So, uh, I know it’s too much to ask, but do you mind if I come to your place before the wedding to change? Suits on planes suck.
Oz re-read the text a few times, trying to summon the courage to send it. He knew Seth had agreed to go with him, but what if he’d changed his mind? Oz wasn’t sure he was ready for that kind of rejection right now.
All the same, he wanted to know that he was welcome.
Taking a deep breath, he hit send and then immediately shoved his phone in his pocket again, trying to pretend to himself that he’d never taken it out.
It vibrated almost immediately.
This is not the best opening line I’ve ever heard, Seth replied.
Despite his nerves, Oz laughed.It’s not a line. I just really want somewhere to change.
Then my bedroom is your bedroom, Seth responded.
Oz laughed again. He could imagine Seth saying it in his driest tone, as though it was completely innocent. He did like the sound of Seth’s bedroom being his bedroom, though, even if it was only for the one night.
With his confidence boosted, Oz didn’t want the conversation to end there. The more of Seth’s company he could get, the better.
So did you ever decide where I placed in the top three?he asked. Oz wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know, but even third place got a medal. Third out of who knew how many wasn’t bad at all.
You’re the provisional champion.
Oz licked his lips. He liked the sound of that.Provisional based on what?
Your performance over the weekend. Normally the one-night-stand category only gets one shot, but you’re a special case. I’m not ready to move you to flings yet.
Oz blinked at that message, re-reading it a few times. Seth had a whole system in place.
Or he was making it up on the spot to tease Oz.
It was hard to tell which was more likely. Seth was a fun guy, but he was hard to get a good read on. He clearly spent a lot of time handing out false smiles and telling people how much he liked them, regardless of whether or not he actually did.
So your point is, I need to bring my A-game.
Exactly. If you care about what I think, that is. Some people would be satisfied with getting off.
Oz considered that, and then wondered what the hell kind of people Seth was sleeping with if they didn’t care what he thought. Not that it was any of his business, but he couldn’t imagine not caring whether or not whoever he was with was having fun.
That didn’t seem like the kind of thing he could say to Seth, though. They didn’t know each other that well, and while Oz liked him, they were barely even friends.
Oz wanted to be Seth’s friend, but that didn’t mean it went both ways.
I care, he texted back, hoping it didn’t sound too earnest. Seth had called him a sweetheart, and he still wasn’t sure it had been intended as a compliment. Maybe he’d been expecting something different.
Oz wasn’t totally unaware he was a little intimidating to people who didn’t know him. He could switch it on when he needed to—in court or otherwise, when he was dealing with someone he wanted to back down. That didn’t mean it was what he was actually like.
Seth might have expected that, though.
I know, Seth responded after what seemed like a longer-than-usual pause.You’re a good man.
He couldn’t hear Seth’s voice or anything, but something about that made Oz think that wasn’t quite a compliment, either. Seth definitely wasn’t trying to get rid of him, but there was something a little weird about him.
There were lots of things that were a little weird about him. That was what Oz liked so much.
Thanks, Oz finally wrote, deciding that even if it maybe wasn’t intended as a compliment, he’d take it as one. He wanted to be a good man, and while he liked Seth, if that wasn’t something Seth wanted… then this had been fun, but it wouldn’t last.
You don’t need to thank me for honesty.
