Page 12 of Counterpoint
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But they’re doing shit I believe in. And I’ve got enough saved up if things go south. And if they go north...”
Jackson would be fine then. This was a good thing. Hell, Adrian loved social media, so he got why Jackson would jump after a new thing that looked great. Part of Adrian was happy, but the other part...
“And if you think I’m letting your white ass off of working out three times a week, you’ve got another thing coming.” Jackson sipped his beer. “Besides, if you settle down with this book boy of yours, you’re not gonna be up for dancing at night.”
So many emotions clashed in Adrian that he choked on his beer and laughed. “I haven’t even had dinner with the man yet.” If Jackson left work, they’d still be friends. It was a damn stupid thing to think that they wouldn’t be, but he’d also experienced that in California. “And Jack, if you want to find someone long-term, I’m not sure those clubs we went to are the right place.”
“You got a better option?”
A slow nod. “Maybe. You like art and music and all.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “I also like young and fresh.”
Adrian held up his hands. “All I’m saying is maybe check out places that hold your other interests.” Besides the quick hot sex they both liked. “There’s a jazz place that opened up recently in Washington Heights.”
That gave Jackson pause, it seemed, because he grunted and drank more beer. “Some folks I know have mentioned it, too, so I’m not going to be offended by your Irish ass recommending it.”
Adrian gave an apologetic shrug. “I did their website. And it’s a nice place. The music was top-notch. You never know who you might meet.”
Jackson snorted. “Matchmaker Adi. At least you do know your jazz, thanks to me.” Those shrewd eyes caught Adrian’s. “What about you? I know work’s grating on you. And you know they’re gonna promote William right over you.”
He couldn’t help the flinch. “It’s a paycheck, it’s steady, and I don’t hate it.”
“But you don’t love it,” Jackson said, an echo of what had been in Dominic’s face on Saturday night.
“There are very few things I love,” Adrian said.
“Bullshit, Adi. Bull-fucking-shit.”
Yeah, yeah. But if he told himself that, it made his work life a lot easier to deal with.
Chapter Four
Adrian cursed under his breath as he stood on the subway platform. He’d never make the restaurant to meet Dominic by 6 PM. Not with the way the trains were running. He should have known, should have left early, but with the chaos at work—well, obviously that hadn’t happened. Thankfully, he did have a cell signal for once, so he fired off a quick text.
Trains are fucked. Going to be late.
Dominic’s reply came fairly fast.S’ok. I have a book. I’ll get a glass of wine and wait.
Which book?Couldn’t help it. Perhaps it was on the list he had tucked into his suit pocket.
Just some Whitman poetry. I like lingering over the lines.
Adrian inhaled a breath that smelled too much like humanity and not enough fresh air. Still, Dominic’s words sent little sparks down his limbs.You sure you’re not a lyricist?
Ha. No, I’m really not. Just an admirer. The world is beautiful. Words are beautiful.
Adrian’s fingers flew over the screen, and he sent the text before he could even think about it.You’re beautiful.
The rumble of a train made Adrian look up. Thank god it was one of the ones he’d been waiting for. Yeah, it was gonna be packed, but he’d rather be crammed in and to Dominic sooner than later. His cell vibrated as he made his way onto the stuffed car and found a tiny bit of standing space. He reached up to grab the bar, and checked the reply.
Thank you. No one’s ever said that to me before.
The train lurched forward, and the tenuous cell signal vanished. Adrian stared at the message. Pretty damn obvious no lover had ever treated Dominic right. Maybe they’d been kind and hot. Maybe the sex had been exceptional, but for no one to tell that lovely man he was beautiful?
Fools. The lot of them. All of them. Adrian tucked his phone into his inner jacket pocket. Even if this flirting and date didn’t lead to anything more, he’d be the person who showed Dominic what it was like to beappreciated.
By the time the train got to Brooklyn and his stop, he was a good ten minutes late. He fired off another text as soon as he had a signal again.
