Page 4 of Absolutely Pucked
Or I could just tell him the truth and see what he said. It worked for Tucker, apparently. And Boden hooked up all the time. Even Micah and Jonah had no problem pulling whoever they wanted, and neither of them had eyes, so…what was one little leg?
Right?
My pep talk was not working.
My stomach felt like it was trying to live in my throat as I slid onto the barstool, and the guy looked over at me. There was something about him that set off my internal alarms, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. I swayed in slightly and sniffed. He didn’t smell. Well, he had that sort of gym shampoo scent about him, but that wasn’t something I’d hold against the guy.
And while he was unkempt, his clothes were clean, and his nails were trimmed, so yeah. He was just a guy. My gut was clearly having issues today.
“I’m Ford.” I wasn’t sure if I should go Boden’s route and give a fake name, but I also didn’t have famous parents, so…
“Hey.”
Alright. No name. “Can I buy you a drink?” I really didn’t have the budget for it, but whatever. I’d borrow some cash from Bodie if I had to.
“I’m, uh…I’m good.” He tried for a smile, and his cheeks looked hollow.
Motherfuck. “Dinner?”
He sucked in half a breath, then shook his head. “I’m good with my water.”
Tapping my chin, I bit my lip and glanced at the stairs. They’d be a real bitch to get up, but I could do it. I’d been navigating life with a knee and ankle made out of hinges and titanium for sixteen years of my life.
“I’m going to order a big-ass plate of appetizers and then take it upstairs to one of those rooms. Max over there”—I jerked my chin toward them—“gave me the key. It would be kind of cool if you joined me.”
The guy stared at me for a beat. “I’m…Ian.”
Probably not his real name, but I wasn’t expecting much. The fact that he gave it at all was progress. But I couldn’t keep at this all night. I needed to just…put it all out there. “I was also hoping for a fuck, but we can just eat fried foods and talk about why life’s so shitty if you want.”
His lips twitched behind his thick beard, and he huffed a wheezing sort of laugh. “It’s been a while for me.”
“With anyone or with a guy?”
“Both. High school for guys. It was my experimental phase.” His voice was rough but also weirdly familiar. He was probably just one of those guys. “If I suck at it?—”
“I mean, sucking is good in this case,” I said with a wink.
He snorted. “Fair enough.”
“Wait here. Don’t leave.”
A beat passed, and then Ian said, “Nowhere to go right now.”
I wouldn’t let that get to me. I absolutely fucking would not. Sliding off the stool, I walked to the other end of the bar and waved Max over. “Can I get your, like, biggest appetizer thing that we can take upstairs? Something that will feed a grown man?”
“Two grown men?” Max asked with a smirk.
“I’ll happily give him my share if I need to.” I dug my phone out of my pocket and pulled up Boden’s contact. “Give me three minutes, and I’m going to start a tab.”
Me: Babe. Can you ask your daddy to borrow like two hundred bucks for me?
Boden: Never call him that again. Why do you need two hundred bucks?
Me: Will you accept that it’s a sex thing?
Boden: No.
Me: A secret?
