“That’s . . .” I didn’t have words. “That’s not . . .”
“Not what? Not weird? Because it’s a little weird, Jacks. Actually, it’s not a little weird. It’s weird as shit. It might be the good kind of weird, but still . . .”
“It’s just stuff. He’s a football fan from Tallahassee. It makes sense. Everybody’s a little crazy when it comes to football in that town. It’s our thing.”
“Uh-huh.” Benji was giving me that sideways look, the one that said he saw right through my bullshit. “And the way he keeps staring at you when you’re not looking? Is thatstuff, too?”
“He’s not—”
“Heis. Trust me. I have excellent gaydar.”
“He’s straight.”
“Is he?”
“Benji.” I turned to face him. “He’s an NHL captain who’s been photographed with women he’s dated or banged or whatever. He’s straight. This is one athlete connecting with another former athlete who played in a different sport. That’s all.”
Benji held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. Whatever you say, but if I’m right, you owe me twenty bucks and another glitter night.”
“You’re not right.”
“We’ll see.”
As the evening wound down, the players closed out their tab—tipping outrageously because that was what professional athletes did—and gathered their things to leave. Skyler was the last one off his stool.
“Hey,” he said, lingering while his teammates headed for the door. “This was cool, getting to meet you again, I mean, for real this time.”
“Yeah.” My voice sounded foreign to my own ears. “Yeah, it was cool.”
“We should—” He stopped, ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, I’m sure we’ll be back. The guys love this place. So, I’ll see you around?”
“I’ll be here.” I raised a hand, forgetting there was a towel in it.
He smiled that same easy, warm smile from six weeks ago, the one that made his whole face light up.
“Sick. Cool. Okay.” He was backing toward the door now, almost bumping into a table. “Later, Jacks.”
“Later.”
He waved, and then he was gone, disappearingthrough the door with his teammates.
I stared for way too long.
“Jacks.”
I turned.
Finn was standing at the end of the bar, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?”
I followed him to the quieter end of the bar, away from the few remaining customers and Benji’s infallible hearing.
“What’s up?”
Finn studied me for a moment. “I like those guys. They’re good for business and good for the community. And Skyler seems nice.”
“But?”
