Page 35 of Love in Unexpected Places

Finishing up my story, I say, “But I’ll never see him again. It’s cool, though. It’s one of those stories I’ll remember when I’m old and gray. I’ll tell my grandkids how adventurous I was.”

Evan wrinkles his nose. “Don’t tell your grandkids that you sucked a guy’s dick in the bathroom of a club, you freak.”

I smack him on the chest as I laugh. “I won’t tell themthat, but I’ll tell them how I put myself out there with friends. That’s harmless, right?”

He grins down at me. “You’re such a weirdo.”

Pasting myself to his body, I hug him tight around the waist. “Yeah, but you love me.”

Evan kisses the top of my head, since he’s a good six inches taller than me. “I do, even though you’re strange.” I slap his chest and he laughs. “Damn, I really missed out. Not that I would have found your type attractive, but I’m sure there were some cutecollege-agedguys in there.”

Ever since Bryson and I had told Evan our type, he’s taken playful digs out of us. We don’t mind because we like what we like.

“There were some. I just?—”

As my eyes travel across the courtyard, I see my handsome stranger standing on the sidewalk, looking lost. I stop walking, not sure if I can continue. He’s standingright there. How did he find me? Did he find out my name and track me down? Should I be flattered or afraid?

Evan stops walking when I do, looking at me with concern. “What’s up Derek? You okay?”

My eyes are on the man and Evan turns to see what I’m looking at. “It’s?—”

Before I can tell him who it is, Evan smiles and says, “It’s my dad.”

I look around, trying to figure out who he’s talking about, but my question is answered when he makes a beeline to my handsome stranger and throws his arms around him.

Oh, fuck. I blew Evan’s dad.

Not wanting to confront who—and what—I’d done, I turn on my heel to head in the opposite direction, but I hear my name being called. Loudly. Knowing I can’t ignore Evan or he’ll practically tackle me, my shoulders slump as I turn around.

He and his dad are making their way over to me. My stranger is smiling, but the dots haven’t connected for him, and he doesn’t recognize me yet. That stings, but I push it away. He shouldn’t know who I am. We had a fling, nothing more.

“Dad,” Evan says, happily. “This is one of my best friends, Derek. Derek, this is my dad, Keith.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say, holding out my hand.

After Keith gets a good look at me, his eyes widen. Ah, he finally recognizes me. I watch his hand shake as he reaches out for me. “Nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Having no idea of the dilemma we’re going through, Evan puts his arm back around my shoulder. “Nonsense. I can’t believe you’re here. Derek and I are just heading to lunch off-campus. Want to join us?”

Keith looks back and forth between us, his face drawn. “Are you two…?” He flicks his fingers between us.

Laughing loudly, Evan shakes his head. “Definitely not, Dad. He’s just a really good friend. My first friend when I got here, actually. I’ve told you about him.”

Recognition of another kind lights Keith’s eyes. “This is D. I don’t think you’ve ever called him Derek.”

Snapping out of my haze, I look at Evan. “You told your dad about me?” I’m weirdly touched. Evan and Bryson have met my parents and my parents adore them. I realize now that Evan has never introduced us to his family in the almost four years we’ve been friends.

“Of course,” Evan tells me seriously. “My folks live on the other side of the country and it’s hard for my dad to visit with work.”

Keith interrupts with, “That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

Smiling, Evan goes to throw an arm over his dad’s shoulder. Now that I look closely, they have a striking resemblance. The same dark hair, wide eyes, and open smile. Then I realize something. “You shaved!” I blurt out.

Giving me a strange look, Keith touches his face. “Yeah, I had a beard for some years.”

“That’s why I didn’t recognize you! Evan has pictures up, but you always had a beard.”

Evan has pictures of his family all around his apartment, and in the ones I saw of his dad, he always had either a full goatee or a long beard. I have to admit, this clean-shaven look is hot as fuck.

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