Page 67 of Just Like You
“Shall I ask the lady or the twinkish guy behind the counter?”
“Or the Daddy at the tills. He looks like he knows his stuff.”
“Ugh. He looks scary. The kind of guy who frequents darkrooms and goes home to his wife afterwards.”
“Kieron,” I said, giving him a little punch. “So assumptive. I bet you he has a nice boyfriend at home and volunteers at animal shelters or something.”
“It says pharmacist on his nametag; I’m pretty sure that’s whatfarmacêuticomeans.”
“So it does.” I grinned. Oh God. Kill me now. Because now Kieron was right up there, shaking the guy’s hand and holding up hisphone that no doubt asked for despicable things. I didn’t trust him… Yet I felt safe. Loved. How nice was this? All the doubts were still somewhere deep in my stomach, yet I couldn’t stop smiling. Was this what it was like when you just fell…in love? Like the people who got married in Vegas after a one-night stand. Some of them lived happily ever after; I was sure I’d read that somewhere. Married at first sight? The odds weren’t good; even Sonny had agreed to that. I shouldn’t watch TV.
I suddenly wanted to ring him, just to get some kind of stable foothold back in reality. Hear his voice calling me names and berating me for my incredible stupidity here. Maybe I needed a reality check. A virtual slap across the face.
“This doesn’t feel real,” I said as Kieron returned, triumphantly shaking a paper bag.
“Oh, this is all very real. Nice guy, spoke decent English. Married with four children, but he was very knowledgeable in his recommendations.”
“Suspicious.” I laughed.
“Honest and real,” he said softly. “So is the bar he recommended, two blocks down. Pride flags outside, all staff are queer, and the cocktails are apparently ridiculous.”
“I have to work tonight.”
“Next time then. I like this place.”
“Not the safest in the world, but the people are nice. The food is fantastic, and the weather agrees with me.”
“The smog can get bad. I read up on it when I sat at the airport waiting for you.”
“You will spend the rest of your life waiting for me.”
“I don’t mind. I’ll wait for you. Because you’re worth it.”
“Sounds like a make-up commercial.”
“It’s not, it’s just a little fact. And now I need to take you home and fuck you to sleep so you can have a little nap before we go home.”
“Okay.”
How I agreed to that? Far too fast. But I did. I loved how he let his arm sneak around my back. Just for a second so he could push his nose into my neck. Breathe me in, leaving me all dizzy. Too much. Too soon. Yet, so bloody perfect.
“Do you want to come to Vegas with me next month?” I grinned. I had one rostered, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Like a mosquito buzzing in my brain. A sudden desire to be wild and irresponsible. Well, who was I kidding here? I’d thrown all my sensibilities out the window. Where was Sonny when I needed him to rein me in? In LA, apparently playing with polycules. Go figure.
“Oh! Yes. Absolutely. Give me the dates, and I’ll see if I can reorganise my schedule. I’d love to. Never been there either.”
“It’s weird and wacky. Like Disneyworld for idiots.”
“Rude.”
“Also the place where bad decisions are made and lives are ruined forever.”
“Speaking from experience?”
“Nah. I’m usually good. Sensible, but it’s the one place you can really lose your head if you’re not careful. A bit like Bangkok, where I once had my drink spiked and thought I was somewhere in outer space. A taxi driver took me back to the hotel because I had the keycard in my pocket. Probably saved my life, because I don’t remember it at all.”
“Scary.”
“Still love Bangkok. Hilarious place. So much culture and food, and the markets are great.”
