Page 98 of ILY
“I mean, I’d love to talk about it. I thought you weren’t into guys.”
He shrugs and then pulls out a protein shake from the fridge. “Didn’t think so either, but last night, I got a little curious.”
“Jesus,” I say with a small laugh. “Curious with Roman?”
He shrugs and takes a long swig of his shake. “I don’t know. I mean, the dude is always giving me shit, then he turns up at the club with us, and after a few drinks, he won’t leave me alone. I figured what the hell.”
What the hell is a good word for it. Roman has made it obvious Dex gives him a boner, but the man is not quiet about his rules for fucking and dating.
“So, did you two?—”
“Mm, no. I’m done talking about Roman. How about we talk about the tooth and your serial killer aunt?”
“Oh god, please no. I think that subject is giving me a stress ulcer.” I grimace because it’s half-true, and he sighs and takes pity on me.
“Alright. Come on. Let’s go sit outside and watch the geese. Sometimes they chase the joggers into the lake, and it’s fucking hilarious.”
“Oh, that sounds delightful. Is that why you bought this place? To watch the carnage?”
“Hey, I need something to do with my afternoons,” he says as we lower ourselves into the chairs and prop our feet up. I sip on my cucumber water, and Dex finishes off his shake.
It gets easy after that. Relaxing in a way I don’t expect. We talk about everything except Roman and my aunt Lynda. He tells me about the gym, a few classes he’s running, and how his ASL lessons are going.
“I’ve never been good with languages. Not like Thom. Give me complicated accounting concepts, and I’m a whiz, but sometimes in class, it feels like my hands were put on backward. And there are so many things I want to know now so I can talk with the people already in my life, but Denver says we’re nowhere near that type of conversation.”
I feel for him. I really do. Too many people walk into ASL class thinking that there’s going to be one sign for every word. That it’s going to be an even exchange between ASL and English, so all they’re going to have to do is memorize signs, and they’ll be golden.
I’ve seen the way hearing people’s eyes glaze over when Deaf people start talking about culture or history or why the language is the way it is. And the number of times I’ve had to interpret the question, ‘Don’t you think sign language should be universal?’ makes me want to throw myself into the sun.
But Dex isn’t like that. He seems genuinely determined to learn, and genuinely frustrated with what he’s not getting. So as much as I hate it, I want to help.
“Well, I’ve got nothing to do right now,” I tell him. “I can teach you some things.”
His eyes glint with something like joy, and he leans forward. ‘You sure?’ he signs.
I nod my fist. ‘Yes.’
And of course, all of the words he wants to know veer toward things like good boy, so pretty, and harder. I probably should make him wait, pay his dues in class before he can learn to dirty talk someone—oh, who am I kidding. I know he wants to dirty talk Roman.
I can’t help but think someone like Dex will be good for Roman. And fuck, I want to see this unfold just for the drama of it all.
I’m halfway through showing Dex how to properly tell someone—Roman—how to get down on their knees when my phone buzzes.
Thom: We’re here. Robbie is not thrilled about being dragged out of the house. Be nice to him.
Me: I’m always nice.
I set my phone down and smile at Dex. “Your brother and Robbie are here. Want to go for a walk and see if we can get the geese to chase your brother into the lake?”
Dex bursts into laughter. “Fuck yeah.”
The sliding back door opens a few minutes later, and Thom walks in, looking brighter and more refreshed than any man has any right to be. Robbie, on the other hand, looks as ragged as I do.
I cast him a sympathetic smile, and his lips twitch like he’s trying for one but fails. He’s listing into Thom’s side, and his boyfriend quickly puts an arm around him to help prop him up.
‘Come on,’ Dex says after waving his hand to get Robbie’s attention. Robbie’s eyes look slightly crossed, but he manages to fix his gaze on Dex anyway. ‘We need walk. Get TOXINS outside body.’
Robbie looks like he wants to do a murder, especially when Thom looks overly excited about the prospect of doing even more workouts. Before Robbie can blow a gasket, I wave him over.
