Page 25 of Numbers Boy
“Yeah, like some asexuals have sex for different reasons, like trying to conceive,” Chad adds helpfully, a supportive smile aimed over at Mark. “I think it would depend on how sex aversethe person is, or maybe they would only be fated to a creature whose mating bond doesn’t require sex.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Mark agrees, nodding a little as he fiddles with his napkin absentmindedly. “Fate would obviously know if the bond couldn’t be completed because of a person’s sexuality. Anyway, that was my main question. I thought it was a cool plot, but not really my cup of tea.”
“That’s fair,” I say and pour myself some more water. “I also thought it was good. I like the vampire being paired with a wolf shifter without any cross-species drama, since they’re often shown as enemies. I love me a good star-crossed lovers trope as much as the next guy, but sometimes easy acceptance is what you need.”
I think of how easy everything has felt with Noah and realize I’m smiling down at my plate. I really wish I had asked him if I could’ve stayed the night. Hopefully, after we get back from our road trip, we can pick up where we left off.
Brunch continues full of random thoughts about the book and plenty of side conversations about how our lives are going right now. The whole time, my mind is half stuck on Noah. The way he made me feel wanted. How I wish that night would have ended. Imagining how future meet-ups might go. Whether he’ll make me feel that good every time or if it was a fluke. Every once in a while, Stu elbows me gently to draw my attention back to something that was said, but he knows exactly how caught up I am in Noah, so mostly, he lets me drift. As we wrap up and pay the bill, Henry asks for recommendations for next month, and we all vote on Chad’s suggestion for a thriller to give a change of pace from this month.
“Awesome, so we’ll plan to meet the last Sunday of March to discuss?” Henry double-checks. We all put it into our calendars, nodding and murmuring our agreement. “Ooh, also, St. Patrick’s Day is on a Monday, but the Saturday before is National PenisDay. Anybody up for celebrating, or do you all want to observe it privately?”
Stu and I both snicker at how he phrased his questions and go for the easy opening.
“I’m sure some of us will beupfor it.”
“Yeah, but the whole day is about private…s observations.”
Leighton rolls his eyes and wedges himself between us so he can stretch his arms up around our shoulders to cover our mouths. I catch Stu’s eye, and he winks at me. I wink back, and we both lick Leighton’s palms.
“Eww!” He quickly removes his hands and wipes them on our sleeves. “What these weirdos mean is we’ll be happy to do whatever you think is appropriate for the occasion, as long as itisappropriate.”
“Awesome!” Henry grins. “I’ll send details to the group chat as we get closer.”
ON THE WAYdown to Chicago, stuck between boxes and the door of Andrew’s car, I wonder how I got roped into sharing the back seat with Greg, while Jamie gets shotgun. It maybe, sort of makes sense since he’s Andrew’s best friend and roommate. Well, ex-roommate now, I guess. But couldn’t one of us long-legged folks have driven Henry’s car and put him in a back seat? He and Leighton are driving separately since Henry wanted a vehicle to go to his pole stuff early, and Jamie ended up needing a bit more space for his final few boxes that didn’t fit in the trailer we’re pulling.
But besides the slight cramp in my leg, the drive goes by fairly fast, with all of us chatting excitedly about seeing Henry perform and asking Jamie about what he’s looking forward to the most with his move. Before I know it, we’re there. We take a few seconds to laugh and tease Jamie about the fact that he nowlives on 69th Street, and then everyone gets busy hauling all of his shit up to the seventh-floor apartment.
Fortunately, there’s a working elevator.
“Hey, Steve,” Jamie starts saying as he settles gracefully down beside where I’m unboxing some of his clothes. “How are things now that you’ve been free of that giant dick of an ex for a few months now? Or was he more of a tiny dick of an ex?”
I snort a laugh when Jamie nudges me with his shoulder suggestively and roll my eyes. This is one of the reasons I wanted to get to know Jamie better, regardless of where he’s living now. He’s fun and not afraid to tease. He fits right in with the rest of us.
“Unfortunately, Adam was actually quite well-endowed down south.” I see Jamie’s skeptical expression at my wording and continue before he can ask. “Unfortunate because he thought that meant he didn’t have to try. Also, it probably made it easier for him to lure in his side pieces.”
“Ah, got it.” Jamie nods and starts to put a few piles of leggings into a drawer. “I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a teeny bit” – he holds his thumb and pointer finger about a half an inch apart – “of a size queen when it comes to guys, but honestly, being fucked by girls and trans men is always amazing because whatever size they’re using, they know how to use it well.”
I cock my head, not pegging Jamie for someone who would be into people who would, well, peg him. “Girls?”
“Oh yeah. I’m into just about anybody as long as they’re funny and nice.”
“Hell yeah!” comes from the doorway, and we both look up to see Leighton bring in another box labeled “teaching leggings” along the side. He grins as he sets it down and holds his hand out for a high five. “Hearts, not parts, all the way!”
I chuckle as Jamie gives Leighton’s hand a slap, matching grin on his lips.
“But forget about asking him about Adam,” Leighton continues. “Jamie, did you hear Steve’s got a new guy?”
“What?” Jamie whips his head back toward me, excitement lighting up his perfectly put-together face. Honestly, I need to ask what setting spray he uses because even my makeup is going to need a touch-up after all this moving nonsense. “Tell me all about him. How did you meet him? Is he going to fuck Adam out of your mind for good?”
“His name is Noah, and he helps with Stacy on Fridays when I’m out late to rehearse.”
“Ooh, good start. If he was a walking douche, Stacy would’ve let you know something’s wrong,” Jamie says, nodding distractedly as he goes back to organizing his things.
“Yeah, it was always a little suspicious that Adam didn’t want a dog. I know some people don’t want pets, but his reasons were stupid,” Leighton agrees.
“Well, Noah is amazing, and based on the little bit of fun we’ve had, I’m assuming he’s going to get me past Adam without even breaking a sweat. Honestly, I had forgotten how great good sex could be.” I see Henry walking past the doorway with some pillows and can’t help but give him grief. I raise my voice so I know he can hear me. “Butsomeonehad to have a pole dance thing that took us out of town, so I’m here instead of under a big hunk of sexy man!”
Henry pops his head through the door and sticks his tongue out at me. “Sucks to suck, boo. Besides, he’ll still be there when we get back.”
