Page 27 of Stick By Me

After parking my SUV,I strolled to the outdoor mall’s walkway through the cooler evening air and stuffed my hands into my front pockets. Tall palm trees rose up in a pattern around the modern, squared-off buildings and fountains bubbled amongst colorful lantana in tall planters. Families and teenagers milled about, giggling girls and moms pushing strollers. Mygaze snagged a metal awning under a sign in red and black, saying,Kabuki.

Underneath the sign, Leo stood, his black button-down shirt tucked into his designer jeans. As his gaze found mine, a wide smile broke out over his face, and he jogged to me. “Archer.” Winding his arms around me, he hauled me against his chest for a warm embrace. “Fuck, I missed you.” He nuzzled the side of my head.

I hooked my arms around his waist and swooned. I’d almost forgotten how much being in his arms calmed me. “Missed you, too.”

He freed me and swiped his hand over the back of his hair, scanning around us. “So, um, should we go inside?”

“Yeah.” I snatched up his hand and led him inside the heavy wooden door of the restaurant. This was a date, after all.

A hostess met us at a stand and led us to a booth toward the back of the place, everything bathed in a soft glow coming from oval rice paper lanterns overhead.

Leo tucked himself into a brown, tufted bench seat at our table while I slid into the other side.

After setting down menus, the hostess left.

I gazed out the window to our left, over a view of an open plaza with red patio tables and globed street lamps. There was still the hint of a sunset in the sky. I shifted in my seat. “So, this is nice.” I perused the menu.

“It is.” He scratched his head. “You know what? I think my brother brought Remy here on one of their first dates.”

“Yeah?” I set my menu down. I already knew what I wanted. “And how are Axel and Remy?”

“They’re doing great, as usual. They’re staying in tonight to watch a movie, or as Axel says, Netflix and chill.” Shaking his head, he chuckled.

“Good for them.” I bit my lower lip. Andwewere hooking up tonight, too. Maybe I’d get to see what it felt like to put my dick in his?—

“How are your classes going?” He set his menu down.

“Classes?” I raised my brows. His mind wasn’t going anywhere near where mine was. “They’re going well. I have some midterms next week, but I’m prepared.” In fact tonight would usually be a study night, but I’d gotten it out of the way earlier.

The waiter stopped at our table, dropped off some water, and we each ordered warm sake.

Leo sipped his water. “What classes are you taking?”

I ran my fingers up and down my water glass. “My most interesting ones are probably my nutrition class and muscle physiology.” And easy, since I’d been an athlete my whole life and lived this shit. “I have to construct a performance training program this semester.” I smirked. “You can guess who I’m designing it for.”

“A hockey player?” He smirked at me.

“You got it.” I straightened in my seat as the waiter dropped off our sake. “Order whatever you want, and we’ll share. I’ll eat pretty much anything.” But I’d really like to eat him.

“Sure.” Leo ordered a few rolls off the menu and some salmon sashimi.

When the waiter focused on me, I mixed in some nigiri with Leo’s rolls and yellowtail sashimi.

The waiter left.

As I poured sake into the tiny ceramic cup they served it with, I said, “So, I take it we’re going to my place after this?” Might as well get the logistics out of the way.

“Yeah, we can do that. Do your roommates know what’s going on?” Leo sipped his sake, his gaze on me.

“They know I’m out with you, but I haven’t told them we’re on a date.” Shit, how would this work? “I suppose I can sneak you into my room.” I sniggered. That was some high school level shit.

“I suppose we could get a hotel room.” Furrowing his brows,he twisted his cup on the table. “Do you care if your roommates know?”

“Do you?” I leaned in. He wasn’t having second thoughts, was he?

With a shake of his head, he said, “No, I mean, Jonah already knows I’m not straight, right?” His gaze snapped to mine.

“Yeah, he knows. He also knows you’re not out.” I pursed my lips. Funny that me, the hockey player, was out and Leo was not.

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