Page 107 of Sharing Shadow Secrets
“She had been thinking about that for a while,” Brandon says, his hand reaching back for mine. His fingers trace lazy lines over mine, and I bite my lip, enjoying that he wants to hold hands so much. After a few moments, he says, “If we all keep liking this, I know she’ll want to do more of that.”
I smirk. “Whenever you two are down, I am.” I pour the tea into the cup, reliving how fun that night was, especially the bath. All of us touching and kissing. “I like your energy with her,” I share. “It feels more like this guy sitting across from me.”
“This is me,” he says with a shrug. “So … it’s not weird to talk about my girlfriend on dates? I was thinking we wouldn’t really talk about her tonight.”
“Why would it be?” I cock my brow. “I like both of you and want to spend time with you both together and individually.”
The server returns, sliding the mini egg rolls between us, then gives us a sassy look, likeare you going to order or what?
“I’m distracting him,” I say into the silence. “Once we’re done with these, we’ll be ready to order.”
Deciding to flirt, I lift one of the egg rolls slowly, deliberately licking the edge. Brandon’s foot taps mine under the table. Then he snatches his and takes a dramatic bite.
My mind wanders, thinking about what could happen after this date. Our attraction has always been there. That’s never been a question.
“I’m happy you’re an easy date. I’m trying not to compare our hookups with this, but you’ve always been so quiet.”
He gives me a look. “Are you saying you want me to talk more during sex?”
“I’m saying I want more ofthis. Chit chatting with you.”
I want to really get to know Brandon Dubois.
78
“I’m sorry I never tried to get to know you before,” I say, meaning it. Guilt creeps in. I’m enjoying talking to Kyle. I didn’t really set expectations for this date, but it’s going better than anticipated. It’s easy, fun, and flirty. I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve always enjoyed my time with him. “That was a dick move.”
“It’s cool. I was never complaining about your dick moves.” He chuckles, devilish, and sticks his tongue out. “I mean, you always had your girlfriend. She was wild. I just assumed you were only looking for sex, since that’s all it had ever been.” He shifts in his seat. “Can I ask why you broke up?”
Kate.I haven’t thought about her much since I had Taylor block her number. But her name still brings me pause.
“She’s a chaotic wild. The kind that gets you in trouble. And she struggles with staying sober.”
“Do you?” Kyle asks.
I shake my head. “No. I’m very happily sober.”
“I have good days and bad days, but mostly good ones,” Kyle says, and I hear the confidence. That he’s serious about his sobriety too.
“I feel that,” I say, giving his hand a squeeze. “We should decide what we’re getting before the server yells at us.”
“We can be naughty.” Kyle winks, grabbing for his menu.
We fall into a quiet rhythm, both skimming our options, though I can’t focus. I keep glancing at him. I want him in my life. In a capacity greater than he previously has been. I love Taylor, and I’m enjoying getting to know him better. It’s not one or the other. Both are true. Both are a possibility. I really like the idea of both of them being in my life in every way. This could actually work. The three of us.
“Just in the nick of time,” Kyle teases as the server approaches. “I’ll have the Peking duck dinner.”
“I’ll have the Bibimbap,” I order.
We spend the next hour opening up. Kyle tells me how he likes tennis but hardly ever plays. How social media pressures him to hit the gym five days a week. How he sometimes wonders if it’s all worth it. But now he wants to bench three hundred pounds. I tell him he could do it and my friend Patrick could help coach him.
We dive into my complicated relationship with my dad, and how I’m training for a triathlon in April.
When the bill drops, Kyle reaches for it, but I stop him with a hand over his.
“I asked you out. I’m paying,” I say, locking eyes with him.
He lifts both hands leaning back in the booth. “Okay, spoil me.”
