Page 29 of The Boy from Half Moon

Tyler’s arms flopped exaggeratingly to his sides, a frown appearing on his face when he turned to Tate. “‘Sir?’” he complained, stomping a foot for effect. He placed a hand on one hip. “Have I become a sir?” he asked Tate, glancing between Tate and me. “Oh, my God,” he said, running toward a nearby dresser and its mirror, leaning toward his reflection.

“You look fine, Tyler,” Tate said, turning to me and rolling his eyes when Tyler turned back to the mirror.

“I absolutely cannot get old in this town,” Tyler muttered, pulling at the sides of his eyes for some reason. “What man wants a wrinkled, old sourpuss?”

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t stop staring at Tate’s friend. I’d never heard a man talk like he did. He was an adult male, not a girl, like his actions appeared. Tall, muscular, lean, and definitely a man. Why did he speak like women folk?

“I didn’t mean to speak unkindly, sir,” I said to Tyler, glancing at Tate and hoping he’d offer backup to my poor manners.

“You’re good, Luke,” Tate interjected.

Tyler hurried back, stepping between Tate and me. “I’ll decide if he’s good or not,” he began, turning his focus to me. “Perhaps Luke here can buy me a drink to make up for hurting my feelings.”

“Is water okay?” I replied. “We have bottled for our customers. Fresh-baked cookies, too, if you’d like some of those.”

Tyler laughed out loud. “Are you punking me, stud?” he asked, slapping my arm. He turned to Tate. “Is he joking?”

“I don’t think Luke drinks alcohol, Tyler,” Tate stated. “So, I imagine buying you a drink, as you said, is also out of the realm of possibilities.”

“There’s no cost for the water, Tate,” I stated. “So I sorta could buy him a drink,” I added, trying to be nice to Tate’s friend.

“Tyler isn’t talking about water, Luke. He’s suggesting you take him to a bar or a club and buy him a cocktail,” Tate explained.

I had completely misunderstood. “I couldn’t go to a place that serves alcohol,” I said. “I’m only nineteen.”

Tyler stepped closer, grabbed my arm, and leaned against me. “I could purchase the alcohol, Luke,” he said, his voice quieter. “And then you could come over to my place.”

The kind smile on Tate’s face disappeared as his friend spoke. He seemed upset with Tyler. “I don’t drink alcohol, sir, and I’m not sure I could visit you either,” I explained. “I hope you don’t think I’m being unkind by not accepting your invitation.”

“Tyler is teasing you, Luke,” Tate said, giving Tyler a stern look. “He doesn’t know that your beliefs don’t allow for drinking alcohol.”

“Oh, okay,” I replied. “I understand.”

Tyler hadn’t let go of my arm yet, his other hand gripping my biceps. “But you could still come over, right?” he asked. “Maybe hang out… or something.”

“Enough, Tyler!” Tate snapped, anger in his voice. “Luke does not get your not-so-thinly veiled invitation.”

Tate was right; I didn’t know what Tyler was on about. He was an attractive person, but seemed a bit unusual to me. I couldn’t put together what there was about him that confused me. Plus, I had never encountered a man who stood directly against me and stroked my arm before.

“Do you date?” Tyler asked, scowling at Tate before turning his attention back to me. “Nineteen is certainly an age a person should be able to date, right? Be your own man, if you know what I mean.”

“I’m not promised to a woman yet, but courting isn’t allowed outside my community.”

“Let it go, Tyler,” Tate warned, shaking his head after seeing Tyler’s mouth drop open as he stepped back.

Apparently, Tyler didn’t care about Tate’s concern and grabbed my arm again. “Promised?” he asked. “And to a woman, no less. Eewwww.”

Tate grabbed Tyler’s arm and yanked him away from me. He seemed irritated at Tyler and concerned about my feelings. “Okay, Tyler. That is quite enough from you.”

Everything that was happening was completely foreign to me. I felt like I was either out of the loop of a joke or was the joke. I couldn’t tell which. Tate acted like he was on my side and unhappy with his friend’s behavior, so that made me feel good inside. But for the life of me, I had zero idea why Tyler was behaving strangely. He’d never spoken to me when I’d seen him before.

“I just want to know if he’s gay or not, so I don’t waste my time in this place,” Tyler said, fighting free of Tate and adjusting his clothes.

“I’m sorry, Luke. My associate and I need to leave now,” Tate said, his handsome face suddenly very red. He reached for Tyler’s arm, but his associate quickly moved away, standing close to me once again.

“Apologize to Luke please,” Tate said.

“Chillax, boss man,” he replied. “I simply want to know if Luke here is gay or not gay.”

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