Page 52 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

“No. Well, I suppose it could be. But that’s not the intended purpose. Plus, how do you know what a foodie call is?” Both Nora and I stare at Lach, waiting for his answer.

“I fell down the rabbit hole of online videos. They just kept playing, and I just kept watching.” He shrugs.

Nora waves him off. “Either way, not all dates require dinner. Or food.”

“That should be a required question. Will there be food on this date? Someone might need to know if they need to eat before or not. Or what if there is food, and their date has an allergy? No one wants to go on a date that ends in the emergency room.”

Nora sighs. “Dammit, you have a good point. I’ll add the question.”

Lach fake pops his collar. “I’m not all brawn. I have some brain too. Add the question, and I’ll do it under one stipulation.”

“What’s that?” Nora asks.

“Jake can’t know what you know about us.” He waves a hand between me and him.

“Well, you guys can’t keep your paws off each other, so it’s only a matter of time before you out yourself, anyway. Regardless, your secret is safe with me.” Nora motions as if she’s zipping her lips. “But the longer you keep it from Jake, the harder it’s going to be telling him.”

“So I’ve been told.” Lach rubs at his temples.

Nora gives us instructions on downloading the app and setting up a profile. She then emails us a feedback form to give to her after our date. “And obviously, the sooner the better.”

I pat Lach’s chest. “This shall be a fun date.” I flash him a bright smile before brushing past him to help a customer at the other end of the bar. We’re going on a date. A real date. This is starting to feel real.

TWENTY-SEVEN

YOU GOT IT BAD

Lach

Yesterday was brutal, especially for my willpower, as she fucked herself to orgasm. Am I jealous of her vibrator I refuse to call by the name she gave it? Absofuckinglutely. I was supposed to be the one who made her come, not some pink vibrator, and she knows it. My gaze drifts to Eve as she disappears to the opposite end of the bar. And now I’m taking her on a date. A part of me is thrilled, but the other half of me is screaming, “What the hell are you doing?” Dates are not keeping our relationship secret. That’s exposing us to the entire world. But fuck, I’d be an idiot to turn down a date with Eve. To the world, it will be pretend. For us, it will be real.

From behind me, Nora blows out a low whistle. “You got it bad.”

Slowly, I turn my head toward her. “I know. I should stay away, but I can’t. It physically pains me to be away from her, and I don’t know what to do.”

She rests a comforting hand on my arm. “I’m happy for you. If she truly makes you happy, you should be with her. Jake will have to get over it.”

I wish her words were true, but “Jake” and “getting over it” don’t exactly work in the same sentence. Jake’s fist meeting my face seems more likely. I rake my hand through my hair. “Every scenario has flashed through my head so many times. The optimistic ones are Jake telling me he’s happy for me. I deserve to be with someone who makes me happy. I deserve to be with his sister. But I doubt those will be the words I get.”

“Don’t focus on that. Instead, focus on your date.”

I huff out a laugh. “Is it sad to admit I’ve never been on a date?”

“I mean, I’m not surprised based on the fact that I’ve never seen you with another girl.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I spot Eve chatting with a couple of customers. She throws her head back in laughter. I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I don’t want to fuck it up. Turning to Nora, I ask, “What kind of date do I give her?”

She taps her chin. “I’m not sure. But whatever you do, don’t do dinner and a movie. It’s way too cliché.”

Shit. That was the obvious choice.

“What are her interests?”

“Besides me?” I wiggle my eyebrows.

“If that’s her only interest, I feel sorry for her. That would get boring pretty fast.” She playfully winks.

“Hey! I’ve kept her interested this long. In fact, she keeps coming back for more.”

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