Page 3 of Just Between Us

From the time I was thirteen, I knew I liked both guys and girls. Michelle Jones took my hand and kissed me during my year seven dance and a year later, Joshua Branson pulled me behind the curtains after our nativity play and almost sucked my face off. I liked it both times even if I could have used a little less saliva from Joshua.

My sexuality never bothered me and surprisingly, no one in school seemed to care about it either. There were always bigger things to worry about anyway. Like how I was going to make sure no one harassed my twin sisters, Zara, and Zoe, in the rundown, seedy building we lived in or how best I could avoid Kenny, my stepfather in the tiny flat he lorded over like a king. Faced with that, worrying myself about being bisexual almost seemed childish

“Will you bring him or her to the Christmas party if tonight goes well?” Connor asks after a minute.

The party is in two weeks and the office is buzzing with anticipation of the open bar and expensive food before the holidays.

“Him,” I say. “But let’s not get carried away. I haven’t even met the guy yet.” I quickly change topics because Connor is like a dog with a bone and my dating life is a bone he hasn’t tasted before.

“By the way, you’ll never guess who I met.”

My friend gazes at me expectantly. “I don’t know. Gary Oldman?”

I frown. “Random but no, Cole Armas.”

His eyes go wide, just like I thought they would. “Jeez, big day for you, Kai. He’s dating Levi, right?”

I nod, remembering the way he had grabbed the back of Levi’s neck to kiss him in front of me. It was so obviously a way to mark his territory, a way to bark mine yet instead of scaring me, it made me feel a little too warm.

I immediately stop that train of thought from continuing.

“They were kissing when I walked in.”

Connor whistles, leaning back in his chair. “I’m not gay but that’s a film I’d pay good money to watch. They would probably rake it in on OnlyFans.”

“I don’t think they need it,” I point out. The Armas family are billionaires and judging from Levi’s background, he’s not exactly struggling to make ends meet.

“True but I’ve seen Cole Armas from afar and that is a beautiful man. Levi too. If I was a girl; I’d beg them both to—” he cuts off his speech because Yasmina is staring now, and I pretend to work to avoid her burning gaze. I fight the image my mind wants to conjure up of the two of them. Levi is my boss (well my boss’s, boss’s, boss, but still) and I should not be thinking about him naked.

“You sure you’re not at least a little bit gay?” I ask Connor.

He waves a hand. “It’s the twenty-twenties, Kai. Not every man who is comfortable with their masculinity is gay. How limiting of you.”

I snort, shaking my head because trust Connor to say something ridiculous enough to make me snort in the office. I get back to work, and despite my excitement at Levi’s approval, I’m even more excited for my date tonight.

Maybe things are looking up.

Okay, things are not looking up.

James is an investment banker who goes to Ibiza every summer. He offers up this particular information within the first few minutes of our dinner at a Thai place I love and frequent enough that the host recognises me and waves every time.

James is a friend of one of Jenna’s personal trainer friends and according to Jenna, when he saw a picture of me post workout on her Instagram, he immediately followed me and asked me out.

I liked the enthusiasm, and he is cute with the wispy brown hair and brown eyes. I don’t have a type. I have barely dated since university but if I did, he’d fit the bill just fine.

“How about you?” he asks, eyes expectant. “Where do you like going on holidays?”

My ears heat. I’m not exactly sure what to say and luckily, the waitress saves me before I have to answer, placing a bowl of Panang Curry in front of me. I busy myself with picking up my chopsticks for the sticky rice between us.

“I hope this isn’t too spicy,” James says.

I glance up at him. He’s staring down at his plate with a hint of apprehension. Mum is half Moroccan, half Trinidadian and everything she made growing up was anything but mild. I clearly didn’t think this through when I suggested this place.

“Oh,” I say, “I’m sorry. We could have gone somewhere else.”

James takes a bite of his fish and immediately lets out a cough, his face flushing red in an instant. A pang of guilt floods through me.

“Yeah,” he says, “Maybe we can try Fern in Chelsea next time. It’s all the hype right now which is a bit unfortunate because everyone will be going there now but the food is great and it’s definitely,” he looks around the restaurant with what I can only describe as an up-turned nose, “Less chaotic,” he finishes.

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