Chapter 15
JAY
Between his sisters insisting Jay had to ask Aaron out as soon as possible, and the memory of Aaron’s soft voice in his ear as their bodies pressed together playing on repeat in his brain, Jay’s next steps should have been clear.
He no longer had the luxury of an excuse that Aaron wasn’t into him.
The way he’d devoured Jay’s body with his eyes, that sweet pink tongue peeking out of his mouth and trailing along his firm lips, as if demonstrating what it wanted to do to Jay’s skin, the heat of their embrace, the subtext of the whispered Yes, please—everything about Aaron’s behavior pointed to him being interested in Jay.
It was time to ask Aaron on a date.
Except every time Jay tried to picture the next move, his mind went blank. He was completely, utterly paralyzed. The sense of ease from the soccer game had evaporated, replaced with restless anxiety.
He still responded to Aaron’s texts. With hours to obsess over every word, he managed to send off two, maybe three messages a day.
Thankfully, Aaron was busy with work and hadn’t noticed Jay’s sudden change, but the weekend was drawing near.
Soon, Jay would see Aaron in person, possibly wearing the sexiest skirt in the world.
Would he finally get over himself and do something, or would he stand by and watch someone else sweep Aaron off his feet?
He was saved from having to answer these questions when Aaron messaged him Thursday morning.
AARON: Do you want to grab a drink tonight? I feel like between work and the club, I haven’t had any alcohol in ages. Also, are we even friends if we’ve never gotten drunk together?
Jay read the message three times in a row before breathing out a giant sigh of relief. Nothing in Aaron’s text hinted at this being anything more than a friendly outing, but Jay could work with that. He was ready to start taking baby steps toward something bigger—now that Aaron had opened the door.
JAY: You read my mind. There’s a great happy hour spot just a few blocks from your place.
AARON: Would it be super unhip of me to admit that I’d rather go to a nice quiet cocktail bar where we can sit down and hear ourselves talk?
JAY: You drive a hard bargain. Would your majesty also prefer somewhere without sticky floors?
AARON: What if I promise to pay for the drinks?
JAY: Say less. I know a place with a three-page menu of craft cocktails. Their ice cubes are obnoxiously round and clear.
AARON: You’re a treasure trove of useful information when you’re properly motivated.
AARON: I’m not working late tonight for once. What time works for you?
JAY: I’m remote today, so I can be there around 5:30?
AARON: Can’t wait :)
Jay sent Aaron the name of the bar and checked the time. He had hours to go, and his mind was already running away from him, imagining best- and worst-case scenarios.
The night could end in explosive sex or in the crushing disappointment of rejection. Possibly in a chaste kiss with a promise of more. Or maybe in a polite brush-off.
But it could also end with the status quo intact—and that was the scenario that scared Jay most.
He could handle disappointment. At least with the sting of rejection, he would finally have an answer. But if the night simply stopped after a few drinks and a handful of stolen glances, Jay would be in the same situation he was in now—uncertain, suspended in time, delaying the inevitable.
One way or another, Jay was determined to break the status quo tonight.
A trill of an incoming call from his laptop pulled him out of the spiral. Erica’s name flashing on the screen made Jay’s stomach drop. He’d had every intention of seriously considering her offer, but all he’d done so far was put it off till later.
Jay put in his earbud with a sigh and clicked the Join button. “Good morning.”
“I have a call with a potential client in a few minutes, and they asked you to join. Are you free?” She didn’t even bother with a greeting, which spoke volumes about how hectic her morning had been.
He didn’t mind Erica’s frantic calls, which usually resulted in him dropping his projects to do some last-minute work, and was already rearranging his schedule in his head when her words registered.
“They asked for me?” He couldn’t hide the incredulity in his voice.
“They asked for the person working with the school system, and they weren’t talking about Kyle. Whoever referred them must have had a lot of good things to say about you,” she teased.
“Okay, yeah, I’ll join, though I’m not sure how much I can contribute.
” Jay’s head was spinning. He was just a programmer, right?
Sure, he’d taken some calls when Kyle, the project manager, sent them over.
He’d patiently walked the school officials through his designs and the science behind them.
And he’d gone out to a few schools to train people on the sensor setup when everyone on the field team was too busy to go.
But that’s what being a lead programmer meant, right? Pitching in when no one else was available?
Deep down, Jay knew that wasn’t the case. Lead programmers were in charge of the code, letting the other teams deal with everything else. They didn’t take ownership of the entire project.
They didn’t know everyone on the client team by name.
“Thanks, Jay.” She paused long enough for Jay to wonder if she’d hung up without saying goodbye. “I hope you’ve had some time to think over the offer. Let’s talk next week.”
He had until next week to decide what to do, which was a lucky break because he could only handle one existential problem at a time, and Aaron was higher priority.
Between the meeting, which went well enough for Erica to send Jay five thumbs-up emojis in a row, and testing his code, he stayed busy the rest of the day.
As soon as the clock struck 4:30, he hurried through a shower, spending longer than usual grooming himself, smiling at the mirror as he shaved and combed his hair into a neat arrangement, and adding a splash of cologne to complete the process.
Going with his gut, he pulled out a deep purple button-down shirt his sister got him in an effort to dress him like an adult.
The cocktail bar he’d chosen was more upscale than he was used to.
Sure, they wouldn’t turn him away for wearing a T-shirt, but he wouldn’t look favorable compared to everyone else.
Besides, Aaron hadn’t seen Jay outside of his usual attire. While Jay wasn’t conceited about his looks, he was aware of his assets and how to play them up. Tonight, it would be his secret weapon.
It was too late to search his closet for dress pants, so he threw on his trusty black jeans and inspected his reflection. It didn’t look like he was trying too hard, but it was obvious he’d made an effort.
Obvious was good.
He strode into the cocktail bar a few minutes late after barely finding a parking spot on a side street.
Aaron was already there, at a low table in the back, engrossed in the menu, only lifting his head when Jay stopped a few feet away.
His eyes widened as they raked over Jay’s body, lingering on his forearms before returning to his face.
“Holy shit, you look incredible,” Aaron breathed out and slowly stood from his seat.
“I’m not sure whether to take the compliment or assume that I look like a bum the rest of the time,” Jay teased.
“Take the compliment,” Aaron said, his gaze still roaming.
“I figured I’d dress up a bit so you wouldn’t be stuck with a nerd wearing a hoodie at a fancy place.”
“You’re just fishing. You know you look just as hot in your T-shirts and hoodies as you do right now. This is just…different.”
Jay preened. Aaron’s reaction was even better than he’d expected. “Thank you.” He leaned over to deliver a quick kiss to Aaron’s cheek before they took their seats.
“So what’s good here? They got Bud Light?” Jay reached for the menu.
“Stop it.” Aaron batted his hand away with a laugh. “I forgot to ask, is it okay for you to drink with your migraines?”
“It’s fine. I know I got one the first night we met, but I promise, they’re very rare. And either way, alcohol’s never been a trigger for me.”
“In that case, you’re definitely getting an overpriced cocktail with a ridiculous name. What do you like?”
“Gin. Tequila. Nothing too sweet.”
“I’ll pick something.”
By the time their server arrived with two glasses of sparkling water, Aaron had gone through the entire cocktail list. Jay enjoyed watching his facial expressions—pursing his lips in distaste, tilting his head in thought, and even rolling his eyes at one of the entries.
“Good evening, gentlemen. What can I get for you tonight?” The server gave a slight nod and angled his body toward Jay, who had no idea how to answer. He hadn’t even touched the menu.
He was about to throw a panicked glance Aaron’s way when Aaron said, “I will have the Aztec Candy, the gentleman will have a Moonlit Canvas, and we’ll take the cheese board for the table.” Aaron spoke calmly, not bothered by the fact that the server wasn’t even looking in his direction.
“Of course.” The server’s expression remained impassive as he turned to Aaron. “The cheeseboard is typically paired with wine. Would you like to see our wine list?”
“No, thank you.” Aaron offered a polite smile. “I think it’ll pair perfectly with tequila.”
“Damn.” Jay shook his head when they were alone again. “This place is intense.”
“I’m surprised you recommended it. It doesn’t seem like your style.” Aaron took a sip of water, his long, elegant fingers gently wrapped around the glass.
Fuck, Jay wanted to be that glass.
Ripping his attention away from the drop of water trailing down Aaron’s hand, he shook his head.
“Oh, it’s not. I came here once for a work thing.
We were celebrating the end of a large project, and our boss brought us here and let us loose.
I don’t think the staff appreciated a bunch of nerds crawling all over the place, asking what beers they had on tap. ”
Aaron giggled. “Sounds like a night to remember. Did your boss learn his lesson?”
“Her lesson, and yes.” Jay chuckled, remembering Erica’s eye rolls at the next staff meeting. “We went to normal bars after that.”
“Well, I appreciate you foregoing normal for tonight and bringing me here.” Aaron lowered his voice. “This is exactly what I needed.” His gaze set Jay on fire, and the sly smile made him wonder whether Aaron was talking about the bar or the two of them sitting there together.
The server dropped off their drinks, and Jay carefully slid his glass closer, captivated by its shape—tall and elegant, with a slender stem and a wide, shallow bowl.
The liquid inside was a mesmerizing blue, shimmering across the surface.
A single leaf floated on top, crisp and symmetrical.
How many leaves were discarded before they found the perfect one?
“What is this?” He pointed to his drink. “It’s fucking beautiful.”
Aaron smiled and leaned in. “Gin cocktail with some elderflower and crème de violette for the color. Oh, and a splash of prosecco on top to make it look like it’s moving. Is it moving?”
Aaron held his breath, eyes fixed on Jay’s glass, while Jay, just as still, watched him instead.
“I think I see a little ripple,” Aaron whispered and looked up.
“I see it too,” Jay whispered back without breaking eye contact.
A shy smile played on Aaron’s lips as he straightened out in his seat.
“Nothing so exciting here.” He gestured at his own drink in a low glass with a short stem.
It reminded Jay of a brandy glass, but instead of brandy, it was full to the brim with colors—yellow, red, blue, purple.
Somehow, they didn’t mix with each other, and the impressive display was true to its name—everything about it looked like candy.
“What is it?” Jay asked.
“Tequila and a dozen different kinds of sugar.” Aaron picked up his drink, carefully bringing it to his lips. “I didn’t expect it to be quite so large. I’m not sure I can handle this much sugar.”
He could. By the time their cheese board arrived, most of Aaron’s drink was gone, and he was searching the menu for the next one.
Jay wasn’t far behind, selecting the next cocktail on his own, then recusing himself from future picks upon the first taste.
Apparently, Aaron knew what Jay would like better than Jay did.
Soft music piped in through hidden speakers, swirling in the air.
Their corner was dark, lit only by the flickering candles at the center of the table.
As they talked, Aaron angled his chair closer and closer until they sat side by side, their voices low.
Distant sounds of clanking glasses and muffled conversations barely reached them, letting Jay pretend they were in a world of their own.