Page 94 of Outcast
Our plans were coming together. There was still more to do before the event this fall, but we’d made a good start.
My phone went off again as we finished off our food and called it a night. Once again, Todd, Sasha, and Marty were headed to the bar.
I checked my phone, gut twisting. It better not be Dallas again. I was sure the lewd texts had been him.
Thankfully, both of these had names attached.
Allison:
Can you go to the bar with Marty so Matteo and I can hang at your place?
Meh. I wasn’t really in the mood to kill time with the reunion gang, but I’d promised Allison she could use the apartment. So I tapped in a quick reply that I’d make myself scarce.
Then I opened the second text, the one that made my heart skip and my stomach flutter like it hadn’t since I was in high school and getting it on for the first time. Which had been with Allison.
Weird how the way we viewed people could change so much with time. Would I ever view Gray as nothing more than a friend? Judging by the pounding of my heart, it wouldn’t be anytime soon. There was a chemistry with Gray that I’d never had with anyone before. A raw desire that tended to consume me as soon as I was in his presence.
I didn’t know yet if it was merely the excitement of exploring my bi side or if it was all for Gray. I suspected it ran deeper than him being a man because one glance at the men in this diner convinced me that not a single one of them would affect me the same way.
Gray:
Finally wrapped up that bike work. Going out to Ball Breakers to celebrate with the bros. Come out for a beer?
I grinned down at my phone.
Marty nudged in, trying to get a look at my phone. “What’s got you all smiley? Do you have a new girlfriend?”
I clapped the phone to my chest. “Dude. Personal boundaries.”
He leaned away. “Sorry. But seriously? What’s so private?”
Todd snorted. “Maybe he’s sexting his secret lovah.”
“And who would that even be?” Sasha asked. “Allison is right here at the table. Though how romantic would it be if they were flirting via text while pretending to ignore each other?”
Allison lowered her phone. “I’m not texting Emory.”
“And I’m not texting Ally.” I rolled my eyes. “You all know we’re not together.”
Sasha sighed. “You guys are so weird. You’re like the perfect Hallmark couple. Everyone in town loves you both. No one will give a flying fuck who I date?—”
“I’d give one,” Marty said.
“As if anyone even wants to date a divorced mom,” Sasha said with a frown. “All I get are the guys who want in my pants and nothing else.”
“That’s not—” Marty started.
“Aw, Sasha, that sucks,” Todd butted in. “Let’s go grab a drink and forget our problems.”
“Well, I do have a babysitter for another couple of hours,” she said with a grin. “Might as well pretend I’m young and single for a while.”
“That’s the spirit!”
We all slid out of the booth, and Marty, Sasha, and Todd headed off for the bar down the block.
Allison paused. “You’re not going with them? What about?—”
I handed her the key to my apartment. “I got a better offer.”
