Page 29 of Character Flaws
Chapter Eleven
Joey
They say cooking is the way to a man’s heart
I’m nervous. I don’t know why I’m such a freaking mess right now.
Taking another sip of my wine, I busy myself with the pot of boiling pasta hoping to calm my nerves while I wait for Theo to arrive. I’m just making a summer pasta salad for dinner. Something easy and light that doesn’t suggest anything romantic.
Even though I still have these humming bird sensations circling in my tummy every time Theo looks, talks or smiles at me.
Am I that desperate that I fall for a gay man who has more interest in eating my pasta salad than the goodies between my legs?
Yes, apparently, I am just that desperate.
Maybe I should have accepted Marlon’s invitation for pizza. He’s cute and funny, and has a really nice ass…I mean, cheek bones. He’s a few years younger than me and mentioned that he’s still in college. While it doesn’t make me a cougar or anything, it still feels a little like robbing the cradle.
But he does have a very fine ass.
But it’s nothing compared to Theo’s butt.
Yeah, so I’ve ogled it a little. Okay, maybe a lot. Big deal. It’s just part of the human anatomy and everyone has one. They stick out, so butts are supposed to be stared at.
Especially Theo’s. You could serve tea on it. Or bounce a quarter off it. I wonder if that’s what attracted Pat to him, too.
Sigh. I have to keep reminding myself that Theo’s not available. He’s my neighbor’s boyfriend or lover. Or whatever.
Speak of the devil. My phone buzzes on the counter next to the stove and I turn down the heat to set the burner to simmer as I check the incoming text.
Hey baby girl. What’s shaking? How’s the theater class going?
Instead of texting back, I voice dial his number and he answers within two rings.
“Joey, my love. How I’ve missed hearing your voice.” His speech is a bit slurred and I’m curious if he’s had too much libations.
I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. “I just talked to you two nights ago, doofus.”
He laughs and I can tell he’s definitely drunk. “But it’s true…” he over exaggerates, drawing out the “oooh” and then I hear something loud.
“What was that?”
There’s some shuffling noise in the background. He sounds like he’s in a bar.
And then I hear a moan.
“Oh my God, are you getting it on right now? Why would you talk to me while you’re in the midst of…well, that!” I screech in horror.
He muffles something and then he’s back. “Oh calm your tits, girly. I’m just doing some heavy petting with my boy toy du jour, Ming Shen.”
“Patrick, does he know what you’re saying about him? Have some tact.”
Pat chuckles and says something in Chinese. “Oh, it’s fine. Don’t be such a mother hen. I picked him up tonight at this posh gay bar. He’s only spoken Mandarin, so I assume he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. Or even care, for that matter. He just wants my big American cock. Don’t you Ming?”
I slap my hand over my forehead. “Really, Pat. You know I’m not a prude, but must you be so salacious? I’m hard up enough and it’s almost an insult to me to know that you’ve only been in another country for five days and already got some and I’ve got squat.”
I know I’m being completely ridiculous right now, but it seems so unfair that Pat can fly three thousand miles and get laid and I’m right here in Chicago empty handed and looking forward to dinner with a hot gay man. Somethings wrong with this equation.
“And by the way, what would Theo think about all this?”
