Page 21 of The Quirky Vet

I have to say, I admire his cool, almost nonchalant, approach to kissing a bloke. Scuttlebutt may be a progressive place, but Gramps is from that generation wheremen were men. It's cool that some of them aremen who were men who kissed other menand it's not a big deal.

Fast forward to now, and it's a pretty big fucking deal for me.

I close the album and let out a sigh.

Maybe Gramps is right. Maybe kissing Fitz would be a good way to find out if my feelings for him have spilled over past the boundary of friendship into something more. Or if I'm even attracted to guys in that way in the first place.

In all my twenty-nine years, I can't say I've ever had a genuine sexual thought about a guy the way I have with women.

But what about Fitz?

I notice things about him I've never noticed about guys before, but that could be because he changes his appearance so often. He's always dying his hair or putting shit on his beard or painting his fingernails. Maybe it's trained me to be on the lookout for whatever his latest thing is?

But how does that explain me checking out his arse on the Goldie? Or noticing the way his biceps flexed in that too-tight shirt he was wearing yesterday?

And if I'm being honest, I've caught myself wondering what it might feel like to touch him, maybe even kiss him, a few times.

But nah. I can't bring up Gramps's idea with him. It'd be too weird. It's going to be hard enough acting normal at work and not saying anything until after Wilby and Col's wedding. I don't want to add this to the mix.

I place the photo album back in the closet and wrap up editing Fitz's video. Once I'm done, I email him the link to our shared drive and tap out a message on my phone.

Muir:Just emailed you the video. #yourewelcome

Fitz:Mate, you're a legend.

Muir:I am.

Fitz:How did it turn out?

Muir:The editing is top notch.

Fitz:Naturally. What about the on-screen talent?

Muir:He's a solid 6.

Fitz:A 6? Wow. That low?

Muir:Ah, yes. I forgot about your fragile ego. Fine. I'll up it to a 7.

Fitz:I'm not too good with the old imperial system, but if we're talking inches, you'll have to keep going, mate.

I stare at the screen for a moment.

Iknowhe's just messing around, but fuck if it doesn't send a spike of my heat shooting up my spine.

Muir:Oh yeah?

I press Send before my brain can wake up and warn me that's the worst possible reply.

Fitz:You fishing for a dick pic, mate?

Muir:No.

Maybe.

Fuck.

No. Definitely not.

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