Page 18 of Just Like You
“Michael Shumacher.” His voice. Silk in my ear.
“Nice.” I tried to swallow down the enthusiasm in my voice. I did not have a subscription for Watches monthly. Nor did I watch insane videos on TikTok where people were selling and reselling used timepieces that had my mouth watering. Guilty pleasures and all that? Also, I had far too much time on my hands down route. Sleepless nights. Jet lag…
“It’s something that makes me happy, my watches. Like a nice pair of shoes. A perfectly cooked meal.”
“A perfectly chilled glass of rosé.”
“Not too dark in colour. Pale. Pretty.”
“Agree.”
“Also? The perfect one-night stand. A quick fuck in a hotel bed with a handsome stranger.”
“Never as good the second time round.”
“Are you speaking from experience, Julian?”
I loved his gravelly voice. Could almost picture him combing through that thick mop of dark hair on his head. Feel the scratch of his stubble under my fingertips.
“Absolutely. Not an experience I wish to repeat.”
“But you will. Because I think it was rather good.”
“It always is when someone knows what they’re doing. Doesn’t mean it’s anything more than just that. A one-time thing.”
“I see it differently. A beginning.”
“With an end. The end? Never pretty, Kieron. Let’s not go there.”
“Well, in that case? I have things to do. Tickets to book. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me where you’ll be staying?”
“No.” I grinned. Stupid. So bloody stupid. All of this.
“I’ll just find out from one of your colleagues. Take a taxi and find you.”
“It’s the Maldives, man!” I was frustrated. Intimidated. Also…entertained. Fuck you, Kieron whatever your name is. “It’s all islands. Boat transfers. That will be a lot of islands for you to explore on your holiday because you won’t find me.”
“I will. And you’ll let me, because I think you want this as much as I do. Give it a chance. Let this happen. Then we go home and evaluate.”
“Like this is a business transaction?” I questioned.
“No. Like if this really is something that could go somewhere.”
“Are you out?” came out of my mouth. Like I was actually going along with this and not going insane. I was definitely going insane.
“I don’t tend to display my preferences to others, unless…”
“I don’t deal with straight guys. Your bicurious arse can find other people to mess with, thank you very much.”
“I think you’ll find that bisexuality exists and is very much a proven fact,” he said sternly.
Okay.
“And baggage?”
“Baggage?” He laughed.
“Ex-wives, children. Multiple court cases…”
