“Yes. Come on, fill me in on what’s to be expected.”
I’d worried somewhat that labeling tonight as a ‘date date’ would make things awkward, but it didn’t at all. We talked all the way to the country club. He asked questions about the function and the people who usually attended, and I answered. It surprised me how easily the conversation flowed, and it had nothing to do with scheming and ruining people’s lives.
“Last question,” Gio said as we were queued for valet parking.
“Shoot.”
“What’s my role supposed to be? A friend?” He chuckled nervously. “I just realized I don’t even know if you’re out or you know, still in the closet.”
I contemplated the question. “I’ve never shouted it to the rooftops before that I’m gay,” I answered. “I used to hide it altogether when Bryan and I were together, but since we broke up, I frankly no longer cared who knew. You?”
“I’ve been out for some time,” I answered. “Just not to my immediate family and friends. Well, Tate recently found out but my parents still don't.”
“Would you rather be a friend then?” I started to ask before I frowned. “Fuck that, I’m introducing you as my boyfriend.”
I didn’t miss his grin as I exited the car and handed the keys to the valet. We entered the country club together and, almost instantly Ingram picked me out. He walked over with his wife who was in charge of tonight’s cocktail party.
“Eardley, there you are!” Ingram’s whack on my back would have dislocated the shoulder of a slenderer person.
“Ingram, did you doubt I would show up?” I turned to his wife. “Not when your wife outdoes herself every year. Cynthia, how are you?”
The older woman’s cheeks turned red and she offered her cheek for a kiss. “Keith, you are such a flatterer. Is this the year you’ll allow me to play matchmaker? We have so many single ladies in attendance this year.” She winked at me. “That might have been intentional or not.”
I smiled at her and gestured to Gio. “No need to play matchmaker, Cynthia. This is my boyfriend, Gio Arcuri. Perhaps you’ve been to his Italian restaurant, Ristorante Da Gio.”
Ingram’s surprise was drowned out by his wife who was enthused at the news. “Keith, you devil, hiding this handsome young man from us.” She didn’t even bat an eye about learning my same-sex preference. “Good for you. Nice to meet you, Mr. Arcuri.”
Gio kissed her outstretched hand which had her cheeks even rosier. “Please, call me, Gio. It’s nice to meet you and your husband. Keith’s told me so much about the events you keep to help our vets.”
“Ah yes dear, we must all play our part.” She beamed at being praised. “Oh, Bill, we simply must visit this restaurant. We’ve not been as yet, but we’ve heard nothing but great things about the food being simply amazing and the chef devastatingly handsome.”
“Well, Eardley, it was nice seeing you and err, your young man.” Ingram placed a hand on his wife’s arm to lead her away. “We hope you enjoy the evening.”
Gio turned to me when we were alone again. “That went well.”
“Hmm, I’m thinking it’s not such a bad idea that people know the devastatingly handsome chef is off the market,” I told him, snagging two glasses of wine from a waiter and handing him one.
He laughed. “I’m sure she’s just being kind.”
By the time we mixed and mingled, chatting with a few people I figured Ingram and his wife had started circulating the news about Gio and me. We had more people interested in talking to us than I’d ever had all the other times I showed up alone.
“I’m pretty sure it’s because you’re more pleasant when I’m around,” Gio whispered in my ear after I made the observation to him. Him whispering in my ear only reminded me that after the event, I planned to take him back to my apartment building, not to the dungeon, but my condo. I wanted to take all night making love to him properly. I wanted him to have a different memory of us together. I couldn’t completely erase the first time from his mind, but I could give him better ones to think about.