Chapter 10

Ididn't plan on double booking myself, but… Shit happens.

It was fairly perfect. David had hidden himself away – his words – and now was the time for him to start getting out of his comfort zone. If there was going to be something between us, it had to happen. I could coddle him when he needed it, but from what I've seen – he may need it a lot.

So…

I made a quick decision that I hoped wouldn't backfire on me. The devil on my shoulder told me that this was a great idea and a chance for David to meet new people. The other devil who resided on the other shoulder told me that this wasn't a very good second date. I totally forgot about agreeing to meet my friends at Rumors. They were expecting me, and when I asked David out – I did so in the spirit of the moment. I wanted to see him again and get to know him better. I was infatuated with the possibility of him, and then this morning, I realized what I had done.

A decision had to be made.

I just hoped I made the right one.

"Where are we going?" He looked adorable as he shut his front door behind him before turning to look at me with the cutest look on his face. "Am I dressed, ok?"

"We are going to Rumors, and you are going to have a blast looking as cute as you do."

"Rumors? Uh… that's a little… I mean…"

"Hey. I think your date is pretty damn good-looking."

"Your shirt is very tight."

"I wanted you to see the work. These muscles don't come easy, you know."

"Ok… Rumors." He nodded. I reached down and gently took his hand in mine.

"It's time to stop being an ostrich. Besides, I don't think I really see you that way. I think you're more of a zebra."

"I'm prey?" He chuckled. "Figures."

"A zebra can protect itself from any predator. Did you know that one kick from the zebra's hooves can kill a lion? I saw it on Planet Earth."

"I love that series. It's so gorgeous – like you." The instant blush that exploded across his face emboldened me.

"You think I'm gorgeous?"

"I think you know that you're gorgeous." He giggled. "People are going to be super confused as to why you're hanging out with me."

"Oh, I don't think so. I think it will be fairly clear. There's… uh… also going to be a few other people with us, too." I noticed his eyes widen in surprise. "I want to introduce you to my friends."

"You're… uh… Ok. I mean, that's a little… Are you sure you want to do that?" His voice cracked.

I grinned at him. "I'm positive. I'm also sure that they're gonna love you." I got to my car and opened the passenger door. "Your chariot awaits."

He blushed as he got in, and I shut the door behind him. I knew that my car was a piece of shit that smelled a little bit like a locker room. All of my old sports equipment sat in the back like a remembrance of the person I used to be. I should clean it out – for David, at least, if not for myself.

I got in and reached over to take his hand. He looked surprised as I laced my fingers through his.

"Can you drive with one hand?" He gulped.

"I can drive with no hands." I started the car and made a quick U-turn on the street.

"These friends of yours… I assume you're talking about Crystal and the other A-gays?"

"A-gays!" I laughed. "They don't bite, David. Actually, they are all very sweet."

"They're always together like they're a special club or something. I don't go out very much. But sometimes my best friend, Zane, he… uh… will force me to go with him when he can't find anyone else. I see them there, and it's like they're holding court. Even at Liberties, it's like they… like there's a wall around them."

"I think that's just your perception. Trust me, there is no wall. They brought me right in."

"You and I are very different. Look at you. Who wouldn't want you to be a part of their group?"

"They used to think I was straight. It was… I don't know, maybe a month before I told them I was bi. They hadn't cared, at all. Crystal and Danny just saw a person who was lonely and didn't have any friends, so they took me in. They're like a family, so they are very close, David. But they aren't snobby. I promise."

"Do they know I'm coming?" He looked like he was about to throw open the car door and dive out. I wished I could make him feel more at ease.

"Crystal knows – so everyone knows." I laughed, knowing that statement was absolutely true. Crystal loved to gossip. "David, I… I like you, ok? That's all that matters."

I pulled into the parking lot of Rumors and saw Blake's truck parked next to Crystal's car. I let go of David's hand and turned my car off.

"Alright." He nodded.

I grinned at him before getting out of the car and walking around to open his door. He knew I was going to, and he waited for me. It felt… It made me feel strong and in control. David made me feel in control. It was intoxicating. It had been so long since I had allowed myself to revel in anything. David gave that part of me back. I opened the door and took his hand as I helped him from his seat.

"You really are something else," I smirked, shutting the car door behind him.

"You make me feel like… I don't know – like I matter. It's been so long that…"

I pulled him into me and placed my lips gently against his. I could feel his heart race as it thumped against mine. He sighed, and I kissed him sweetly a few times as he melted into me. I placed my hands on his shoulders and slowly broke our connection.

"That was… You just kissed me?"

"Is that really a question?" I chuckled.

"I wasn't expecting it – it's…" He stared up at me.

"It's a date, David. I'm here with you, and… I liked kissing you. I will like kissing you again and again."

"I liked it, too. You're… I mean – you're you." His eyes narrowed as he stared at me. "Sorry, I am not very good at this."

"We have time. Now let's go meet my friends." I offered him my hand, and he put his hand against mine. I closed my fingers around him tightly. He was nervous. I hoped the kiss had helped loosen him up a little. He didn't see himself the way I did. That would take time.

We walked into Rumors, and I noticed Crystal sitting up on the risers with a few of our friends. Danny and Blake were there, along with Sam and Grayson, who I was excited for David to meet. Out of all of Crystal's gang, Sam and Grayson were the nicest. Grayson was quite a few years older than Sam, just like David and I.

"This must be David!" Crystal stood and walked around the table to greet us.

"Yes. David, I would like you to officially meet Crystal."

She rushed over and gave David a bear hug. "Aren't you the cutest!" she squealed happily. "You have to sit by me. It's so nice to meet you. I've seen you around. This is Danny and Blake. I'll assume you know who Blake is." She cackled. "And this is Sam and Grayson."

"We've actually met. You brought your car into the shop a while ago." Grayson stood up and shook David's hand. "I think it was the starter?"

"I did, and it was." David nodded.

"Sam is a writer, and Danny is a man of leisure," Crystal teased.

"Leisure?" Danny gasped. "I teach skiing at the chalet for the VIP clients. It's very nice to meet you."

"When he has time, he teaches skiing. He's usually galivanting all over the globe with Blake." Crystal was on fire tonight.

"I like to have him with me to keep me grounded." Blake grinned. "It's very nice to meet you." He shook David's hand happily. "Welcome to the club."

Sam came around and took David's hand in his. "Come and sit down. I have seen you around, but I'm positive we've never spoken to each other. You have to tell us all about yourself."

I watched David's face fall. "There's really not too much to tell."

"I'm sure that's not true." Sam smiled. "But first, I think we need to get you a drink. We can be a lot." He chuckled. "Especially our grande dame."

"I am as sweet as punch. I'm just loud." Crystal shrugged.

"Do you want the same thing as yesterday?" I asked, and I noticed David glancing around the table at what everyone else was drinking. It was a mix of a little bit of everything, and he nodded at me.

I walked over to the bar and ordered our drinks. I kept looking back at the table and was surprised to see David grinning happily. His discomfort was replaced by the friendliness of the group. I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that I didn't trust them to be nice – because I did. But I also knew that David was a little fragile and uncomfortable in new situations.

It seemed to be going ok so far. The bartender slid my beer over and carefully placed a straw in David's pink creamsicle of a drink. I picked them up and carried them over and slid next to David on the bench.

"What are we talking about?" I asked as I bumped my shoulder gently against David's.

"He's telling us about Liza Minnelli," Sam cooed. "I can't wait to meet her. I love dogs so much."

"She is a belly rub whore," I chuckled. "That's really how we met. She tried to show me her EGOT."

"So, what do you do, David? For work, I mean," Blake asked, taking a sip of his beer.

"Oh! I'm in IT for a small startup. I work from home because they are out of state."

"That's cool. Do you like working from home?" Crystal grinned at him. "I'm a total people person, so that sounds lonely."

"It's fine. Honestly, unless something goes wrong, they pay me to watch Netflix most of the time. But, yeah… It is lonely in some ways. I've just started to realize that."

"You're from here, right?" Danny kicked my leg under the table and gave me a thumbs-up.

"Yeah. My… er… what's left of my family all moved away, but I came back. The Pleasant has always felt like home, so when I needed to move somewhere, this was the first place I wanted to come."

"Do you still have a lot of friends around?"

"Well, he does now. He has no idea what he just got adopted into." Sam smirked.

"Uh… I have a few. Most of my old friends from high school are… I guess a few of them are still here, but I know a lot of them moved away for jobs. My best friend, Zane, moved back to The Pleasant too, so that's been nice."

"Oh! I know Zane a little. He went out with one of the twins, but I can't remember which one." Sam shrugged. "He seemed nice when I met him."

"I can't remember his name, either. But yes, they went on a few dates. Zane is a lot." David blushed. "I think they're still friends, though."

"Yes. I think so, too. The gays of our lives around here are too much to keep up with." Sam chuckled, and Grayson reached over and pecked him lovingly on the cheek.

"It always has been. I swear there's something in the water." Crystal laughed. "So, why don't we ever see you around here very often?"

David glanced around. "I don't… uh… go out very much."

"You're shy, and that's adorable." Crystal put her hand on top of his. "Don't worry, we only bite when someone asks for it. Just so you know, you are now officially adopted. You two look very cute together."

"It's just our second date." David blushed.

"But it won't be our last." I slide my arm around David's waist and pull him a little closer.

"I'm just… Justin has been a surprise." David admitted.

"A nice one, I hope." I squeezed his side a little.

"I think so."

It was nice to merge the two worlds of my friends and David, even if it may have been a little sooner than it normally would have. David needed to get to know more people, and these were some of the best that I had ever met. I hoped that they'd do the same for him that they did for me.

Grayson asked David to help him carry some drinks, and I saw the two of them chatting at the bar. David nodded a lot but kept grinning at whatever Grayson was telling him. It was nice watching him interact with my friends, and he seemed to be having a good time. Crystal had been gushing over him repeatedly, which was not a surprise.

"He's adorable, very handsome. I approve," she whispered as we all started to leave.

We walked out with them, and they got into their cars as we stood by ours.

"Was it too much?"

He shook his head. "It was great. I don't know why I… It was nice to meet your friends. They're not as bougie as I always thought they were. Why I always thought they'd be hard to talk to, I don't know."

"I'm glad you like them. I know they like you." I reached over and took his hand before gently pulling him into me once again. "I really want to kiss you. Is that alright?"

He blushed as he nodded, and I bent down. His lips opened, and I kissed him deeply. He moaned into my mouth as my tongue gently pushed into him. His body pressed against mine, and his hand grasping the back of my hair made me crave more. He tasted sweet and tangy from his drinks, and I relished being the one who was making him come unglued. His fingers brushed against my back as his grip tightened in my hair.

He chuckled into our kiss, and I slowly broke away.

"What's so funny?" I smirked as he regained his balance and stared wide-eyed up at me.

"You. This." He grinned. "I'm just…"

"Do you want to go back to your house?"

"So badly that I might burst into flames." He frowned and looked around the parking lot. "But… Can we wait?"

"What did you think was gonna happen, David?" I shrugged sheepishly. "What kind of boy do you think I am?"

"The kind of boy who I am sure you are." He laughed and put his hand over my heart. "It's… been a while since I…"

"We can wait as long as you want." I pulled him into me. "Just don't make it too long." I kissed the top of his head. "Besides, I think you are totally worth waiting for. You're not the only one who's surprised by… I didn't see you coming either."

"Oh, I saw you. I just can't believe you did me."

"You are going to have to get over that. I saw you – I see you, David."

"I know, but I'm still… Thank you for a nice evening."

"We still have to get home and I think I should at least walk you to your door and give you a good night kiss, don't you?"

"Oh, no." He laughed. "Well, the ride home is a must. But the walking to the door… Stop trying to tempt me."

"You can't blame a boy for trying."