Page 52 of Call Me Sir

“Hey.”

He steps closer, but is a little wiser than before and turns to lock the door behind him. I’d give him a smirk if I wasn’t so damn inwardly disheveled.

Resuming his attempt to comfort me, he steps forward and gently places a hand on my shoulder.

“I… don’t want you to get in trouble.”

His brow creases. “For talking to a friend?”

A half smile cracks across my face. “I suppose not.”

I turn and fold my arms as I lean against the sink.

Cole moves back and leans against the backside of the bathroom door. He’s beyond arm’s reach and I hate it. I wish I could pull him close and take in the scent of his ocean breeze body wash and ginger cologne.

Instead I’ll settle with consuming him with my eyes.

“What happened?”

I sigh. I’ve never talked with anyone about how he cut me off. With my last boyfriend I just told him we weren’t close and he didn’t pry.

“Out with it.”

I don’t know why but that makes me smirk and he returns the grin.

His toe grazes the tile and he waits for me to speak.

“My dad invited me to dinner this Saturday.”

Cole frowns. “Okay…”

“He cut me out of his life for ten years for being gay. Now all of sudden he’s interested in having me come over…with a guy.”

I cover my face with my hands, wishing I could disappear. I should go home early. No, I’ll stay late and work late into the night to get my mind off this silly mess.

“Do you… have someone to bring?”

My hands drop to my sides.

“No.”

Is that relief that washes across his face?

Cole clears his throat. “I can go with you.”

I shake my head. “I can’t ask that of you.”

I watch as he fiddles with the ties of his joggers that are never strung together. Pants I should tell him are not allowed in a workplace. But they look so damn good on him…

“You didn’t ask, I offered. And just as friends.”

Somehow that’s almost worse.

“I have a date with Danny tonight but I’ll be sure not to make plans for Saturday.”

My eyes close slowly. Nope that was worse.

“I appreciate the offer, really. But I don’t even want to go.”

---