“One negroni and one extra dirty martini,” he announced.
“Thanks, Quinnie,” Selwin replied to the blond bartender.
“Um, I don’t think I ordered mine extra dirty?” I added.
“You didn’t, honey, but it’s my pleasure.”
I didn’t miss the long once over or the fact that my face was now flushed as a result. The guy wasn’t flirting, was he? Nah. Even if he was, that was about tips, not me. Fuck, not having sex for so long was screwing with my brain. I hadn’t been hit on in, well, I couldn’t remember that either…
“Sorry, Quinnie, but Damien’s appallingly straight.” Selwin chuckled.
“You are?” Quinnie’s dark gaze met mine, and I shrugged. “Shame.”
I took a long sip of my drink and groaned in appreciation.
“Damn, I should’ve been ordering extra dirty all along,” I confessed.
“I know a filthy boy when I see one.”
Quinnie winked and headed off to serve the next customer.
“What was that?” Selwin elbowed me.
“What was what? I was making conversation.”
“It almost looked like you were flirting with him.”
“Nope,” I replied, the alcohol burning away my reserve. “He’s cute, but not my type.”
This time, it was Selwin’s turn to choke on his drink.
“Cute? And what type? Damien, did you pop drugs while I wasn’t looking?”
“Hey, I can appreciate a good-looking man,” I insisted. “Besides, I’ve done my share of exploration. I’m not as straight as all that.”
Selwin stared at me with his mouth open.
“Whoa, one mind-blowing revelation at a time,” Selwin whispered. “How did I not know this?”
“Well, I… I mean… I?—”
God, I was such an asshole. My friend was struggling with coming out and here I was holding back on him.
“Fuck, this is why I shouldn’t drink,” I added. “I’m sorry.”
“You never said.”
He sounded hurt, and I couldn’t blame him.
“It was when I was in college,” I admitted, the words all tumbling out. “Another player, a guy I roomed with on the road.”
“Do I know him?”
I shook my head.
“Sometimes, he’d catch me jacking off and we’d, you know, finish together.”
“That’s not uncommon for straight guys.”
