Page 5 of Head Over Feels
Iperked up. “YoureadCaptainStarblade?Noway!”Iwas in the same boat asCal, not having anyone to talk to about it. “Whatdid you think….”Istopped speaking and put a hand to my forehead. “Oh, crap.Colewouldn’t have known what to say to that.Howdid he respond to you?”
Calsnorted. “Hetold me he—or you, whatever—didn’t have time to talk about comic books because he was on the hunt for the perfect man.”
Igroaned.FreakingCole. “I’mgoing to kill him.Hemade me sound like a total douchebag.”Irubbed my sternum.
Calmade ahmmmsound but didn’t respond otherwise.
Ihunched my shoulders.Screwyou,Cal.Icould take a hint.
Stevemust have been circling the room, being a good host, because he slid into the chair next to me beforeIcould attempt to make an exit. “Dudes, why didn’tIthink to introduce you two before?Mywork bestie and my bestie since elementary school!Thisis cool on a cracker!Whatchabeen talking about?”
Cal, bless his dickish heart, skipped over the embarrassing part of our conversation. “We’reboth intoTheTentacularTalesofCaptainStarblade.”
“Okaay.”Steve, beingSteve, just rolled with it. “Well,Idon’t know what that is, but it sounds fun.Andit’s great you have something in common!Hey, did you know both of you are gay?”Heglanced between us with a hopeful expression.
Calshook his head affectionately. “Stop,Steve.FelixandIare not good dating material.”Inodded.Calobviously hated me, andIdidn’t need anyone like that in my life.
Stevesaid, “Wellmaybe y’all can hang out and talk about thisCaptainStarburst.”
“Maybe.”Calhedged.
“It’sStarblade,”Itold him. “It’sa sci-fi, um, chapter-based serial.”
Stevegasped loudly, putting on his most wounded, pathetic expression. “Ilove sci-fi.Whyhaven’t either of you told me about this before?Iwanna read it.”
“Um,Idon’t think….”Itrailed off.
“Ithas gay sex in it,Steve,”Calsaid patiently. “Lotsand lots of gay sex.Withtentacles.”
Steveleaned back and opened his mouth to speak.Iexpected him to deny any interest, but he hesitated, glancing between me andCal.Thenhe shrugged carelessly. “Ican deal.Ify’all both like it, it must be good.Canyou send me a link?”
Calsquinted atStevethen straightened in his chair.Iheld up a finger, not wanting him to scareSteveoff from whatever he might be interested in.Orwhy he might be interested in it.
“Sure.I’llsend it to you,”Itold him.
Stevegrinned. “Wicked!”
Howto handle this delicately? “And, um, if you have any questions, you can ask me.Nojudgment.”
Steveshrugged again like it was no big deal. “Cool. ‘Kay,Igotta get back to the party.”Hejerked his thumb behind us at the other guests. “Checky’all later!”
Heslid out of his chair and vanished into the crowd.Calstared after him thoughtfully, then turned to me and said, “Huh.Youmight be redeemable after all.”
Whatever.Ididn’t comment, just finished my drink in silence.
Rattlingthe ice in my glass,Idebated leaving.Theparty held no appeal, butIwasn’t ready to go home to my empty apartment.CarefullyIventured, “So, what did you think of howLordVardoxrescuedStarblade?”
Calimmediately leaned forward and enthused, “Thatwas epic, right?”
Westayed at the table talking for two more hours.
Iwas gladI’dcome out tonight after all.I’dmade a new friend—or at least a frenemy—and it’d taken my mind offCole’smatchmaking madness.
AtleastIdidn’t have to endurethatfor much longer.Colehadn’t found me a guy in the last two weeks; he certainly wouldn’t be able to find one in the next two days.
* * *
Cole
