Page 66 of Kiss Me in the Dark
“Hey, Cam,” Blaze greets me.I see Noah take a quick look at him, probably realizing it’s Blaze, one of the popular guys on campus, or maybe Leon catches his attention.I can’t quite tell.
“Hey, Blaze.What should I offer you today?”I ask with a small smile, trying to keep it professional.
Blaze chuckles.“Sorry about last night.I kinda left you to fend for yourself.”
I wave it off.“Nah, it’s fine.I probably drank more than I should have.”
Blaze scratches his neck sheepishly.“Yeah, but still, I dropped the ball.I came by your apartment this morning, and Fox said you were still out cold.”
“Yeah, I got a little too into the spirit of things.”I chuckle nervously, feeling a little awkward under Blaze’s intense eye contact.
Blaze and I may get along, but it’s hard to shake off the weirdness.He’s Fox’s best friend, after all, and both of them have their moments of casual homophobia around Landon.Part of me wonders if I should just tell him I’m gay to see if he changes his tune.But then again, who am I kidding?I’m complaining that my roommate treats me terribly while Blaze is nice—and yet here I am, questioning his motives.
Blaze breaks my train of thought.“Maybe I’ll make it up to you next time.You wanna maybe hang out sometime?”
I bite my lip, momentarily thrown.Is Blaze, Fox’s best friend, actually asking me to hang out one-on-one?Is that like… a date?Not that I have much experience with dating, but it still catches me off guard.
Before I can respond, Leon finally looks up from his phone.He seems surprised when he sees me but offers a small smile.
“Hey, man,” Leon says, holding out his hand.I shake it, and he grins.“You work here?”
“Yeah, just a part-time gig after classes.”
“Nice.Didn’t get to see you before you left the party last night.Everything good?”
“Yeah, I just got tired and a little sick.Fox ended up driving me home,” I say, glancing at Blaze and Leon.
“No worries, man.Hey, why don’t you swing by tonight?It’ll be even better than yesterday’s party.Did you at least hook up or kiss a girl?”Leon teases, a smirk spreading across his face.
Blaze steps in before I can answer.“He wasn’t there to make out with anyone, Leon.”
“Oh, really?”Leon laughs, smirking in my direction.I clear my throat, feeling my face heat up.
“Shut the fuck up, Leon,” Blaze says, smacking the back of Leon’s head.“You think with your ass sometimes.”Blaze gives me an apologetic smile.
“Anyway, we would like to order now,”
Blaze and Leon sit in a booth toward the back of the diner, talking quietly.As I tend to a few customers, I can’t help but notice Blaze’s gaze constantly drifting my way.Every so often, he throws me a smirk, leaving me both confused and—okay, maybe a little flattered.It’s… weird.
“So, are you and Blaze dating, or what?”Noah asks, sliding a croissant to a customer who heads over to Katie at the register.This is the first time he’s spoken to me since Blaze and Leon showed up, and I’ve noticed Noah glancing at Blaze just as much as Blaze’s been looking my way.Could Noah have a thing for him?
I didn’t think he was into guys either.
“We are not dating,” I say, chuckling awkwardly.“He’s my roommate’s best friend.”
“Huh.”Noah grins.“He’s good-looking, isn’t he?”he asks, casting a dreamy look toward Blaze.
“I don’t know,” I mumble, looking away as soon as Blaze catches me glancing at him, laughing at something Leon said.
“Right,” Noah says with a smirk, heading over to help a couple who look lost in front of the menu.
Before I can breathe, Katie sidles up beside me, grinning knowingly.“So, what’s going on between you and Blaze?”
I roll my eyes.“Nothing.”
“Oh really?I’ve seen the way you two keep looking at each other.”
I groan.“Katie, it’s nothing.”
