Page 5 of Perfect Matcha
Camden’s face was tight. “Sure. Who do you have in mind?”
“I don’t have anyone in mind!” Theo said, flushing slightly. “That’s the point. You know your friends better than me.”
Theo waited as Camden internally scrolled through his eminently large Rolodex of friends, firing off names out loud, then rejecting them before Theo could respond.
Then, just as swiftly, Camden froze, his body going still. He shifted his gaze to Theo and said, “Hawke Howard.”
Theo waited, positive that Camden was going to change his mind like he had with the other suggestions. When he didn’t, Theo’s brain stuttered and seemed to short out. “You want to set me up with your sex-toy boss?”
“Don’t call him my sex-toy boss.” Camden laughed sharply. “He loves animals and his family. He owns his own business and has an adorable house. He’s career focused like you. He’s smart enough to keep up when you talk about your job. He’s cute.”
“Cute is an understatement.”
“Yeah.” Camden smiled. Or grimaced. Theo couldn’t tell. “He’s sexy, frankly. Open and kind. He’s told me he’s ready to settle down. He’d treat you well.”
“And he has tattoos.” This suggestion was blowing Theo’s mind. Hawke Howard was too good for him. But it was also incredibly enticing to imagine waltzing into Freddie’s wedding—hell,anyone’swedding—with Hawke on his arm.
“Yes.”
“And piercings.”
“Only on his face.”
Theo gawped at Camden. “How do you know that? Have you seen him naked?”
Camden rolled his eyes. “I haven’t had sex with Hawke, if that’s what you’re implying. But, yes, I saw him naked at a house party of sorts. Well, it was at a mansion but same thing.”
“Hawke goes tosex parties?” Theo hated how squeaky his voice sounded. He wasn’t inexperienced per se. He’d had some practice. But not sex-party-level practice. “Wait …yougo to sex parties?”
“Not recently. It wasn’t my thing. Maybe if I went with a partner, I would like it more, but—”
“Cam, I can’t date a guy who goes to sex parties!” Theo whisper-screamed.
“I think the term is ‘play parties.’ And you already saidnoto me.”
Theo groaned. “Not you!Hawke. I can’t date a man who goes to play parties and owns a fancy sex-toy shop and has all this … all this …” Theo waved his hand like he was dialing a rotary phone. His pulse was buzzing in his ears.
Camden grabbed his fingers. “Hey. Are you being a snob?” he asked gently.
“What? No!” A dude at a nearby table turned to glare at them, so Theo dropped his voice. “Hawke Howard is so out of my league. I wanted you to choose someone cool, not someone untouchable.”
A muscle ticked in Camden’s stubbly jaw. “You’re the best person I know. Hawke would be lucky to date you. Don’t be mean to yourself.”
Some of Theo’s panic melted away at Camden’s words. The way Camden was cradling Theo’s hand in his palms didn’t hurt either, but Camden’s hands were cold. Theo needed to research winter work gloves. There were all kinds of fancy technical performance fabrics out there, and Theo knew Camden wouldn’t splurge on himself.
Camden opened his mouth a few times like he was reluctant to say what he was about to say. Finally, he hissed out, “I happen to know that Hawke thinks you’re attractive. He asks about you. Often. I’m pretty sure he’d be interested.”
“Oh.” Theo clutched at Camden’s fingers. “I’ve never even used a sex toy, Cam. Or owned one. Or held one. That would be like dating a groundskeeper without ever having gone outside. How the hell am I supposed to date Hawke Howard?”
A burst of fierceness fired through Camden’s eyes. “Oh, Theodore, I can help with that.”
