“Jordan, huh?” I tease while we wait for them to take us back. “Is Jay for the Grindr boys, and once we get on phone number level, we get the real name?”
He grins. “Because Eli is your real name too?”
“Touché. My real name is Elias.”
“Elias,” he repeats, letting my name simmer on his tongue like the taste of expensive wine. “I like that name.”
“Thanks. I wish I could say something cool, like my mom named me after some Greek god, but in reality, I’m almost positive she named me after a famous wrestler she probably thought was hot.”
We both laugh as the hostess leads us toward the back of the restaurant. She seats us in front of a large window that overlooks the bay. The sun is starting to set, and the burnt oranges and reds are reflecting over the water beautifully. I’m such a sucker for a sunset.
“Have you been here before?” I ask him as I glance over the menu.
“Once,” he replies. “For a work dinner. It’s really good. Have you?”
“Never. It was built pretty recently, right? I don’t think it was here the last time I was in town.”
“Oh, you’re right. Last summer, I think.”
A gentleman with soft brown, bouncy curls steps up to the table. “Hey, guys. My name is Seth. I’ll be your server for this evening. Can I get you started with anything to drink?”
“I’ll get whatever IPA you have on tap,” Jordan requests.
“I’ll do the same.”
“Sure thing. Do y’all need a minute, or do you know what you’re having?”
Jordan smiles and replies, “A few minutes, please.”
“Cool, cool. I will be right back with your drinks.”
Seth steps away, and I peer across the table, gaze meeting Jordan’s. “So, how was your day at the office?”
“Not too bad. Had a few meetings, but it was a relatively slow day. How was your day?”
“Also, not too bad. I had lunch with my mom, but for the most part, it was chill.”
“Nowork?” he asks, wagging his brows suggestively as he does. He hasn’t asked too many specifics about the whole camming thing yet, but I’m sure he wants to.
“Nah.” I laugh. “Got a little too tipsy last night with my cousin and felt like shit for most of the morning. I will tomorrow, though.”
“So, uh… how does that work? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t mind,” I tell him. “If I did, I wouldn’t have told you about it in the first place.”
Our server drops our beers off and takes our orders. It isn’t until he walks away that I answer Jordan’s question.
“It can really work however you want it. The website platform I use is basically like one big chat room. You all can watch me, and I can see messages y’all send in through the chat.”
“And it’s like… naked?”
I can’t help the chuckle that comes from the innocence in his question. “Yup. Sometimes—well, most of the time.”
“Is it awkward?”
Shaking my head, I say, “It used to be when I first started, but I’ve been doing it for, like, four years at this point. Plus, I can’t see anybody but myself, so it’s not even like I have an audience at all.”
“Do you only do it by yourself, or do you work with anybody?” There’s a slight flush that takes over his cheeks, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
