He held out his AmEx, and I snapped it up and went back to the register.Then I gave it to Bryn to return and went to the other end of the bar to take care of some loaded frat boys.They kept me busy for the next few minutes, so I didn’t even realize it was midnight until I saw Taran poke his head through the front door.He looked around, eyebrows high, mouth slightly open.Then he seemed to take a deep breath and slipped inside, weaving his towards me.
I ducked out from behind the bar and threw my arms around him.He picked me up a little, like he’d forgotten where we were, and then set me back down fast, chuckling.“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”I patted his face, which was nice and stubbly, just how I liked it.“I amsoglad to see you.”
“Ready to go?”
I’d thought I might ask him to hang out and have a drink if things calmed down, but with Drake in the building, hell no.Hopefully he saw me throw myself at Taran; the kind of man who thoughtnowas just a game could still respect another man’s territory, right?Fucking creep.
Hot creep.But creep.
“So ready.”
I introduced Taran to Stevie on the way out, so he’d know to always let him in, and we started back toward my apartment together.I slumped, suddenly wishing I’d asked him to drive the six blocks and pick me up instead.God, I’d suggested we go to my favorite club tonight, just to test the waters—how would he be in a largely queer space with my entirely queer friends?
I was so not up for dancing, though.Fuck.
Taran watched me light a cigarette, and then asked, “You want to just Door Dash something and watch a movie?Looks like that was crazy in there.”
I grabbed his hand in my free one.“That is the sexiest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
He chuckled.“I’m always good with a change in plans.For the record.”
I smiled and admired him in the moonlight, then the streetlamp as we walked into its glow.
“What?”he asked when he noticed me watching him instead of the sidewalk.
“Thanks.For being sweet.”
“No gold star for not being a dick.”He laughed again, silently but shaking his shoulders.“I admit I’d be sad if you said you didn’t want to hang out at all, but we can be low-key.”
“You can,” I said with a snort.“How was work?”
“Fine.Actually—we’re doing a thing in a few weeks, at this venue inside PNC Park.Pirates game.They told us all to bring plus ones.”He glanced at me then away again, smiling almost shyly.
My whole body flushed with warmth, not from the humid night, but from inside me.It happened sometimes when I noticed something cute about him, just this rush of sensation, like a dam breaking somewhere near my heart.
He’d never been shy in high school.Hell, he still wasn’t.Except every damn time he asked me out in person over the last three weeks.
“Is that your way of saying you want some arm candy for the event?”I asked, squeezing his hand.
“It is,” he confirmed with another chuckle.He let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in close.The smell of him was intoxicating, especially now it was hot enough that there was a little sweat in it.I wanted to shove my whole face into his armpit and just stay there.
“Text me the date and I’ll make sure to get it off,” I said instead.No need to make it weird.Yet.
Ifelthim sigh in response.
The warmth was still there, but that little guilty thing itched at the back of my brain again.“Tare, when have I ever said no to you?”I asked.
“Well, baseball isn’t exciting.Even if the Pirates are decent this year.”
“Pierogi races,” I pointed out.Nobody went for the game; it was all about the four pierogi-shaped mascots that tottered around the bases after the fifth inning.Everyone knew that.
“Right.Yeah, of course.Pierogi races.”He grinned, deploying that dimple that made me want to lick him.
He ordered food, since I was too tired to make up my mind, and once we got to my place, I cleaned up a little and threw myself onto the couch next to him.Mmm, he really did smell good tonight, and he was so warm through his soft, thin t-shirt.I ran my hand up his thigh appreciatively and turned my face up for a kiss.
He obliged, then said into my lips, “What about that Hitchcock movie you were talking about?”
