Page 111 of Call Me Sir

“Right away, sir,” the waiter says, taking the drink menus.

“Also, can we have two plates of your chicken alfredo?”

The waiter pulls his pen out and jots it down.

“Would you like anything else?”

Sal shakes his head.

I’ve ordered the perfect wine, one that Google suggested and taught me how to say by listening to it hundreds of times.

There’s that look again.

Crouching closer, I inch my chair toward Sal. The loud scraping noise sends a couple heads turning in our direction.

A few eyes continue to google us. Or perhaps it’s my imagination.

Reaching out my hand, I wait for him to give me his.

“What’s up? You seem off today.” I never thought I’d say that to him.

Angry? Always. Sad? I mean, his mom died, so of course. Annoyed? Totally.

But this? What is this? I can’t keep guessing.

“I mean, I know this night has been a flop-”

The frown creasing his brow is easier to read, perfect that’s what I wanted.

“It hasn’t been a flop, Cole. This is all really sweet of you.”

“I know it’s hard being seen as a gay couple..”

The big sigh means I’m on the right track.

I use my free hand to rub up and down on his thumb.

“I just wanted to give you a nice date.”

Dropping his head to the side, I recognize the frustration and stop talking.

“You look really good. And you’ve been amazing.”

“But?”

Oh shit, is he ending things?

Have I crossed some line?

“Honestly, you look really good. In the car I was speechless from how handsome you are.”

“Oh.”

A smile cracks across his face and suddenly the entire room is drowned out.

“I appreciate all of this. The wine will be perfect, the meal will be delicious. But this isn’t you, it’s not us.” He doesn’t leave space for me to interject because he says, “However, I’m with you, so it will be a great time.”

“Yeah?”

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