Page 44 of Brooklyn Cupid

“So, Tito, what do you do?” I ask, changing the topic. I know quite a bit about Lu. I know Becky is a talent scout and an entrepreneur, with a double major in business management and arts administration.

Tito is a mystery. I like him. His overly seductive gazes don’t make me uneasy, I’m not sensitive like that. I could’ve been friends with him if his thoughts about me didn’t involve sex, and I’m pretty sure they do.

Becky slides her arm around Tito’s shoulders. “He’s the brain of our little circle.”

Tito lifts his chin with what looks like a proud look on his face.

“Chromatography,” he says.

I take a gulp of beer and frown. I know what that is, but I’m not sure I heard it right. Tito? Really?

Becky is narrowing her eyes at me in triumph.

Tito’s lips curl in a smirk.

“You do chemical analysis?” I ask, and their faces fall in an instant. “You work in a lab? What company?”

He’s startled that he didn’t throw me off with the chemical term. He would’ve if I didn’t have a buddy in the army who wanted to go to college for chromatography, so I know all about it.

“Analytical chemist,” Tito explains, seemingly impressed with my knowledge. “I work in research and development for a pharmaceutical company that specializes in cancer research.”

“Wow. I would’ve never guessed,” I murmur, and judging by the slightly irritated flash in Tito’s gaze, that was the wrong comment.

“Whatwasyour guess?” he asks, a little too hostile. “Wait, wait, wait for it”—his lips curl in a mocking smirk—“fashion designer? Stylist? Hairdresser?”

I shake my head with an embarrassed smile. He is right, a hundred fucking percent.

“Because I’m queer?” he insists.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I apologize.

“Maybe I have a chihuahua, too? Or a cat? And like nail polish?” He widens his eyes at me in mock surprise.

“Sorry, I made an assumption.”

“You think?”

Easy, tiger.

Lu cuts in. “Jesus, Tito, what’s with you tonight?”

“Assumptions can be insulting, Jace,” Tito continues.

I feel like a dick. It’s just he never talked about his work, and I’ve never met anyone who does cutting-edge medical research in their mid-twenties.

I’m about to ask him about his work when he nods toward Becky.

“You’d never guess looking at our Becky that she used to sell pictures of her feet online.”

“Oh, gaaawd,” Becky drawls, and Tito barks out a laugh.

I stare at Becky for a moment before I catch myself. Suddenly, the pictures of feet on Lu’s phone make sense.

“How did that go?” I ask, hiding a smile. Becky is not as straight as an arrow as she comes across at first.

She doesn’t even flinch. “Profitable if done right.”

Fucking Becky—this girl probably beats Roey in the crazy shit she’s into. Where the hellisRoey?

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