Page 14 of The Princess

“It’s not that I’m inexperienced, but I’ll admit that going out with a guy who I know has a boyfriend is different. And I know it’s okay with him, but I needed to hear it from him.”

Damon let out a heavy breath. Taylor’s confession took some of the weight off Damon’s chest. That he was also concerned about Nash and how everything between the three of them was supposed to work. Nash seemed totally unaffected by the thought of Damon dating Taylor. It was nice that Taylor was unsure. It made Damon feel less alone.

“If he had a dollar for every time I asked him if it was really okay, he could retire by now,” Damon admitted.

Their mutual confessions acted like a pressure release valve. The atmosphere in the car was suddenly lighter, and Damon found it easier to breathe. They’d probably need to have a lot of conversations about how they felt sharing him. It would be undoubtedly easier if Taylor dated both him and Nash.

Now there was an idea he could sink his… Okay, not going there. He shoved all thoughts of illicit threesomes out of his head. Tonight wasn’t about that. It was about Taylor and showing him a good time. And making up for being somewhat of a jackass to him in the past.

The bar Damon chose didn’t look like much on the outside, but he knew appearances in this case were most definitely deceiving. It was a cozy place, Damon thought. Or maybe he had shit taste. But either way, he liked the low hanging lights that hovered over the tables and the sturdy wood booths with thick padding covered in some kind of vinyl.

Taylor eyed the wall of liquor behind the bar. “That’s quite a selection. Come here often?”

“Not for that.” Damon grinned at him. A server came around and Damon instantly recognized him. “Hey, Randy.”

“Hey, Damon. Oh, and friend.” Randy raked his gaze over Taylor a little too appreciatively, but then he went right back to being professional. “What can I get you two?”

“I’ll have a Blackberry Virgin Mojito.”

“Me too,” Taylor said.

“And can we get a jack burger with fries and a baked macaroni and cheese with garlic toast and salad?”

Randy took their order. “Anything else?”

Taylor leaned back, looking slightly amused. Once their server left, promising to return with drinks soon, Damon explained.

“I don’t generally order for my dates, but trust me. We’re going to split the burger and the mac and cheese, and you’re going to have the best meal of your life.”

Taylor’s amusement softened. “I trust you.” His voice was low and buttery, but there was a note of uncertainty to it too.

“I don’t think I told you how stunning you look tonight.”

“I think you did, but I could get used to you complimenting me.” Taylor glanced away as though he were suddenly shy, but Damon reached across the table and took one of his hands before he could snatch it back.

“You look incredible, Taylor. And I’m sorry I didn’t say so a long time ago. It was stupid, but I was afraid.”

“Afraid?” Taylor’s eyebrows scrunched together in a way that could only be described as adorable. He was genuinely perplexed. “What on earth did you have to be afraid of?”

Damon laughed, at himself mostly. “I’m afraid of a lot of things, Taylor. But I was afraid that if I said anything overly nice to you, everyone would see right through me and know how attracted to you I am. How much I like you.”

Taylor let out a rush of air. “Oh.”

His cheeks turned slightly pinkish and Damon wanted to trace the blush with his fingertips. Or his lips. If he was lucky, he might get a chance later.

Their drinks arrived and Taylor wasted no time taking a sip. “So, tell me, Damon. How did you find this place? It’s not exactly eye-catching from the road.”

It was true. The bar was tucked in the middle of a row of other businesses, clothing boutiques and shoe shops and other miscellaneous stores. Down the next block was the roller rink and Damon had witnessed many people come limping in, laughing and leaning on each other as they slid into booths.

“I wish I had a good story to tell you, but I found it one time when I accidentally joined a pub crawl.”

Taylor laughed and took a sip of his drink. “How do you accidentally join a pub crawl?”

“I wasn’t always a non-drinker and back before I quit, I stopped for one after work one day. Me and this guy start chatting and it’s obvious he’s into me. And he tells me that he and his friends are going to check out this other place nearby and I should come. Next thing I know, this is stop four or five. As soon as I’d finish a drink at one place, the guy I was with would haul me onto my feet and I’d end up following him to another place for another drink.”

“It sounds more like you were kidnapped.”

“By the time I got here, I was pretty done for. I all but melted into a booth. Thankfully, the guy I was with took pity on me and ordered me something to eat. Turns out, he and his friends did that all the time.”

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