Page 11 of Submit
Chapter Six
“What the hell have I done?” Larry checked his appearance in the mirror again. His complexion was clear—and he hadn’t gone for a spray tan since the last one had worn off.
If he were honest with himself, he knew it was because Bo had told him he’d prefer Larry without the tan. It’d been so long since Larry had seen his pale skin, he felt…naked.
The tan had hidden the blueskin under his eyes, or at least made it less noticeable. Still, he didn’t look too bad, he supposed.
“Fuck it.” It wasn’t as if he were going on a date. He and Bo would be discussing what they’d do for a scene.
Except that conversation could have happened at the club.
“It’s just dinner so we can talk about my issues.” There. That sounded better. Well, except for the part about Larry havingissues.Who doesn’t have issues, for fuck’s sake? Ugh!
Turning away from the mirror, Larry stuck his cell phone in his back pocket. His jeans were tight, but not ball-squashers. Hehatedthose pencil-thin skinny jeans that were still popular after years of compressing a guy’s junk.
“And I’m stalling.” And distracting himself. His heart pounded as he headed toward the door. If he didn’t get amove on, he’d be late, and Larry despised tardiness.
“Not a date.” He’d keep saying that until he felt a little less panicked.
Outside, the air was humid, and he would have started sweating if there hadn’t been a decent, cool breeze blowing his way. He strode down the street, grimacing as his hair whipped about in the wind. So much for all his styling and primping. He’d have one solid knot ofhair when he reached the restaurant.
He was irritated and excited, which made him more irritated. He didn’t date. He fucked and he subbed. Dating wasn’t something he’d bothered with in a very long time.
“This isn’t a date!”
The lady walking past him gave him a nervous glance, then surprised him by asking, “So what if it is?” before she walked on.
What if it is? No, Bo said it wasn’t a date—butdid he say that because I’m such a prickly fucker? Or does he not—“Ugh!” He was going to drive himself crazy wondering.
Larry didn’t think about dates or anything else for the next few blocks. He imagined the renovations still coming for Jen’s Soup Kitchen. The money Larry had donated had already made a huge difference in the soup kitchen, but there was still more work to be done.
“Hey.”
Larry stopped, looked up from the sidewalk and realized he was at the restaurant—and Bo was waiting outside for him.
Bo looked hot as fuck, too, dressed all in black with leather cuffs around each wrist.
“Do I pass inspection?” Bo asked. “You look great.”
Larry blushed and pushed several strands of hair out of his eyes. “Uh, you look great, too. My hair—”
“Is fine. I like the tousled look,not that—” Bo huffed. “Man, come on. Let’s eat before we both make fools out of ourselves.”
At least Larry wasn’t the only one feeling nervous. He laughed and tucked his hair behind his ears. “Yeah, okay. I just, you know. I haven’t dated since I was in my early twenties, really, and I keep telling myself this isn’t a date, but it feels like one.”
Bo opened the restaurant door for him. “Yeah?It does, doesn’t it? But you don’t want that, so we’re here to talk. Like friends.”
“Huh.” Larry entered the restaurant and waited for Bo to stand beside him. Bo talked to the hostess, who led them to a table out on the back patio.
“Thanks, Sharna.” Bo started to reach for Larry’s chair, then stopped and sat down.
“Would you like me to put in a drink order for you both, or would you preferto wait for Ansley to serve you?” Sharna asked.
“I’d love a glass of water, no lemon, please.”
Larry noted that Bo requested water, no wine.Does that mean we’ll be playing later?“I’ll have water also.”Just in case.
“I’ll have Ansley bring your drinks right out.” Sharna smiled, then left them alone.
