanks for the compliment.”
Asher’s face went bright red and he buried his face in his hands. “Oh my God, I am so sorry about him.”
“It’s not a big deal. Really. I’m used to having overzealous friends try to hook me up with just about anyone they find attractive.”
“Yeah?”
I shrugged. “I’m not quite as picky as you, I guess.” I picked up a cue stick and took my turn at the pool table. “Anyway, therearen’t many women on the crew this go-around, but I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
“Uh, thanks… So, how was Vermont? And how did you end up in New York?” Asher asked as I straightened up and let Jackson take his turn.
“It was fine, I guess. I lived with my grandparents. I'm not sure if you knew this part, but my folks weren’t thrilled with the schools here—well, to be honest, they weren’t thrilled with how I wasdoingin school. So they shipped me off to Maplewood, Vermont to shape up. When I graduated high school, by the skin of my teeth, I decided to go to school for design. After I finished, I started looking for jobs in New York. Did some stage set design work and then someone I knew suggested I meet with this producer for TV. I got a job and the rest is history. How about you? What have you been up to since high school?”
“I bounced around for a while, doing warehouse work and fast food, that kind of thing. Then I started working with a carpenter I met. He took me under his wing as an apprentice and here I am.”
I nodded appreciatively. “That’s awesome, man. Really it is.”
“Yeah, I actually really love it. Once the day’s over, it’s really rewarding to take a step back and look at what you’ve accomplished, you know?”
“I get that. I feel the same way about seeing my finished work, too.”
Asher glanced at me briefly, and heat crawled across my skin. “Do your parents still live in town?”
I shook my head. “They moved to Vermont to be near my grandparents, but that was a few years after I moved to New York.”
We played pool and chatted aimlessly for a while before the night began to wind down. After Jackson kicked my ass on the pool table and the drinks were gone, it was time to wrap it upand head home—well, back to my rental, anyway. We paid our tabs and lingered at the pool table. It felt like neither of us wanted the night to end.
“Listen,” I said. “Let’s get together again sometime. What do you say?”
Asher nodded and gave me a warm, genuine smile. “I’d like that a lot.”
Jackson interjected himself into the conversation with a smirk. “Can I come?”
Playfully, Asher shoved his shoulder. “Go away.”
“Fine, but don’t come crying to me if you two end up going on a date or something.” He winked. “I’m headed out. Good luck, you two.”
Asher rolled his eyes. “That guy is relentless. I’m so sorry about him.”
“Don’t even worry about it. Like I said, it’s fine. I’ve known plenty of people like him. In fact, some of my best friends in the city are pretty similar. It’s cool.”
