“What’s on your mind?” he asked, drumming his fingers on the table. “Wait. Let me guess. You want to know if we can hook up again?”
I shifted in my chair, suddenly a little uncomfortable that he could read me so well. Was Ithattransparent? “Something like that.”
“John, let me put your mind at ease. I can see you’re nervous by the way you’re squirming in your seat.”
I furrowed my brow and gave him a hard look. “I’m not fucking squirming.”
He grinned. “Oh, you are, John, you are. You’re concerned that if we give in to this mutual attraction, I’m going to develop feelings for you. But let me stop you there. That’s not me.”
Brent leaned closer across the table, causing me to do the same. I could smell him and it was driving me crazy.
“I don’t do feelings or relationships. And I certainly don’t do love. So we’re good to fuck around if you want.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Let me make sure I understand what you’re saying. You never intend to have a relationship of any kind, or to get married.”
He sat back and stretched his arms over his head. My eyes snagged on the sliver of exposed skin. “That’s what I said. No worries about that from me. Ever.”
I nodded as a plan formed in my head. I knew what I had to do.
But he kept talking. “Just don’t fall in love with me and we’ll be fine.”
I tried not to smile, but he was so fucking cute when he lied like that.
“I don’t think you have to worry about that Brent.” I knew it was a lie. I was already on my way down. “At this point in my life, I’m not looking for a fuck buddy. I want one person to settle down with. Get some dogs, maybe a house, and travel.” He didn’t need to know I was referring to him.
“And as long as you don’t have a problem with us working together, then we’re fine.” I lied right back. We were both big fat liars.
“Oh… yeah, okay. I guess being an old man like you, that’s probably wise.”
I raised one eyebrow at his smartass comment, making him chuckle. He rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced over at the counter. The twink barista looked up and smiled, then pointed to the cups he’d left on the counter.
Brent raised a finger as if to tell him to hang on a minute.
As I watched, he turned back to me, but his smile didn’t light up his face. “I can be your wingman. Maybe I can help you find the one you’re looking for.”
One look into his eyes proved he was full of shit. And we both knew it. The undeniable attraction we shared was unprecedented. But no matter how much bullshit he spouted, Icouldn’t stop smiling whenever he was around. And that made my decision to stay very easy.
He pulled out his phone and stood up. “I’ve got to run. Gotta go home and shower before my doctor's appointment.”
“You okay?”
He smiled down at me as he pushed in the chair. “Yep. Just my regular checkup and STI check. Time for a refill on my Prep.”
I gave him a nod and stood up. “Hey, we need to talk about Vegas.”
He frowned and shook his head. “I don’t think we do. It’s in the past. Let’s just leave it there. ”
I was already irritated. “Then give me your number.”
He laughed. “Okay, Commander. Give me your phone.”
The smartass reached for it and opened my text messages. Before he handed it back to me, his pinged.
“See ya later,” he said as he walked back to the counter to collect his coffee.
As I watched him flirt with the baby barista, I knew there was no way to leave what I had to tell him in the past. Now was not the right time to hold that conversation. So it would wait until we were alone at home.
Trying to hide my smile, I found GQ’s number and gave him a call. He answered on the second ring.
