Page 69 of Lucky Shot
Lol. Okay. Have fun with your straight friend, my Pretty Boy. Let me know when you’re home.
I send him a heart and then wince again. What’s wrong with me?!
The knock on my car window has me jumping. I look up at Loren, amused, standing outside my door. Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I push the door open.
“Should I have brought flowers?” he asks.
“You’re making this weird,” I tell him, shutting the door behind me and holding my finger on the handle until it locks. “There are a lot of people here and… I’m just a little concerned that I’m going to be overwhelmed again. None of my hockey friends that know how I feel about this kind of thing will be here.”
“I’m the last resort,” he says, nodding.
“No. That would have been my neighbor.” He narrows his eyes. “I’m serious, Loren. I just needed—"
“I know,” he says, cutting me off. “I’m giving you a hard time. You used to understand that better. We don’t spend enough time together anymore, I guess.”
I’m surprised when he takes my hand and leads me to the gate. “It’s not a real date. You don’t have to hold my hand.”
He shrugs. “I’m going to work on my threshold for physical touch and be your date at the same time.”
“Also, I know you’re giving me a hard time. But I don’t disagree that we go too long without hanging out.”
“Not everyone understands when I tease.” He pauses when we get to the line. “I think I do it wrong.”
I laugh. “It’s all in the tone, Loren. You talk in a very… I don’t know, stoic way? Calm and chilling and… I don’t know. There’s something about your expression as a whole that makes people think dark things.”
Loren grins. “That’s probably the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”
I roll my eyes as we step up to the stand. Pulling his hand back when he tries to pay with his phone, I give my name and then we’re handed our admission.
“Aren’t I supposed to pay for the date?” he asks.
“Okay, first, what is your dating experience because I have questions?”
“I don’t date much, I guess. Just fuck.” He looks around. “A lot.”
“Let’s not trade stories. That’s enough of an answer.”
Loren nods, seemingly unaware of the way I shuddered.
“Then I’ll say this about dates: one, I asked you out. So if we’re talking traditionally speaking, I should pay. Second, if you’re referring to the male and female roles and expectations on a date, a couple notes—we’re both men. Just because I’m gay doesn’t mean I get the female role. Also, the femalenotpaying is totally old school, Loren. Get with the times.”
Loren looks at me, studying me in that way of his. “I see. I’d like to change my answer.”
I’m not sure what the question was, but I nod.
“I’ve never dated. Only fucked.”
I laugh.
“Want to pretend date today? I can give you some pointers?”
“Yes,” he says. “Just so I know what’s expected of me, do you require a kiss at any time?”
“Require, no. But that’s kind of something that depends on the date itself. It’s not a rule or an expectation. It depends on the partner you’re with. You need to read the situation.”
He frowns. “I’m going to be shit at dating. I can already tell.”
“What’s your love language?” I ask, causing him to look at me as if I just asked him to drown a puppy. I laugh and rephrase. “It means, what’s the way you want to receive and how you’d show that you… uh, care about someone?”
