Chapter Three

Muggy air clung to my skin, but I focused on the beer mug between my fingers. Dwelling on the heat in here wouldn't make it better. Neither would more warm beer, though. While sufficiently tipsy, my stomach was swirling too.

"Excuse me," I called, gaining the bartender's attention. "May I have a water?"

She smiled. "Sure thing, hon. Do you need some fries to soak up the beer?"

I shuddered at the thought of all that grease. "No thank you."

"Alright, here you go."

She was off again to serve the rowdy side of the bar closest to the pool hall. Most of the group migrated there over an hour ago, but I peeled away for some alone time. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened in the stairwell earlier.

Confusion through curiosity is what I dubbed it. He was handsome and kind, so maybe I'd like it? The thought process was rudimentary but I'd never been with anyone else.

The potential consequences, something my brain helpfully supplied only afterward, made my stomach lurch. Alienation from others for being gay, taking up Del's time that could be used for better things, and of course no children. How many times have I heard Mrs. Geiger rave about future granbabies with Del's looks?

I groaned and ran both hands through my hair. I shouldn't have said I'd try kissing him. That was rash and a choice we wouldn't be able to take back.

We couldn't do it. It would ruin everything.

I'm glad I got a moment to think this through. It was a miracle Del hadn't noticed me leaving. He was too busy teaching the girls how to play pool, and that was good. He just needed to experience life without me to realize he was better off elsewhere. Being alone was fine.

This was right.

So why did I keep glancing at the door?

I sighed and slouched forward, sipping the ice water slowly through a straw. The stool beside me rattled. My heart leapt into my throat as I turned to look, but it wasn't Del. An unfamiliar man sat there smiling at me.

"Never seen you here before."

His voice was tinted by a smooth drawl, five o'clock shadow stark against tan skin. I wasn't sure what to make of him with his work worn jeans and plaid tee shirt. He seemed like the opposite of a young nerd like me.

"I'm a new student at Redcrest."

"Ah," he replied with a dip of the chin, choopy hazelnut hair falling into his eyes. "Does this new student have a name?"

"Uri, and yours?"

"Asher. Do you drink whiskey?"

He tipped his pint glass toward me as he asked, swirling the copper liquid around. I tried not to recoil from the smell alone, feeling too fresh around the ears for this interaction.

Plus, Asher was most definitely older than me. I guestimated by about five or six years, but it could be more. His laugh lines around the eyes and mouth spoke of many happy nights. But those tired emerald eyes and calloused fingers told an even deeper story. The part of me that collected them like trophies perked up.

I decided to go out on a limb. "Uh, no, but I like mojitos."

Asher grinned, showing off perfect teeth save for one incisor crooked to the left. He raised his voice.

"A mojito for Uri, then."

"You got it, Ash."

The bartender took the order without stopping for a moment, whipping up drinks like a bat out of hell. I watched for a moment, mesmerized by her skill.

"You've never been to a bar before, have you?'

My gaze snapped back to Asher.

"Sure I have," I lied.

He didn't lose his smile. "Uh-huh. You're watching her make drinks like it's prime entertainment."

I shrugged while wiping my sweaty palms down the front of my jeans. The bartender came back before I think up a good lie, saving me.

"Hey, you leave him alone," she chided. "He's appreciating the craft."

"Exactly," I agreed, jumping on the band wagon and fishing out a ten to give to her for the drink and tip. She took it, waving it in Asher's face.

"See, he pays up front and tips me."

Asher frowned. "He didn't say you could keep the change."

"Keep the change."

He rolled his eyes while the woman cackled, stuffing the money into her bra. "You're cheeky, I like that. My name's Velma, Vel for short. Come by any time to talk or drink or both."

"Nice to meet you, and I will," I replied, smiling.

Maybe I was equipped for this interaction. All it took was a bit of liquid courage and sarcasm. Emboldened by this, I took a big drink of my cocktail while staring Asher down. He had no problen matching me, a bemused look on his face.

"You're so expressive," he murmured while propping his chin on one hand to lean closer. "Or are you just unguarded?"

I refused to let his proximity rattle me when his question already had. It was true. I didn't know how to hide the ways others delighted me. Unguarded wasn't the word I would use for it. Perhaps innocence in normalcy because I lacked it for so long.

"I know what to guard against. Pretty boys aren't on the list."

He chuckled, gaze brightening. "Few people have called me pretty. I'll take it as a compliment."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," I replied, taking the reins of the conversation. "What do you do for work to get all those callouses?"

Asher glanced down at his fingers wrapped around an empty glass smeared with condensation.

"Witty and observant," he murmured. "Maybe I'm the one who should be on guard."

I drained the rest of my drink, feeling the heat of alcohol take hold. Whenever that happened, my polite nature and anxiety were dulled. I narrowed my eyes on Asher.

"Skirting the question, are we?"

"Of course not. I'm a licensed weapons dealer and veteran. These are from war and knowing my way around a gun. Does that bother you?"

"Well, it depends," I began, raising a brow. "Are you selling them ethically?"

Asher huffed a laugh. "Yes. This isn't fiction, I'm not supplying the mob."

"Too bad, that'd make you more interesting."

The words slipped out and I was forced to stand by them as I sat back. The whole room moved with me, sound louder and easier to pick apart. I blinked, touching two fingers to my burning cheek. Shit. I'm drunk.

"Don't write me off just yet. Maybe there's a thing or two to learn about me. Reach out if you're interested."

I glanced up to find Asher towering over me, presenting a slip of paper between two fingers. I took it, pressing my lips together. Something about that offer felt loaded.

"See you around."

"Yeah, see you."

Asher left, the bell above the door jingling in fairwell. I didn't watch him leave, I was too busy starring at the phone number he just gave me. Was he picking me up? Like, flirting with me?

"Oh god."

"What? What's wrong?"

I crumbled the number in my fist before twirling around to face Del. "I drank too much."

His worry softened into amusement. "Is that a mojito glass?"

I nodded while staggering to my feet. Del held my elbows to steady me. "My drinking partner ordered it for me, but it was good."

His eyes slid to the whiskey glass and the set of keys still beside it. "Who was your drinking partner? Looks like they left something behind."

"We can give it to Vel. Asher drinks here often and had this interesting air about him. I don't know, I have to sketch it. I'm going to use him as inspiration."

Del's frown deepened. "How much older was he than us?"

"Does that matter between friends?"

The question came from behind Del's towering form. I peeked around him to smile at Asher. He waved, slipping by us to grab his keys. Then he squared up to Del, crossing his arms.

Del didn't back down. "If that's your true intention."

"We had a conversation, I gave him my number to chat in the future. What's so wrong with that?"

The two stood in identical threatening poses, glaring as the air around them almost froze. What the hell is going on?

"Nothing!" I cut in. "Geez, can we simmer down?"

Del looked away from Asher with a tsk. "Don't walk on thin ice."

"I'll do as I damn well please," Asher replied with finality. "Have a good night."

Then he strode away. Del watched him until the door slammed. He closed his eyes with a sigh. I didn't understand why he was so upset, and I was miffed by Del's behavior.

"Why'd you pick a fight with him?"

Del was rubbing his temples now. "I don't know. I'm kinda drunk, and after this afternoon, on edge when it comes to you."

I glanced away. "Oh. He wasn't being weird."

"Define weird while we walk home, yeah?"

"Only if you carry me on your back."

"Fine, you're lucky your light."

We walked out into the cool night air together, shoving back and forth like kids. I laughed, my breath fogging in front of me. As if seeing it triggered something, my whole body shivered.

Del immediately took off his jacket, helping my arms into it before turning to crouch down. "Hop on."

I climbed up and wrapped my arms around his neck, sighing into his warmth. Del easily stood and walked down the street, humming along the way. The vibrations soothed me after a long night of overstimulation.

My cheeks were still burning, maybe even more so now. Because of the cold. Because of the wind. Because of the alcohol.

Certainly not because of Del's overwhelming affection... no, certainly not.