“I hate that he ruined opening night for you. You should have had only happy memories after that performance,” I tell Zeke, reaching over to lace our fingers together.
“Maybe in time I’ll be able to return. But not right now.” A look of agony passes across Zeke’s features, and despite knowing what happened to him, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something.
“Take all the time you need,” I tell him, not wanting him to feel any pressure from me.
We spend the rest of the ride in a comfortable silence as the French lyrics swirl around us.
The restaurant is in a beautiful white-brick shopping center nestled in the small downtown area. The kind that encourages you to walk around despite the frigid temperatures, thanks to the gas fire pits dotted along the brick walkways.
Being in public with Zeke feels so good. Not simply hiding at home makes this feel real in a way that it hasn’t yet. I try not to show him off, but my chest puffs out with pride at havinghim by my side as I approach the hostess stand, still clutching his hand.
“Table for two, please,” I tell her, acutely aware that her eyes drift to where our hands are linked and her smile falters. I’m not one to make others uncomfortable intentionally, but when Zeke tenses beside me, I know he saw her look and is affected by it. And that just won’t fly. “My boyfriend and I are celebrating tonight, so I’d like a booth, please. I want to be able to sit next to him so there’s not as much distance.”
“Sure,” she says, clearly annoyed as she reroutes and leads us toward a booth by a window.
“Perfect. Thank you,” I tell her cheerfully.
“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” Zeke says, once the hostess has left.
“Of course I did. She’s an abomination to hosts and hostesses everywhere,” I tell him. “Could you imagine judging patrons of Summit so openly?”
“No, I’m way better at judging them quietly,” he teases, making me laugh.
“What should we drink tonight? After all, wearecelebrating.”
Chapter 24
Zeke
I’d never had sake before tonight, but it’s good.Really good.And the little tiny cups you use to drink it make it hard to keep up with how much you’ve actually consumed. It feels like I’ve barely had any, but when my lips begin to tingle, I cut myself off.
Dinner passes at a relaxed pace. Talon and I talk about everything from our favorite dog breeds to our political views, all while staying connected from our thighs to our shoes.
When the bill comes, I don’t argue, but simply rest my chin on Talon’s shoulder.
“Thank you. This was wonderful.”
“The pleasure’s all mine,” he says, turning to kiss me right here in public.
When his card is returned, he holds my jacket open for me, places his hand at the small of my back, and guides me from the restaurant.
Despite loving theater, having a slight build and a face often described aspretty, and being a gay man, I’m not feminine, but I can’t help but feel like a fucking princess withTalon’s giant hand on me as he protectively claims me tonight. After Derek, I never thought I’d want to be claimed again. The idea was repulsive. But now I know: beingclaimedis nice; beingcontrolledis not.
As Talon and I carefully start our descent down the icy stairs of the shopping center, I slip and grab hold of him. He chuckles and wraps his arm around my waist.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have ordered that third bottle of sake,” he teases, keeping a tight hold on me.
I’m enjoying the feel of being pressed against him like this when a familiar voice makes my blood run as cold as the night air around us.
“Thought you said nothing was going on between you two.”
Instinctively, I burrow further into Talon, trying to escape the sound clawing at my brain.
“Nothing was,” I say against my will. Years of being conditioned to answer Derek when he speaks make the comment spill from my lips.
Derek snorts, looking pointedly at Talon’s arm thrown protectively across my waist.
“Yeah, sure seems like it.”
