|
"Women, Ray. I'm sorry, but I like women." He
inhaled deeply, somehow sadly, meeting Ray's eyes, which were narrowed with
scepticism. Ray glanced pointedly to where Fraser's hand still secured Ray's
to his thigh like a butterfly pinned to a cork. Following his gaze, Fraser
snatched away his hand. "I'm just... sorry."
Reluctantly, Ray reclaimed his hand, grasping the
steering wheel like a life preserver. This guy was rocking his world, and
not in a good way. "No, Fraser. I'm sorry. I musta read your signals wrong.
I thought you were coming on to me tonight. You know, we just met, you asked
me out, picked up the cheque, let me take you home." Where was the flaw in
his reasoning? He was good at going on instinct. He'd built his career on
it. He felt in his gut that Fraser found him attractive. But no means no,
right? He shoulda known.
Fraser's apology had taken on a life of its own.
"I'm terribly sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I did wish to
compensate you for your time by taking you to dinner. And, to be totally
honest, I did have an ulterior motive: a hidden agenda, as they say."
Ray waited for him to finish. Another abortive
raid on the eyebrow.
Fraser seemed to be having difficulty with this
part. "I, ah, well, I enjoyed the time we spent together, and I, um, don't
have many friends, and I rather wanted you to have dinner with me." Fraser
appeared to be working this out as he went along. "So it's no wonder you
arrived at the wrong conclusion. It's entirely my fault for giving you the
incorrect impression. I really must apologize, Ray."
"No. Frase. It's not you. I'm just an aggressive
son of a bitch. I had no right. And then I--" Ray flopped back in his seat.
"I suck. I just... suck." |
"Is that another offer, Ray? Because I'm afraid I
must decline that as well, although no doubt you are very good at it."
Whatthefuck? Oh, shit. "No. No. I didn't mean
that. I'm done coming on to you. I get it. I get it. I meant I suck. I'm an
asshole. A jerk. It's no biggie." Jesus. What word didn't have homoerotic
connotations? "An idiot. I didn't mean--I wasn't referring to--Oh, shit. I'm
really sorry."
The car windows were milky with fog, not from
heavy breathing, but from the blushing heat pouring off both men.
"Oh, well, then. I'm afraid I must apologize then.
I assumed--"
"I'll get your stuff from the trunk." Fraser
looked grateful for the interruption and the chance of escape.
A few more "sorry's were exchanged; there was
another rough moment when Fraser accidentally covered Ray's fingers with his
own as he retrieved his gym bag. Then Fraser was heading up the walk.
Climbing back into the driver's seat, Ray turned
the key in the ignition.
"No sugar tonight in my coffee. No sugar tonight
in my tea."
"Shut the fuck up, Cummings!" Ray savagely spun
the old radio dial.
"Alone again, natura--"
Click! The loaner T-Bird slipped through the night
like a ghost. Ray wondered how hard it would be to replace the broken radio
knob. |
