Jace’s smile grew. “You haven’t scaredmeaway. I’m talking to you.”
I took a deep breath. “Will the answer to your question impact whether or not you keep talking to me tonight?”
I really want you to keep talking to me.
Jace shrugged, eyes moving all over my face like he was trying to read my thoughts. “I’m digging your sexy, Clark Kent vibe, so I’ll keep talking to you either way. Assuming you’re interested, of course.”
I chuckled, feeling one bundle of nerves in my chest release slightly at his response. “I’m interested,” I said.
“Well, that’s a good start.” Jace smiled around his beer bottle, taking another long swig. I watched the bob of his throat and took a moment to appreciate the hard angles of his bearded jaw.
“I’m not experimenting. I’m bi. I’m just not exactly all the way out,” I said, taking a sip of my drink.
“Parents?” Jace asked with an eyebrow raise.
“That’s the main obstacle left. How’d you know?” I asked.
“They’re often the hardest to tell. For a lot of people, anyway.”
“Not for you?” I leaned closer, wanting another hit of his cologne. I inhaled, savoring it. He smelledverygood.
“I have two bi moms. They never once assumed I was straight, so I had no reason to tell them I was bi. They figured it out when they saw who I was dating.”
“Wow. That sounds like the dream.” I chuckled.
He smiled fondly, his eyes conveying deep affection for them. “Being adopted by them was the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Well, let’s just say my parents are absolutelynotthe best thing to ever happen to me,” I said, looking down at the bar.
Jace put a hand on my knee and electricity surged through me. “I’m sorry to hear that, Kayden. I can relate. My bio parents were pretty terrible too.”
I looked down at my knee and then back at his face. I might have more in common with this gorgeous man than I’d thought, but I wasn’t going to unpack my trauma or his over our first drink.I may be awkward at talking to strangers, but I’m not socially inept.
“How’d you know I was either experimenting or in the closet?” I asked.
Jace let go of my knee and I tried to mask my disappointment as he returned his hand to his beer bottle, spinning it on the bar as he met my eyes again. “You seemed surprised to be hit on. You’re too attractive to be that surprised unless it’s something new for you.”
“I’ve certainly never been hit on by someone as out of my league as you,” I said. “I’m more of an app-based dater. It allows me to hide my inability to make small talk much better.”
Jace chuckled and smirked at me again. “I think you’re doing just fine. I’m certainly not going anywhere unless you ask me to.”
I smiled flirtatiously, all on my own, without having to tell me body what to do.Yes, Kayden, youcando this.
“I don’t want you to go anywhere.”
“Good.” He took another sip of beer. “And if I invited you back to my place for another drink, would you be willing to take your awkward-small-talk skills somewhere more private?”
A grin spread across my face. “I’m way better in private. Especially because we don’t have to talk at all.”
Not talking is a whole lot better for me.
“I have a place four blocks away. But it’s cool if you want to grab a room or go back to your place. Whatever your normal bar-hookup situation is works for me,” Jace said.
I never even considered that. Do people have a standard for this?I didn’t like bringing people into my space. It was full of books and things that screamed nerdom for all to hear. Plus, heading back to my place felt way too intimate for what was clearly a one-night stand.
“Do I seem like the kind of guy who has a normal bar-hookup situation?” I asked with a chuckle. “You’re my first bar pickup. And I’m pretty sureyou’repickingmeup. Your place is fine with me.”
“I’m definitely picking you up.” Jace moved his hand closer to mine on the bar and his pinky finger grazed mine lightly. “I’m glad I’m your first. I hope it hasn’t been too awful for you so far.”
