Page 14 of Colin

“Uh, hi. Rourke.” I waved.

“You look very nice, Colin. Ready to go?”

I nodded and followed him out. “Thanks. You look good too, but I bet you always do.”

“I wouldn’t take that bet.”

We got into his fancy car and headed out. Andy’s apartment was near the university, so it took less than ten minutes to get there. Rourke pulled into a parking garage off of Howard. There was a crazy, modern art mural across from it. “Where are we?” I wasn’t that familiar with this side of town. I stuck pretty close to home and work. Or what was my home at Uncle Edgar’s, anyway.

“This is a modern bougie hotel.” He made a face and shrugged. “But the lounge is exquisite. Come on.” He parked and we got out. He wasn’t wrong, though I didn’t have much to base it on.

“Wow, this is neat.” The lounge was mostly painted in a subtle, neutral color with bold pops of orange and turquoise artistically painted on the walls and a huge installation of plants with the name of the place,Edge, lining the entranceway. And it all looked fresh and clean. I could see why Rourke liked it, but then we turned the corner, and I could see all the way through the building and to the outside patio and beyond to the tops of trees and the blue-blue sky. I gasped.

“Let’s go look.” Rourke took my arm and led me past the tables and the bar and right out to the open-air courtyard that was set up like a lounge with outdoor furniture, tastefully, done. At the railing, I could see the Tampa skyline in the distance.

“Oh, Rourke. This is amazing.”

“Mmm…you see why I like it?” He gestured around the room. It had a modern-funky vibe. The side of the outdoor area had a giant abstract person-face with fish on either side in the same colors as the main area. Weird, but okay. “Let’s sit down and get some drinks. Anywhere you want.”

Only a few other people were in the bar. The sun was setting, casting complimentary colors across the sky. I’d never been anywhere like it. I loved the lounge area, but I wanted to eat, and I would do better at a table. The one nearest the courtyard was open, so I gestured toward it. “How’s that?”

“It may get hot. That’s the heater.” He indicated a small box right next to the table, but all of them in that row had fantastic views, so it hardly mattered where we sat. “How about this one?” He chose the next one over and held a chair out for me.

“This is great. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” He sat next to me, both of us facing out toward the city. I could see one of the old cigar factories and a plethora of palm trees, as well as other tall buildings. I loved the older buildings and all the greenery. “Now, as I recall, you like a fruity drink?”

“How?” I shook my head. “Nope. Not going to ask. I do like fruity drinks, but not too sweet.”

“Great. Vodka or tequila?”

If I couldn’t have Prosecco…“Vodka.”

“Then I recommend Peaches & Berries. It has peach, orange, and strawberry. I think you’ll like it. There is a rosy wine in it that settles the flavors. Not too sweet.”

“I’ll try it.”

He motioned to the bar, and a server came right out. She was a young-ish woman with blonde hair and all smiles. “Good evening. I’m Samantha. You can call me Sammy. What can I get for you this evening?”

Rourke ordered my drink and a vodka martini for him, as well as a charcuterie and extra olives. “This is the best,” he said when she left to place the order. “If you’re still hungry, I’d recommend the shrimp wrap, but the selection we’re getting is fantastic. Oh, do you like olives?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I love them.”

We looked over the skyline. It was nice. Romantic. I loved that he knew what he was doing. The conversation wasn’t going anywhere, but it was nice, and I didn’t feel pressured to be witty or flirty. The drinks were delivered and mine was fantastic. I took several sips, feeling relaxed. I even sighed. “This is nice.”

“Good. I thought you needed something calm and soothing. Clubs are fine, but this…” He held his arm out. “Sometimes, we need to step out of the chaos.”

He’d shown me a sunset over the water at his place when we first officially met at the pool party, and now this. He had depth and appreciation of nature and beauty. “You’re not at all like I thought when I first saw you at Afterglow.”

“See. I warned you.” He wagged a finger at me playfully. “I do hang out in those circles sometimes. And I support Braxton’s club. We all need safe spaces.”

“Braxton?”

“Yes, he’s the owner, well, primary owner of Afterglow.”

“Oh, I don’t know him.” In fact, I didn’t know anyone in those circles. Except Andy.

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