Page 55 of Sass in the Grass

“Worried?”

Jovian was scared to death, but he wouldn’t admit that even to himself. “No.”

“Well, then, yes. I will let you try it. I’ll let you try my beer too, if you’d like.”

“No! Beer is for…” he was about to say neanderthals, but he didn’t want to offend the man. “Not for me.”

“Well, you might like mine. It’s more like the beer from Europe. Dark, hearty, fruity.”

“I’ll try a sip.”

“Thank you.”

They ate slowly, Jovian enjoying all the vegetables he was given. The tomatoes were sweet as candy, the carrots too, and then the strips of celery were surprisingly flavorful. Then there was the chicken. It was moist and crispy, perfectly seasoned. “You cooked this?”

“True’s recipe, but yes, I enjoy cooking.”

“You’re good at it.”

“Thank you, Jovian. I was sure you wouldn’t like it.”

“Why?”

“No offense, but this is a rather simple meal, and you seem to like things that are anything but simple.”

It wasn’t a lie. “I like things that are a little pricey, sure. But this isn’t simple, Dixon. Simple would be if you threw some flour on a raw piece of chicken and fried it.”

“Oh, well, then great. I use spices. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be popular with my friends. All of them like flavor and we all love food.”

“You are determined to make me fat.”

“Stop body shaming. I’m guessing your metabolism is still high. Your age and build, you’ll be thin for a long time, and forever, if you just exercise.”

“I, uh…hate exercise.”

“I noticed. You looked like you were having a heart attack while you were hiking,” Dixon said, laughing. “But you did it. You’re stubborn.”

“Guilty. So are you, I can tell!”

“I am. I’m not denying it. If I weren’t, I’d never have gotten through living out here. Sometimes, especially in the winter, it can be a hardship.”

“It can?”

His voice just vibrated through every cell in Jovian’s body, and his eyes just chilled him, but in good ways. The kiss was still on Jovian’s lips, pulsing there, reminding him of how good it felt.

“Jovian, you know this, but not from me. I think you’re beautiful.”

Jovian’s shock was complete. He’d been told he was beautiful all his life, but not from a man that he genuinely cared for. “I…I am?”

“Yes. When you smile, the real smile, not your Instagram smile, you’re even more beautiful.”

“Instagram smile? What’s that?”

“That fake one that makes your lips purse like you just got injected with collagen.”

His own hand slapped over his mouth as his humiliation took over his brain. Dixon gently moved his hand as he said, “It’s still a pretty smile, but your real one is much better.”

“Oh! Well, don’t do that to me! Do you know how long it would take me to pull down all my selfies?”

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