Page 81 of Single Teddy
“I have no idea what you mean,” I replied.
“Sure. Sure. You have no clue.” Slade pressed his lips together and turned to stare at his coffee.
I watched him for a moment and took a sip of my drink before realization hit me.
“Joey told you, didn’t he?”
Slade laughed out loud.
“He may have let something slip.”
I huffed.
“Like?”
He shrugged again.
“Like dropping you off at Wesley’s and seeing you talk ‘passionately,’” he said, doing air quotes on the last word.
“Talking passionately? Is that what we call it now?” I asked.
“I think he was trying to be sensitive.”
I laughed.
“If he were trying to be sensitive, he wouldn’t have said anything.”
Slade put his hands up and leaned back in his chair.
“Hey, man, you know I’m a judgment-free zone. I’m not going to force you to tell me what may or may not have happened. But if you do want to talk…then I’m all ears.”
I put my hands around my coffee cup to warm my hands and stared at the table for a moment.
“So…” I said. “I had sex with Wesley.”
“Don’t you mean you hugged ‘passionately?’” Slade chuckled. “Sorry. I had to. Go on.”
I took a sip and continued.
“Well, it was my first time with a guy, sure, but…”
“But? Was it ugly? Did it go wrong? Did you not like it?”
“No, no. I did. I liked it all right. That’s what…surprised me.”
Slade narrowed his eyes.
“Oh…kay.”
“I mean, I’ve never been sexually active, or sexually interested even. Which was why it was weird. After…well, after it happened, I thought maybe I’m gay and that’s why I’ve never been interested in the women I’ve dated in the past, but Wesley said something and it got me thinking.”
Slade nodded, his gaze unwavering, like a sign he was truly listening.
“I think I’m graysexual…or something.”
“Okay. And how do you feel about that?”
I put my cup down and smiled.
