“No way,” I said, shaking my head. Intimidation hit me like a lightning bolt when I thought of them, chased after by every gay guy in town. “That’s too much. I do not accept that my first hookup as a gay man was with the two most popular guys in town.” I looked around the apartment and pretended to peer into the corners. “Are you going to tell me I’m on a reality show next?”
“You’ve got to ask them out again, Grayson,” Alyssa encouraged.
“What? No, I told you. That’s not the kind of relationship I’m looking for. Anyway, if they’re as famously popular as you claim, there’s no way they’ll want another date with me. I can’t even keep up with Marco on the dance floor, let alone both of them in the bedroom.”
“But you also said you had a great time hanging out with them and that your gut said there was something more there. I’m afraid I’m going to have to pull rank,” Alyssa said, crossing her arms over her T-shirt.
“Pull rank?”
“As one of your only friends in this beautiful city, I am going to insist that you ask them out again.”
“You can’t do that,” I laughed. “There’s no such thing as pulling rank as a friend.”
“I certainly can. You’re trying to find yourself as a gay man? Well, two shining examples of wonderful gay men have taken an interest in you. You don’t have to worry that they’ll reject you or not like you, and you don’t have to waste any time getting them caught up on trans stuff. Grayson, this is a perfect opportunity, and I refuse to stand by while you miss it.”
I groaned quietly to myself. Demir and Marco were pretty much exactly what I had hoped for, even if I had only imagined there being one of them.
“But we didn’t even exchange numbers,” I objected weakly.
“Good thing you know exactly where to find them!”
* * *
It took me until the next Tuesday to work up the nerve to return to The Forty-Eight. I picked out a light gray crewneck and a pair of jeans that were especially snug against my ass and tried not to obsess over my hair. I’d spent the day with tiny paint brushes, decorating some custom tiles for a sauna in Boston, but managed to hit the weights over my lunch break, and my muscles were still worn and warm from it.
When I arrived, the street outside was empty. Inside, it was much quieter than it had been on Saturday. The DJ was playing something minimal and electronic, and the people gathered at the small tables looked to be more after-work than pre-party.
A gorgeous man with long red hair greeted me at the bar, fluttering his eyelashes my way. “How can I help you, hun?”
The way he saidhunmade me smile, like he was including me in his world a little. “I was wondering if the owners are around? Demir and Marco?”
The guy laughed warmly and set down the glass he had been drying. “I’ve heard of them, yeah. Can I ask what this is about?”
I laid my hand on the counter, trying to stay casual. “I just wanted to say hello. I met them here the other weekend.”
“I see,” the man said, smiling but still eyeing me and sizing me up. “I can’t give you their contact without their permission, you understand, and both are at home this evening. I can pass along your number, though, if you’d like.”
I thought about it for a second, then nodded, feeling a mixture of disappointment and relief that I wouldn’t see them that night. The man grabbed a pen and a small pad of paper from behind the bar and slid them my way. I scribbled down my name and number quickly, then pushed it back.
“If you want to catch them for a chat,” he said warmly, “I’d recommend coming in over the weekend. They do have a lot of admirers, but you can sometimes catch the happy couple for a dance.”
I opened my mouth, then realized that men from the bar must try to get Marco and Demir’s time every day, just like Alyssa said. I almost grabbed my number back, convinced it was a bad idea, but managed to stop myself.
“Thanks for the advice,” I said.
The guy winked. “A cutie like you? I would guess they’ll have time for a dance.”
I chuckled, then nodded.
A little more than a dance,I thought. Although how much more, I wasn’t sure.
