Page 13 of Finally
“What?” Gray reared back, surprised. “Why would you say that? You are the most loyal, giving partner possible.” Those qualities had been wasted on Jaime, which bothered Gray to no end, but that failure of a relationship wasn’t on Jack. “You didn’t do anything wrong with Jaime.” Gray didn’t fully understand why Jaime hadn’t appreciated what he had in Jack, but whatever the reason, his feelings had been clear. It was telegraphed by Jaime’s body language, by the way he looked at Jack, even by the way he spoke to him. There had been no passion, no true warmth. Jack had always deserved so much better. “Whatever his issues were, they were his alone and there’s nothing you could have done to change them. I hope you realize that.”
“Thanks.” Jack smiled and cut himself a small piece of steak. “It’s not about what happened with Jaime, mostly. I just…” He sighed, put the steak in his mouth, chewed it, and then swallowed. “I go out with these guys and there’s nothing there, you know? It honestly feels like a chore. And if that’s how it is with every person I date, then I’m the common denominator, you know?”
“There are a lot of people in this world, but most of them are annoying idiots. That’s the common denominator.”
Jack laughed so hard he started coughing.
“Drink your water.” Gray grinned and handed him his glass.
Jack swallowed his water, set his glass down, and wiped his mouth. “You’re terrible.”
“You love that about me.”
Jack shrugged. “Guilty.”
“Now tell me why dating feels like a chore.”
“Ugh,” Jack groaned. “There’s always the same string of inane get-to-know-you questions.” He held up a finger. “What do you do for work?Why do they ask me that when they already know? There is no way whoever set us up didn’t tell them, and even if they missed the details, they have Google.”
Gray nodded in agreement.
Holding up a second finger, Jack continued, “What do you like to do for fun?”
“That doesn’t sound bad.”
“On the surface, yes, it seems like a simple question, but I have no idea how to respond.Everyone likes to travel and it’s not like I’m going on a trip with someone I just met, so how is that a useful answer? Plus, most nights, my fun consists of sweatpants, potato chips, and bad TV. That’s for sure not a date-appropriate confession.”
Chuckling, Gray said, “Hey now, don’t discount those answers. If I heard them, I’d ask for a second date on the spot.”
“Well, you’re my friend so that’s different.” Jack held up a third finger. “And then there’s my least favorite question:What are your dreams?I think I’m supposed to say I want to make a bunch of money or progress to a higher echelon in my career or get married and adopt a bunch of kids?”
“You’re already insanely successful, plenty wealthy, and you don’t want to have children.”
“I know that and you know that but saying it to someone I barely know sounds obnoxious, and besides, it doesn’t answer their question. But if I’m being real, my dream is finding a suit that’s appropriate for work, as soft as sweats, and also repels grease stains. I can’t tell someone that!”
Gray laughed so hard, he started coughing.
“Now it’s your turn to drink some water.” Jack picked up his glass and handed it to him. “Are you okay?”
It took him a little time to get himself together. “You crack me up,” he croaked, wiping tears away. “Thanks.” He accepted the glass from Jack and drank a little. “So you don’t admit your clothing dreams to these guys?”
“Of course not. I know how to be socially appropriate on the outside even if I’m a hot mess on the inside.”
“You’re not a mess. You’re hilarious and I’m glad you’re not showing that side of yourself to anyone else because I’m already struggling to land you and I don’t need the extra competition.” He winked at Jack. “Seriously though, you don’t have to keep going out with whoever our friends send your way.” Gray admitted to himself that he wasn’t giving that advice solely because Jack hadn’t enjoyed the dates to that point. He was also worried that eventually, one of the men lucky enough to be fixed up with Jack would be decent enough for them to make a go of things. “Tell them you’re not interested in more setups.”
“I should.” Jack dragged his fork through his potatoes. “But I don’t want to hurt their feelings by turning down people they suggest. Plus, I like my friends and my friends like these guys, so that means I should like the guys.” He raised his gaze. “Do you know what I mean?”
“I’m familiar with the transitive property, yes.” Gray squeezed Jack’s shoulder and laughed. He did that a lot when they were together. Jack made him happy, which was one of themany, many reasons he enjoyed spending time with him. “But people aren’t math, Jack.”
Smiling at him, Jack said, “You’re right. I wish they were though. I’ve never had any trouble solving a formula, but figuring out men…” He tapped his chest, pointing at himself, and shook his head. “Hopeless.”
They focused on their food, the background sounds of a ticking clock, the humming air conditioner, and the whirring refrigerator familiar and comforting. And then Gray had a brilliant idea.
“Hey, I have a solution to your setup problem.”
“You’re going to make my dates enjoyable?”
“Yes, I am, actually.”
