His eyes snap to mine.
I swallow. I want you, too? Did I just say that?
“What were you trying to, uh, say to me?” I ask him suddenly, yanking the spotlight away from my embarrassingly suggestive words. “Back on the dance floor? Something about how much closer we could’ve been? Me not knowing everything?”
Skylar’s face turns to stone yet again.
At once, his sister and Maria crash our little moment here at the bar. “Okay, we talked it over,” Lena tells us, “and we’re going to change our plans for the bachelorette party. Brett, you’re in charge now. Something about Aubergines and hot men stripping for us …?”
I peel my eyes away from Skylar’s. “I, uh … yeah! Aubergines! My roommate’s a shot boy there and I know the manager Larry.”
“It’s always been my dream to have a gay man plan my bachelorette party. Wait, sorry.” Lena clears her throat. “That is, if you are gay and not bi or fluid or something else. I didn’t mean to assume.”
“It’s all good,” I assure her. “I’m gay.”
Lena giggles, then eyes Maria. “And sorry to you, too. I know as the Maid of Honor, the ball was kinda in your court, but seeing as Brett here—”
“No, no, please,” Maria quickly says, lifting her hands. “I was having a nightmare trying to book a place for us, and after the last one canceled—”
“It’s settled, then!” cries out Lena. “Aubergines is our place! Can you make that happen?” she then asks me, lifting her eyebrows expectantly. “Also, I heard you know the names of a few good DJs …?”
After glancing at Skylar, who still looks uneasy, I give them an assured smile. “I’ll get it all covered. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Lena glances at each of us, seeming to pick up on something. “Also, I think Maria and I are gonna head back now. We’ve got a few of our own things to sort out before tomorrow.”
“We do?” blurts Maria. After a less-than-gentle nudge from Lena, she perks up. “Yes, we do! Sort out things, right, right.” Maria pastes on a smile.
Skylar nods and slides off his stool. “Alright, I can get you two home. Let me just make sure I—”
“No, no.” Lena pushes Skylar right back onto his seat. “We are heading off. You two are going to stay right here and continue your fun little night.” At the look of surprise on Sky’s face, she adds, “I think you two have a lot more … catching up to do.” She gives her brother a quick hug before flashing me a charming smile. “Don’t worry, I know the way back. Take care of him, okay?”
Before Skylar can protest, the girls are gone. The music thumps on. The two of us remain at the bar, a look of bewilderment in our eyes.
“I’m kinda clubbed out,” Sky admits suddenly.
“Me, too. Y’know …” I give a nod toward the door. “It just so happens, this place is located right across the street from where I live.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yep. Wanna … hang at my place for a bit?”
His answer nearly overlaps the question. “Yes.”
8
I can’t believe he’s finally coming to my place.
All of the nerves that chased their way through my system that first night we met at Dino’s make a vengeful, fierce return.
Every step up the stairs to the fifth floor twists my stomach more and more until I wonder if I can even manage a moment alone with Skylar.
Especially after learning what he’s learned.
Has he made conclusions? Does he wonder if I had a thing for him back then? Or if I have a thing for him now? Well, he agreed to come over to your place, didn’t he? He can’t be that uncomfortable or freaked out.
“And here we are,” I say, presenting my place as I push open the door.
Skylar steps inside ahead of me. His eyes scan the couch, the mismatched coatrack, the windows, the TV, and my table full of knickknacks. “Wow. Pretty sweet pad,” he decides to say as he strolls in. His eyes land on the fridge. “Boob magnets …?”
“It’s a bit of an ongoing thing my friends won’t let go of,” I explain. “When I first moved here, everyone thought I was lost … and straight. A guy downstairs named Lex got me a welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift of a magnet with giant boobs on it, and the joke just kinda caught on.” I follow him into the kitchen. “Want a drink?”
“Uh … sure.” He smiles and leans against the counter, his eyes taking everything in.
After a quick back-and-forth, Sky and I decide on a couple beers, which I fetch from the fridge right where Connor left them. We crack them open and drink right there in the kitchen. The silence of my empty place seems earsplitting after being in the loud and noisy Dames & Dudes for however long.