Page 10 of Napkins and Other Distractions
“Dick for dessert?”
I trip on a pebble. Or stone. Or air.
“Ruth Parrish, watch your mouth. I literally just met him,” I say, shaking my head.
“So what? Two men. All that testosterone flowing through your bodies. Gay men hook up all the time.”
“But, I’m bi.”
“Okay, men. Generally speaking, men are horny. All the time. It sounds like you experienced insta-lust. And good for you. For getting some.”
Getting some. Oy.
“What?” she asks, glancing back. “Am I wrong?”
“No.” Even in the brisk air, heat radiates from my face. “He wanted me to … talk. And your ideas for … bedroom talk were a hit. Or I think they were. Surprisingly, I fell right into it.”
“You dirty dog.” Ruth pauses and looks me up and down. “I like this side of you, Mr. Lester.”
“It happened so quickly. He asked and I remembered our conversation and your … suggestions.”
“Auntie Ruth will never steer you in the wrong direction. You had a good time.” She pats my back. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Kent.”
“Yeah. It’s just … ” Walking into the restaurant and seeing Vincent’s face. His sweet hazel eyes. The skin of his beautiful bald head. My heart whispered to me, “You found him.”
“Just what?” Ruth slows her gait enough to tilt her head, sending her beads dancing.
“When I saw him … after I got my bearings, I felt something.”
“In your pants.”
“No. Maybe. I mean inside. Something about him. His energy. The chemistry. I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“There was a connection.” My hand finds my stomach. “It was like when you take a sip of champagne, and the bubbles travel up your nose and everything’s tingly.”
Ruth’s arm wraps around my shoulder. With pursed lips, she squeezes, and a hint of her warmth breaches my coat.
“It doesn’t matter.” Brisk air leaves my nostrils in a huff. “It was a disaster.”
“The date? Dessert? The dick? What exactly was a disaster?”
My head shakes, the sting of leaving Vincent’s apartment dejected still fresh.
“I thought we hit it off. At dinner. Back at his place. He was so sweet. So sexy. Completely bald.”
“Ahhhh. Mr. Clean vibes. Regina shaved her head. Super sexy.” Ruth nods approvingly.
“Yes. Exactly that.” Glancing down at the top of Vincent’s head, my dick sliding into his luscious lips. Oy.
“What happened?”
“He has OCD.”
“So? Everyone I know has ADHD or OCD.”
“No,” I say. “I think it may be clinical.”
