Page 15 of What I've Tasted of Desire

They’d been chatting online now for over a month, and Alex had finally agreed to meet him in person. I was surprised when Alex had caved, given their chat history. Honestly, he really hadn’t seemed that interested in Ben. They chatted sporadically about different subjects, but it wasn’t ever sexual in nature. I figured Alex had just continued to respond out of boredom or loneliness. But there I was, getting ready for their first date.

Once I’d walked Alex half a block to the subway station and made sure he boarded the train without issue, I hurried back to my car and grabbed the box. I was still conflicted about leaving it for him, but I couldn’t stand to see him cold and uncomfortable anymore. He had started getting paid from the Westing House project, and I know he had some savings from McDonald's—why hadn't he gotten himself some new gloves?

I never saw Alex buy himself anything, except food. He’d been wearing the same three hoodies, shirts, and jeans for the last year. I knew he hated shopping. The supermarket even freaked him out— when he went into the store, it was 10 minutes before they closed. He’d grab what he could carry in his hands, make a beeline for the self-checkout, and leave as quickly as possible.

My pulse rate increased as I neared the door to his room. The parking lot was a ghost town, and I didn’t even think anyone was manning the front desk in the office. It was so rare that anyone ever actually stayed here; it had to be a front for something more nefarious. Drugs? Guns? I would be so relieved when Alex moved into Westing House. He deserved to have a nice space that he felt safe in—a home of his own.

I tied the envelope containing the note to the box with a ribbon and tied it into a bow before leaving it in front of his door, along with the roses I’d picked up at the florist on the way over. I figured this fed two birds with the same spoon. It would get Alex a nice pair of gloves so he didn’t get frostbite due to his own stubbornness. Plus, he would immediately think they were from Tom.

But, for now, we were headed to Le Petit Delice Brasserie. I snickered to myself as I pulled the car away from the motel and towards the expressway. “Oh, Benny… this is going to go poorly for you.”

Alex wouldn’t eat anything he didn’t immediately recognize. There was a list of safe foods he was willing to eat, and he didn’t really stray far from it. Wasn’t big on trying new things. There was not a snowball's chance in hell that he was putting anything on that French menu into his mouth. He was just weird with food. I’d literally watched him eat the same burger and fries for dinner nine nights in a row. He was okay with beef and chicken in most cases, as long as it wasn’t covered in sauce or cheese. The Millers had taken him out for his birthday, and he had ordered a steak. He really enjoyed that. I’d never seen him eat pork. And he avoided seafood at all costs. Ben knewnothingabout what made Alex happy, and that thought infused my soul with delicious glee.

I parked in a public garage and hung back by the street corner across from the subway station Alex would be emerging from. I checked the time on my phone—any minute, now. I opened up the gallery on my cell and thumbed through the pictures I’d taken of Ben. I guess he was okay looking; objectively handsome. He had a hard body from sports, but, from what I was able to dig up, had always struggled a bit with his weight. Well, I wasn’t one to judge.

I shuffled through the nude shots I’d gotten in the locker room of his gym. His naked body wasall right, but it wasn’t anything to write home about. His dick was about three inches soft and, and he could get it to a good five-and-a-half when he masturbated. Again, perfectly average. I’m sure he would be considered a catch for someone, but his arrogance would be his downfall with Alex… guaranteed.

I looked up as Alex’s head emerged from the stairwell of the subway. I pocketed my phone and matched his pace, around 30 feet behind him. The sidewalks were only a little crowded, it being a weeknight, and I was able to keep a close eye on Alex (and even snap a few new pics with my phone). He didn’t seem in any particular hurry to get to the restaurant, despite him already being a few minutes late.

You’re dead in the water, Ben.

Once Alex was inside and seated across from Ben, I walked up to the hostess stand.

“Good evening.” I smiled brightly at the young hostess. She smiled back, and her cheeks turned a bit pink. I had that effect on women. Especially girls in their late teens or early 20s. The ladies seemed to love me since I got myself into shape.

“Do you have a reservation?” she asked.

“Actually, I was just hoping to have a drink at the bar, if that’s all right.”

“Absolutely,” she said. “Enjoy.”

I thanked her and walked past the host stand. Alex and Ben were seated towards the center of the restaurant, and I made my way along the edge of the room towards the bar. My view from here was obstructed, but If I sat at the last stool, I could look over and see the side of Ben’s face. I couldn't see Alex at all, and I silently cursed myself for not making a reservation like I had been planning to. But I couldn't be certain where they would have sat either them or me, and I didn’t want to be stuck in Alex’s eyesight. I didn’t want him to see me before we met, and recognize me from somewhere else. Or run into me in multiple places… it would be suspicious.

“Good evening, monsieur,” the very French bartender greeted me as I took the seat.

“Good evening. May I see a wine list, please?”

I half-heartedly perused the selection of fine French wines, glancing up sporadically to see Ben’s mouth moving. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but his jaw hadn’t stopped flapping since I’d walked in the building. I’m sure Alex was having a blast.

When the bartender walked back over, I pointed to something I couldn’t pronounce. He nodded and took my menu. I watched as their waiter approached the table. Once again, Ben was monopolizing the conversation. Eventually, the waiter nodded and walked away without so much as even looking in Alex’s direction.

Had Ben just ordered for him?I couldn’t stop the snort that escaped me.This couldn’t have gone any better.

I thanked the bartender as he set a glass of deep red wine in front of me. I handed him a 50. “Keep the change.”

I knew I wasn’t going to be there very long. I watched Ben continue to talk at Alex for another half hour before I saw Ben stand up from the table. A moment later, Alex came into view past the bar. He was headed for the back of the restaurant.

“Have we had enough, darling?”

I got up from the bar, nodding one last thanks to the tender, and walked towards the back of the restaurant. I turned the corner just as Alex disappeared through the staff entrance from the alleyway, and smiled again. He held out a lot longer than I thought he would, honestly. I walked back through the restaurant, glancing over at Ben one last time as he sat alone waiting for his date to return. He never would. Alex had been so sweet and kind to even put up with that conceited, old-money shit as long as he had. And he even ate some of that disgusting food! My boy was the sweetest person on the planet.

I went out the front door and quickly walked down the block to the side street that intersected the alleyway. Ahead of me, Alex came out of the alley and headed back towards the subway.

“Good boy,” I murmured approvingly.

On the walk back to the station, I waited as Alex grabbed a slice of pizza to go, and then watched as he boarded the subway. I’d ridden the subway with him before, but it made me nervous to be in an enclosed space like that with him. It was harder for me to stay out of sight.

I hurried back to my car and headed straight for the motel. I wanted to be present when Alex saw his gift.

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