Chapter 11 Just dinner
Leon
Hoooooly shit! Holy shit on a motherfucking cracker!!!!
I can't believe tonight actually happened. I'm too wired to sleep by the time I get home, even though it's pushing eleven. I'm buzzing so hard I'm practically a sex toy. Hmm, kinky!
That was the best date I had in a long time and while it should feel weird that I spoke for like ninety percent of it, I have a feeling that getting Dexter to open up even the small amount that he did is a win.
He was such a confident and flirty guy the first night we met, so it felt a bit good to see him stunned a few times today.
I knew faking confidence would pay off, even though I was shaking like a leaf on the inside,so I used my verbal diarrhea skills to distract me from inner turmoil.
I feel the need to shout it from the rooftops, so I contemplate calling someone to tell them all about it.
But I'm still not ready to share this part of me with my family and I really don't need Ryan's logic bullshit to rain on my parade.
I should know though, that the mere thought of him will act as a third-level summoning, it only takes ten seconds to see his name on a FaceTime request. I ignore it and press the normal call function.
I really don't need him looking at my face since it's going to be a sure giveaway.
"Hi bro, how was it?" He goes straight to the point. Ok, I can do it! Keep it casual, Leon.
"Good, we talked and walked and had some small sandwiches. I think he's warming up to me and I'll have him calling me a friend in no time." There, that should do it.
"Ok, not bad. And you kept it casual?" I can sense the probing tone in his voice. Stay strong, Leon!
"Yep, totes casual." Who the fuck says 'totes'?
"Awesome, love to hear it! Still like the guy?"
I can feel my lower back starting to sweat. Stay strong, Leon! Don't give him anything!
"Sure do, he's awesome. I mean, he didn't talk much, but I could tell he was really into the stories I told him and then when I hugged him at the end he totally hugged me back and it didn't even feel awkward kissing him on the lips and...uhmmmm..." GODDAMN IT, LEON!
"Wait, back up. You kissed him?” He asks incredulously.
"Well, it was more of a quick peck. Really, it was more like nothing." As in, nothing will save me at this point.
"Dunno, Leon. I don't think it was nothing. I definitely don't kiss my friends on the lips." He tells me with disbelief.
"I used to kiss you all the time."
"Yeah, on the temple. And after a win."
"It was a win…" I grumble in a low voice.
"Well, it's not a bad thing if you like like him. I mean, I didn't know you swung that way, but you know I'd fully support you dating guys. Don't know about this specific guy though, he sounded a bit like a dick." He tells me in a soft voice.
I fake-gasp, "What have you done with my chill best friend? I didn't know you to be so judgy. But thanks for the support though, I appreciate it. Didn't know how you would react, I guess."
"Why would you think I would react badly? You know I experimented with guys in college and I'm not a fucking hypocrite." He says with a bit of outrage, but I'm stunned into silence. My mouth is gaping so hard a couple of flies probably flew in and made themselves at home.
"What do you mean you experimented in college? What the fuck, Ryan? You didn't feel like you could tell me?"
"I thought you knew!" He says back, almost instantly.
"Well I didn't! You never told me..." I explain.
The call cuts off and he calls with Facetime again. I relent and hit accept as I see his face fill up my screen, his eyebrows set down in a heavy expression. He starts speaking again in a calm, controlled voice.
"I genuinely thought you knew, Leon. I'm sorry. It's not something I was deliberately keeping from you or didn't trust you with. Honestly, I probably never told you since it wasn't anything worth telling." He finishes casually, but his eyes are assessing my reaction.
I quickly wipe the frown from my face, or rather do a bad job at trying to.
"Sorry, I was just shocked for a minute and let my mind think of the worst possible scenario.
I mean, you knew about my cousin so I hope you knew I wouldn't judge you.
It's just surprising to hear you experimented with guys, since I never really saw you that way.
" I tell him honestly and hope he doesn't take offense.
"That's fine, like I said, there wasn't much to tell.
And it wasn't really guys plural, it was one guy.
You remember Ray from my frat house, right?
Well, he thought he was bi and told me one night, we were a bit tipsy, so I kinda offered to be his guinea pig since I always thought he was hot, you know?
I mean, I heard about brojobs before, so I didn't think it was a big deal.
We hooked up twice, the kissing was good and I got off, but it didn't really do that much for me.
Figured I was just straight and moved on. " He tells me in one breath.
"Huh…" I respond with. Words are escaping me a bit in the middle of his revelation.
"Like I said, no big deal. But I definitely wouldn't judge you for kissing a guy." He lifts his shoulder on screen in a casual shrug. He really is the most chill guy I've ever met.
"Ok, noted. So how did you leave it with Ray?" I'm curious now and want more details, there aren’t many secrets between us.
"Uhm, didn't really go anywhere, he was a senior when I was a freshman, so he graduated shortly after.
Didn't think he took offense when I told him it wasn't for me.
I never did ask what conclusion he came to after our experiments and he didn't offer any more late-night chats.
" He shrugs again and although I feel there's something more there, I don't push it tonight.
"Thanks for telling me, Ryan. Anyway, full disclosure, I am not in fact being super casual but I managed to get him to agree to a date on Saturday and we swapped numbers. I really want to see where this thing goes, friendwise or... otherwise."
"Sounds good, man. I can't wait to hear all about it. Have an early practice so will jump in bed, but if you need anything just text." He tells me with a sweet smile on his face that lifts me up and erases all the anxiety I was feeling earlier.
"Will do, have a good night!" I end the call before I selfishly keep him on the line to bounce ideas while I research the perfect date for Dex.
I start looking at restaurants around his apartment, going down an internet rabbit hole of Yelp reviews and open menu PDFs so I can compare them side by side.
Research has always been the part of my job I enjoy most, since I'm so good at it.
I end up with a few good options of different cuisines and price points that are walking distance from his building on 30th street.
I might have saved a pin when I was walking away from him tonight in a non-creepy way.
It's just the gentlemanly thing to do, so I can pick him up with flowers on our date on Saturday.
Flowers are something I always bring on dates, in part because they're so nice and in part because chicks dig flowers.
Would it be weird to bring him flowers, because he's a guy?
No, that's a weird stereotype and I won't play into it.
Guys can like plants and flowers, I'm living proof of this.
I spend another ten minutes researching flower shops near him and think of a nice arrangement for a first date.
I find a cute boutique not too far that sells purple roses that immediately remind me of Dexter, so I put an order in for Saturday and request they pair with other flowers that would look good in an arrangement.
I can't wait to see his face, I'm so excited now I don't think I'll sleep for the rest of the night.
Good thing I have a surprise coffee date at 10am wink, wink.
I go back to the restaurants, if I can only nail my choice today then I'm all set for Saturday and will hopefully get the reservation without a hitch.
There's a nice modern european that's a bit on the pricey side, but then again so are all the restaurants in the area.
My savings are in a good place from staying rent-free and making a good salary, so I can splurge on this because I really want Dex to enjoy himself.
This place has a bit of everything and caters to all dietary requirements, but feels a bit stuffy for Dexter.
He looks like a really high-end guy with his fancy suits and styled persona, but for some reason, he doesn't scream fine dining to me.
The Ethiopian place looks interesting, but I'm not sure how he would feel about it.
He seemed to enjoy the small sandwiches and jam scones I brought on our park date from a cute British-themed tea place this afternoon and those were all pretty mild tasting in terms of flavors.
The one that really speaks to me is a small French bistro that does a steak, frites and fried egg combo.
The place is really small though, so I doubt I could get a reservation for Saturday.
I put in an enquiry before I get second thoughts.
I rely on intuition a lot and while I can admit I'm pretty clueless sometimes, I've never been on a date I didn't nail and Dex is really giving me steak vibes.
Not as in, he is a steak, although the way he smells is seriously snack-inducing.
I was so lost in his scent while I was hugging him, my lips went to his mouth without even processing it.
It felt natural and I'm rolling with it.
I really, really want to know though if Dex is a steak guy and while common sense dictates I should wait and ask him when I see him for coffee tomorrow, I really want to text him.
Besides, if he's asleep, he'll just see my text in the morning, right?
I pull out a new chat with him and immediately start to type.