Page 4 of Wish Me Home

I gave a deprecated laugh as I also turned to face the bar, taking a small sip of my old-fashioned, and then rested my forearms against the counter. “For starters? I let attractive men buy me drinks in bars.”

Damn, maybe my drink had been stronger than I thought. I’d just called him attractive. He was, but I certainly hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

A wide grin spread across his face and I suddenly regretted the words. If I thought I could go back to having a quiet night at the airport after this, I was mistaken. Although, I was actually enjoying Cody’s company. I didn’t know how anyone could be that happy after finding out they weren’t going home and were stuck in this wintery shitstorm.

“Attractive men, huh?”

I set my drink down on the bar, pushed up the sleeves of my hoodie, and turned to face him again. I licked my lips and his eyes trailed the motion. Oh, two could most definitely play this game but it’d been a while since I’d played it.

“Yes, attractive men. Good-looking ones. Handsome even. Ones who don’t like to take the hint when someone obviously wants to be left alone. It’s okay though. It’s probably for the best, and I might even enjoy your company now.”

He shook his head and laughed, forcing a smile onto my face. I was glad that I could bring him some amusement. “You’re something else, Emmett. I like you,” he said as he picked up his mojito and tossed back the last of it.

I took a hard swig of my old-fashioned and relished in the whiskey’s burn. It made my eyes water a little, and I coughed before setting it down.

I’d dated off and on in college, though, dating might have been a bit of a stretch. It was easier to find someone for a good fuck for a time or two. I was too busy trying to not screw up my scholarship to take on a serious relationship, so it had been a while since I flirted with someone.

“So tell me more about yourself,” Cody prompted, crossing his arms across his chest and motioning for me to talk. He wasn’t overly built, but the way his shirt snuggly fit made it apparent that he stayed in shape. It pulled at his chest every time he moved in certain ways. He also could have been intentionally wearing a shirt a little more tight to achieve that illusion.

Clearing my throat again, I wasn’t sure what else I wanted to tell him. I drummed my fingers against the bar nervously before picking my drink up for another sip. “Well,” I started. “I moved out here over the summer, so no one sent me the memo that winter was hell.”

Cody’s laugh was like velvet with its warmth washing over me, and heating my cheeks. “I figured you weren’t from around here. Flying off to California to visit your aunt, or at least I assume that’s your last stop…”

I nodded. It was a blessing he didn’t assume that was my last stop. Many people in my life made assumptions about me, especially my extended family, specifically, assumptions about my sexuality.

“How old are you?” he asked. It was a simple question, but it still threw me off. I was obviously old enough to be in this bar with him. He looked so baby-faced with his clean-shaven face.

“I’m twenty-two. What about you?”

He smirked, waving the bartender down to order another drink. “Want to take a guess?”

Something told me he was probably a lot older than I imagined. “You can’t be older than twenty-five.” Perhaps I was going for flattery but the wide grin that spread across his face said I had definitely guessed wrong.

“Man, this is why I hate that we have to keep our faces shaved. Damn airline policy.” He chuckled, rubbing at his smooth cheeks.

“How off am I?” I questioned.

“By about four years. I’m twenty-nine.”

My jaw dropped. There was no way that he was that much older than me. I went with my initial guess because I knew he had to be older. Based on appearance alone I would have placed him at the same age as me or even younger.

The bartender slid in front of us once more. She took Cody’s empty glass and dumped it in a bin below the counter, waiting on his next order. “Can I get you anything else gentleman?”

I still had half my drink and didn’t need a new one yet so I shook my head. Cody smirked at the bartender leaning in closer to her. “I think I’m feeling in the holiday mood now. How about some eggnog with some extra rum in it?” He winked, and she rolled her eyes, probably assuming he was flirting with her, but I didn’t think he was.

She grabbed a carton out of the small mini fridge and poured a good portion in a highball glass before grabbing a jigger and a bottle of rum. She poured a perfectly measured portion of rum and then mixed it in with the eggnog. Setting a fresh napkin on the bar, she set the drink in front of Cody and then walked off.

“So much for the extra,” he sighed wistfully, picking up his drink and taking a tentative sip. The white, milky drink clung to his upper lip as he pulled the glass away and I fought the urge to laugh. He was like a big child.

Wiping the drink from his lip he turned to me and held his glass out. “Do you want a sip?”

My eyebrows rose in shock. Was he seriously asking if I wanted to share his drink with him? We’d just met, and he wanted my lips on his glass? Then again, maybe he was hoping this flirting would lead somewhere. Perhaps it was a little strange to hit on someone at the airport, but it wasn’t like we had anywhere else to go right now.

Taking the glass from his hand I shuddered slightly as our fingertips brushed. A small jolt shot up my arm at the contact. We locked eyes as I brought the tumbler to my lips and took a sip. The spicy sweet drink washed over my tongue and I hummed my appreciation before handing it back to him.

Cody set the glass on the counter and stood facing me. My breath caught as he leaned in close. He swiped his thumb across my upper lip and then brought it to his own lips, sucking it into his mouth.

My dick twitched, and a groan escaped my throat. Fuck, he was good at this game. I hadn’t expected him to make such a bold move.

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