Page 18 of Common Goal
The way he said it suggested to Kyle that when Eric went to galleries and openings, it was probably alone. “Where’s the gallery?”
“In Chelsea. It’s the Saint-Georges Gallery.”
“I know it!” Kyle exclaimed. “I mean, I haven’t been in it, but I am very familiar with the empanada shop next door.”
Eric’s face split into another broad, devastating smile. “Córdoba Bakery! I love that place.”
Why couldn’t he stop being perfect? “I’m a regular there. I live a block away from it. The spicy beef empanadas are like sex, oh my god.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it.”
Kyle couldn’t help himself. “About sex?”
Eric chuckled. “About beef. I’m a vegetarian.”
Of course he was. “That’s great! I mean, great for...the environment. And for you! And, um, animals. I’ve been trying to cut back myself.”
Eric’s face settled into the same calm amusement Kyle had found so bewitching at the engagement party. “I’m not offended that you eat meat. Most of my friends do.”
“Oh.” Eric’s crisp white dress shirt was open at the collar, giving Kyle an excellent view of his throat, which was sexier than it had any right to be. A few curls of dark chest hair were visible just above the first closed shirt button. Kyle loved chest hair. He bet Eric had the perfect amount of it, and maybe some of it was silver. God, that would be hot.
“If you want, I mean,” Eric said, and Kyle realized he’d completely missed whatever had preceded it.
“Sorry. Want to what?”
“Come with me. To the gallery tomorrow. Jeanette, the owner, is very excited about these paintings and I thought you might like to see them.”
It would be so easy for Kyle to say yes to this. It was a normal thing that two people who shared an interest might do. It didn’t have to mean more than that. It could be...safe.
But Kyle knew himself. Eric, he couldn’t be sure of, but he knew himself. Spending cozy one-on-one time together would lead to Kyle falling back on bad habits. So instead of saying yes, he said, “I can’t tomorrow. Maybe I’ll try to make the opening, though. What night is it?”
Eric told him the details, disappointment written all over his face, and Kyle pretended to commit them to memory.
Kip came up behind Eric, grinning from ear to ear. “I knew you guys would get along. What are you two talking about?”
“Art,” Kyle said, taking a step back from the bar, and from Eric.
“See? Best friends,” Kip said. “But also, Rozanov is looking for his beer.”
“Shit, I forgot about him,” Eric said. He picked up the beer. “I guess I’d better deliver this.”
“Doing my job for me?” Kyle teased.
“Terribly, clearly.”
He turned to leave, and Kyle blurted out. “Hey, um.” Eric turned back, his expression all interest. “If you’re hungry, you should know that we do great cauliflower wings here. One hundred percent meat-free.”
Eric smiled like Kyle had just offered to grant him his greatest wish. “Thank you. For letting me know.”
Oh god. Kyle really did want to take this man apart. He was the perfect blend of distinguished and shy. Confident about who he was, but timid about what he wanted. Whether he wanted Kyle’s friendship or he wanted Kyle to fulfill every secret gay fantasy he’d ever had, it was clear that Eric had no idea how to ask for it. He needed someone to take charge, and Kyle very much wanted to be that person.
But he couldn’t. Obviously. Eric was married, probably closeted, and probably self-loathing. Everything Kyle absolutely did not need in his life.
Chapter Five
Eric couldn’t decide what was more humiliating when played back in his head: the fact that he’d basically asked Kyle out, or the efficient way Kyle had shut him down completely. Because of course he had; Eric was far too old and far too dull.
Evenifthe attraction was mutual, it wouldn’t be enough to make Kyle do something as ridiculous as date a man who had probably been in high school when he had been born.
