Ryan’s message took a minute or so to arrive while I sipped on my coffee and started overthinking everything again.
Ryan: Sounds good. A particular bar?
And this was it. While Ryan wouldn’t know the place I mentioned, a quick Google search would tell him enough. And if Broadwater was the same guy as the version I knew all those years ago, he would absolutely research the hell out of the name I gave him.
Me: Bar QK. Should be a good night out.
I was really looking forward to it. When I received a text from Tallis a few days ago letting me know he was heading out Friday and asking if I wanted to come with him, he also mentioned the drag show. I’d been up for it immediately, having only watched a couple before, and both in Brissie. Plus, the last night out with him and his friends had been easy and comfortable, so I was happy to get to know them all better.
He’d offered me his spare room again, but I’d felt kinda odd accepting, since I’d only met the guy a couple of times, so instead booked a cheap Airbnb a short walk from the bar.
Ryan: I’ll check it out online.
I held my breath, not sure if he intended to do so now or another time.
Me: Okay. If I don’t chat with you before, be a legend tomorrow.
I grinned as I hit Send, ignoring the increased pounding of my heart.
Ryan: On it.
Setting my phone to the side of my PC, I ate my muffin while I waited for the Excel doc to open. It didn’t take long to get my head around the details I needed to upload and work out. Once in the zone, I found my rhythm easily, punching in the numbers and double-checking I wasn’t messing up. About half an hour in, my message alert went off.
I hit Save before picking my phone back up. A rush of air escaped me when I opened the message.
Ryan: Heading to bed. Just thought I should say I’m totally up for a visit to Bar QK when I see you. Night, Nate.
Heavy pounding erupted in my ears, blocking out all other noise.
What. The. Fuck?
Was this Ryan telling me he was gay? Or was he just reassuring me he wasn’t an arsehole?
I stared at the message, unable to compute, unable to grasp which he meant, and too nervous to believe the former in case I was wrong.
With buzzing in my ears, I tore my gaze away, staring unfocused around my messy office. My fingers tingled, my heart fit to explode, all while my stomach somersaulted so fucking dramatically it thought it was in training for gold.
There was a moment’s hesitation before my fingers flew across the keyboard on my phone.
Me: Ryan Duncan Broadwater, are you wanting to join me when I visit a gay bar?
I hit Send and waited, my body vibrating.
Ryan: With you?
The bastard. I shook my head and forced myself not to kick off a response. I didn’t have to wait long.
Ryan:Abso-fucking-lutely.
Fuck me sideways with a double dildo. Dead. This arsehole, with all his perfection and wanker ways, was going to kill me. And right now, with my face flushed and a grin stretched so wide, I was at risk of causing permanent damage, I didn’t want it any other way.
CHAPTER6
RYAN
I’d told him.Sort of. Maybe. Okay, I actually hadn’t at all, but I had absolutely no regrets about the tentative first step I’d made.
Forcing myself to ignore my pounding heart and the weird hum in my ears, I took a steadying breath. This was Nate. One, he wouldn’t be telling anyone about what I texted. The certainty of that was as clear to me as the full moon that currently hung overhead, casting a bright glow onto my deck.
