Page 62 of Me Three
I love this. Love them for accepting me as I come one hundred percent.
I’ve been quite lucky, granted, in that I’ve got an accepting family, and school is as open and unprejudiced as the rest of the town. They don’t call New Harlow the gay hub of Virginia for nothing. But it’s always been a worry, in the back of my mind, that relationships might be harder than hook-ups. After all, a lot more people are happy to fuck a man in heels behind closed doors than they are to take said man out in heels on a date.
And I know I don’t identify as a man, but I’m also aware that’s what a lot of people see when they look at me. Which doesn’t matter to me as long as they keep their opinions to themselves.
And here I am, with not one, but two gorgeous guys who want me as I come. I can’t believe my luck.
“Happy Valentine’s to us,” Carter says to Ev, and they both smile.
“So where are we going?” I ask.
Ev puts the car in drive and drives off to the city center. As expected, it’s bustling with life. Half the restaurants on the main strip are decorated with heart balloons and bunting and the other half are moodily lit up with candles and pink lighting.
We stop in front of Gustavo’s and Carter gets out. He walks up to the backdoor and opens it for me to help me step out.
My heart does some crazy-ass somersaults at the gesture, and I don’t know how to stop it from bursting out of me.
“I’ll be right in,” Ev says behind us and drives off to park in the underground parking of the restaurant.
I look at the front door and the line of people waiting to get a table and look back at Carter.
“Please tell me we have a reservation,” I ask. “Because these heels are awesome and everything, but fuck standing in line.”
Carter holds my hand up to his mouth and kisses the back of it and then walks with me toward the door.
“We have a reservation,” he says.
We march up to the host, and he gives his name. The host types it up on a laptop and then ushers us through the restaurant.
The place is full of tables of two and people turn their heads as we pass them by. Carter lets go of my hand and places it around my back, standing a little taller next to me. I’m loving the attention and most of all how much pride Carter takes in being with me. It’s like he’s both showing me off and protecting me.
“Here you go,” the host says and sits us at a square table equipped with four chairs. He helps both Carter and me to our seats and then passes us the menus he’s holding.
Carter orders a bottle of water for the table while we’re waiting for Ev and the host nods and leaves.
“How hard was it to get a table for three? Be honest,” I ask Carter when we’re alone again.
Carter chuckles. “Well, they were surprised by the number, but they fit us in.”
“I really like this place. Whose idea was it to come here?”
“Both of ours?” Carter says and shrugs. I raise an eyebrow. “Fine. Ev told me about your chat at Dough Bros, so he knew you’d like it here. And I’m always game for a good pizza, so it’s a win-win. Win.”
I laugh and shake my head, but he’s got a point. This is the best restaurant to have Italian, so it definitely is a win. Or second best, after Dough Bros. Despite what Ev says about their deep-pan pizzas.
A waitress comes over to the table with a bottle of water, and she pours some in my glass when Carter takes it from her.
“Don’t worry about it. You guys are busy tonight. We’re perfectly capable of pouring our own water,” he says to her and smiles.
“Thanks. Can I get you some drinks, guys?”
“We’re waiting on one more person,” I tell her, and she nods.
If she’s surprised, she does a good job of hiding it.
“He won’t be long,” I say. “Just parking the car.”
“Perfect. I’ll be back in two minutes,” she says and starts walking away.
