Page 18 of Love Potion

BANE

Date night:check.

Granted, Jerryn doesn’t know it’s a date, but that’s kind of the point. He’ll be comfortable with me and we can just enjoy the evening. I still haven’t quite figured out how to work the romance in without freaking him out, but I will.

Now it’s just a matter of counting down the hours until we can head out. I already booked us a car to get to the city, made reservations at Tutto, and bought the museum tickets online, so the evening should go nice and smooth.

It’s been ages since I’ve been on anything even resembling a real date. I gave that up right about the time that I decided I didn’t want to pursue a relationship if it wasn’t with Jerryn. I came to loathe the dating game—the awkward getting to know each other talk, the false behavior, the whole dance of it—but with Jerr, it’s totally different. I’m excited to show him what we could have. Actually, what we already do have. I just need to reframe it for him.

When he joins me at the bar where I’m talking with Florian, I can tell he’s excited from the gorgeous pink blush on his cheeks and the sweet smile on his lips.

“Ready to get out of here?” I ask.

He nods happily. “Yeah.”

“What are you guys doing tonight?” Florian asks.

Jerryn’s face lights up. “We’re going to the museum. There’s an exhibit I’m excited to see.”

“Oh yeah? Which one?”

“Titanic. I was really into the movie for a while and I watched all the documentaries. It’s gonna be so cool to see what they have on display.”

“Sounds like a fun date.”

Jerryn’s smile falters slightly. “It’s really nice of Bane to go with me. He’s a true best friend.”

Jerr’s response irks me, but I pat his shoulder. “It’s not a hardship to spend time with you, whatever we’re doing.”

Jerr turns and searches my eyes as his bright smile slowly returns. “Thanks.”

“Have fun,” Florian says as he turns to greet a customer.

With my hand still on his shoulder, I guide Jerryn out the front door and down the sidewalk toward home.

“Quick shower and change? The car will be here in about an hour to get us.”

He nods, glancing at me as we walk. “Thanks for doing this.”

“I’m happy to do it.”

At the house we go our separate ways to our bedroom suites. I hop into the shower, running through how I want the night’s events to go in my head. My plan is definitely to treat this like a date, but I gotta play it cool too. If I go too hard, he’ll ask questions, and if he figures out what I’m up to, who knows how he’ll react.

After my shower, I gaze at my reflection while I run gel through my hair. I can’t believe it’s taken me twenty years to get up the nerve to romance my best friend, but I guess it’s better late than never, right?

If everything goes the way I hope it does, we’ll end the night in my bed, his body curled up next to mine. Is it hard to keep my hands in safe places when he’s wrapped around me? Yep, but I’m an adult who can handle myself, and I’d rather have him in my arms than not. I can jack off in the shower later.

I dress in dark slacks and a light blue button-down shirt. Date appropriate attire complete. After fastening my watch to my wrist, I glance at my reflection one last time, then exit my room to go right next door to Jerr’s.

I knock and then let myself in. “Jerr?”

“One sec.” He appears a moment later in the doorway to his bedroom, wearing nothing but navy blue briefs and one sock. He’s holding a shirt in one hand and a pair of pants in the other. “Is this okay to wear?”

I look down at the clothes again, smiling when I see it’s a baby blue shirt and dark pants. “We’ll look like twins, but I’m okay with that if you are.”

He blinks, looking at my outfit, then chuckles. “Okay. Be right out.”

“I’ll be here.”

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