Page 52 of The Barkeep and the Bro

Cal came in and passed around sodas and waters. “Last Monday was so much fun! I told Russ we should go to Musical Monday tomorrow, too.”

“Yeah, the place was packed.” I’d never seen that many people in my bar on a non-holiday Monday maybe ever.

“I forgot how much I loved musical theater,” Russ said.

“On the car ride home, Russ admitted he lovedCats.” Cal shook his head.

“I said it didn’t deserve all the flack it gets.”

Cal stuck his thumb out at Russ and gave me acan you believe this guysmirk. Russ smacked it away. They were a cute couple, though a flicker of jealousy lit up in me, wondering if I’d ever have that kind of cutesy shorthand with someone.

My thoughts immediately circuited to a certain someone I should not be thinking about.

“Your bartender also did a great job,” Cal said.

Dammit.

Charlie entered my brain, and my jeans tightened as I thought about what we did Friday night. I crossed a line. I crossed a line real bad.

But in my defense, Charlie crossed it first.

Would he even show up at work today? Did he remember what happened? What if he was only joking, and I was the only one who actually jerked off on the phone. I’d spent the past quarter-century practically monk-like, then a cute fratboy smirks at me, and I’m having phone sex.

I looked up and found Cal wearing a satisfied grin, like a kid who got to say ass when talking about donkeys.

“What?” I uttered.

“I said your bartender did a good job. That was all.”

“Not this again.” I rolled my eyes, steeling myself from thinking about our kiss and my out-of-control tongue. “He’s straight. He’s my employee.”

“Straight is a relative concept,” Cal said.

“You say that about everyone,” Russ said. “The whole world isn’t queer.”

“I know, but I’m working on it.” Cal took a bite of his sandwich. “I looked over a few times when you both were behind the bar, and it seemed like he was giving you the look.”

“What look?” I tried not to sound too curious.

“The look.”

“You were drunk, Cal.”

“I know what I saw.”

I wanted to believe Cal, but I also...didn’t. Charlie was flirty with everyone. He was a fun, social guy. He flirted with customers, male and female, gay and straight. I couldn’t let his personality trick me into thinking of something that wasn’t there.

Even though we kissed. And phone sexed. And it was wonderful. For me.

I hung my head.

“What is it, buddy?” Cal rubbed my back with concern.

I shouldn’t be talking about this aloud, but I could trust the guys, and I needed to get this off my chest. “We kissed.”

Cal dropped his sandwich, but Russ swooped in and saved it from splattering on the borrowed couch.

Before Cal could freak out, I explained the situation that precipitated our lips meeting. It wasn’t born out of passion but rather saving Charlie from a creep.

---