He was almost giggling, he was so excited.“Eli, what the hell did you do?”
“Nothing.” The grin in his voice said he’ddone something.
Tattoo guy cocked his head and took thequestion seriously. “Would you prefer I answer that for him, or was it arhetorical question?”
Huh?
“Um, I don’t know.”
“I’m perfectly innocent, but I forgot thatI have a date with Roman in a few minutes. I’ll see you later.” Eli started tostep away, but I reached back and grabbed his arm.
What was he thinking, leaving me like that?
He leaned in and gave me a hug. When he wasclose, he whispered low enough for the other people in the shop not tooverhear. “You’ll be fine. Roman owes me a spanking because I was absolutelyterrible this morning, and I can’t wait. Call me later.”
Then he was gone.
Tattoo guy shook his head as he watched Elileave. “He’s very…interesting.”
I almost laughed. “Yep, that’s Eli.”
We both just stood there awkwardly. Neitherof us seemed to know what to do next. With anyone else, I would have taken itas a sign that it wasn’t meant to be, but standing there with the towering man,I just thought it was cute.
If he was nervous too, then it might not beso bad.
He finally seemed to make some kind ofinternal decision because he glanced at the counter and then back to me. “Can Ibuy you a cup of coffee or something?”
I wasn’t even going to pretend that it wasa date, but just the idea of it made me smile. “Yes, thank you. Um, hotchocolate?”
I had a feeling I wasn’t going to need anyhelp staying awake later. My heart was already going a hundred miles an hour.His eyes sparkled like he found it funny, but he simply nodded. “Sure, whydon’t you grab us a table?” He looked around the room. “They’re busier thanusual today.”
As much as I wanted to find out what wasactually going on, I had to agree with him. There was a table toward the backof the restaurant open, the one I’d sat at with Eli earlier in the week, andanother toward the front. I gestured at the two. “Do you have a preference?”
I wasn’t sure he did, because he’d been atevery table in the place at least once, but he surprised me. Pointing towardthe front table, he nodded. “That one.”
He must’ve seen my confusion, because hesmiled. As serious as he usually looked, I loved the amusement that wasradiating from him. “The one in the back isn’t as quiet as you think. Somethingabout the placement of the table makes the words echo.”
Fuck.
“Do I owe you an apology?” He wasn’t angry,that was evident. But between my conversation with Eli and the fact that I’dclearly been watching him, there was probably an apology needed in theresomewhere.
Tattoo guy was still grinning, but shook hishead. “No, I don’t think I mind being stalked.”
I could feel the heat starting to creep upmy face. Yeah, I owed the guy an apology. Especially since I still didn’t evenknow his first name. His smile just widened as he pointed to the table. “Gograb it before somebody else does. I’ll be right over there.”
The last thing I wanted to do was walk awayfrom him. I still had so many questions. But since it honestly looked like hewas going to sit down and have coffee with me, I forced myself to relax andwalk over to the table. I wasn’t the most aggressive guy when it came todating. I liked when things were laid out first so I could see it in my mindbefore I went into the situation.
With almost any other guy, I would haveassumed that this was a date. A quick meet up for coffee to see if we hadchemistry and if I really was a stalker. But with him, I wasn’t so sure.
He gave off mixed signals, but it was clearhe was curious about me. But aside from him paying, and waiting by the door forme, nothing about it felt like a traditional date. That wasn’t a bad thing, butit made me nervous.
I hadn’t been as sure as Eli that the guywas even gay. He really had that relaxed straight guy look. I’d never worriedthat he would freak out at the idea that I found him attractive, but nothingabout him said he was anything but heterosexual.
He spoke to the barista too quietly for me tohear, so as he started walking back over to the table, I still didn’t know hisname. I was just going to have to ask. Luckily, he seemed to understand mydilemma, or maybe he just had good manners. As he sat down, he stuck out hishand. “Lane? Right? I’m Wilder.”
I groaned. “You really could heareverything the other day.”
He chuckled. “Oh yes, it was the mostinteresting lunch break I’ve had in ages…maybe ever.”
