Two things Bowie detested.Oh dear.
He couldn’t have made it any more obvious that he wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t shift his interest from the menu when the heat went up several levels in his face. “Erm… right… no…”
“What about the double cheeseburger with Jack cheese and a side of bacon with extra tomato? That’s what I’m opting for. We could share a side of corn and sweet potato fries?”
Relief was immediate, and Bowie nodded eagerly at not having to figure it out when he had no wish to be an embarrassment to Kari.
Kari rattled off what they wanted and added two sodas along with a shared brownie ice cream dessert that sounded yummy. The server left moments later, after confirming their order, and Bowie shifted on his seat, looking anywhere but at the man sitting opposite him.
“Bowie… can you look at me, please?”
The softness of the request was easy to comply with, even when it made Bowie nervous.
“Bowie, can I ask you a personal question?” His nod was immediate. “When you went to the sex club with your friends, what did you think about what you saw?”
The alarm made him jump to conclusions. Had Kari read his thoughts about Jupiter? “I didn’t look, I swear.”
Kari came forward and reached for the hand that went up to Bowie’s mouth to chew on the thumbnail, a habit he had when anxious. He intertwined their fingers and placed their joined hands on the table.
“Look at what?” Kari’s question held no censure.
“Jupiter. I didn’t. I’m not interested in what was happening like Wilder,” he rushed to say and then paled at mentioning Wilder.
“Bowie, breathe for me. It’s fine, and I’m sorry. I’m not being very good at explaining myself.” Kari sighed heavily, his frown deepening and making him look far older.
When Bowie stopped hyperventilating, the soothing motion of Kari’s thumb tracing gently over the back of his hand continued, easing the tightness in his chest.
“I’ve never had to explain myself to someone I’m interested in before, not like this, because they understood what I like. I’m not doing a good job of it.”
Interested in.
Interested in.
Interested in me.
The words became stuck in his brain, and Bowie shook his head to clear it. “I-interested i-in,” he stammered as it struck exactly what Kodi meant, “in me!”
“Yes.” Kari chuckled. “Is it that hard to believe that I’d be interested in someone as adorable as you?”
Bowie wasn’t sure how it was possible to answer with his heart jack rabbiting and forcing itself up the back of his throat.
The server came with their drinks, and he’d barely set it down before Bowie was reaching for it and drinking half the contents.
“Yes,” he croaked out, making the frown reappear.
“Rex has a lot to answer for,” Kari muttered, leaning over the table, coming close enough that Bowie could smell his aftershave over the delicious food. “Bowie, I’m interested in dating you, but I need you to understand some things about me before you decide.”
Kari is nervous.
How that was Bowie’s first thought was beyond him when Kari had dropped such a bombshell.
Dating. He wants to date us. Us.
“Bowie what’s going on in your head right now?”
“You’re nervous, you’re never nervous,” he muttered.
“I am, because I really want more with you. And what I’m about to discuss with you could stop that from happening.”
