by J. M. Snyder
It was strange, though. Over the next few weeks, people who’d ignored me or had made fun came up to my desk every so often, and they seemed to really want to be around me. Many apologized for their behavior toward me in the past and I wondered if Heather had been the poison in the department. Still, it was nice to be asked to lunch, or if I wanted to hang out after work. I rarely said “yes” because, hey, I was a guy who preferred to stay at home and watch my shows and go to bed at a certain time. That hadn’t changed.
If Jaiden asked…well, I hadn’t seen the man, so it hardly mattered. I’d been tempted to text him or email a dozen times, but it just didn’t seem the right thing to do.
But on Valentine’s Day, I found a red envelope on my desk with my name on it. The department was decked in red ribbons and white balloons. It was what they normally did, but the card was new.
I sat down and logged into my computer before opening the envelope. It might be a prank, but Heather usually did those and she wasn’t here anymore. In fact, the new guy who now sat next to me was kind of nice.
I pulled out the card. It had a red heart on the outside. Inside was written, Have dinner with me tonight? The handwriting looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure why. It had a date and time of this evening at seven for a swank Italian restaurant. It was signed Jaiden. I’d never seen Jaiden’s handwriting. I almost dropped the card when I read his name. He wants to have dinner with me?
After calming a bit, I quickly sent a text saying “yes, I would love to have dinner.” He didn’t respond, but I assumed he was probably in a meeting or something.
I could hardly keep my mind on work the rest of the day, as you could imagine. I left at five on the dot and rushed home, took a shower, and consulted my resident fashionista, who was shockingly not watching gay porn.
“Is this a date with Jaiden? Because you need to dress to impress and put out.”
“What? No!” I replied. “I haven’t had sex in so long I might as well be a virgin. Dinner is more than enough for now, thank you very much.”
Anderson rolled his eyes. “You should always be prepared. Maybe you should watch some gay porn. Loosen you up a bit.” He winked and I groaned.
“No.” As usual, he ignored me and helped me pick out a pale pink shirt and gray slacks with a matching blazer. Then he went to the bathroom and brought back two condoms.
“You never know,” was all he said before shoving me out in the hallway with my wallet, keys, and cell phone. “Go get ‘em, Tiger,” he said. “Albert will be over later, so take your time coming home, or wear earplugs.” He grinned and shut the door in my face.
* * * *
The restaurant was elegant and luxurious. I told the hostess I was waiting for someone and she led me to a secluded corner with candles on the table. It was February 14th, after all. I thanked her and asked for sparkling water as I settled in to wait. And wait.
Three hours later, after sending numerous texts without getting a response, I gave up on the evening and ordered a salad and more water for myself. Was this some kind of joke? Jaiden hadn’t seemed to be the kind of person to do something like this, but then, what did I know? Apparently, I was a poor judge of character.
I left the restaurant and decided not to go home right away. I didn’t want to deal with Anderson and Albert going at it, or their sympathetic glances when the story came pouring out. Instead, I wandered the streets, taking in the sight of couples huddled together in the cold, some kissing, others holding hands.
I didn’t even seem to feel the snowflakes as they started to fall an hour later. I wasn’t dressed for the weather, but I was numb to my surroundings. Would I ever find someone who would take me as is, dork and all, and live happily ever after? I should get my head out of the clouds. Up there, in my dreams, everything was perfect. Down here, reality kicked my ass every single day. But at least I knew it was real.
When I finally got home, it was after midnight and I was shivering almost violently. The door to Anderson’s room was shut, and I couldn’t hear anything, so he and Albert were probably sleeping.
I opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of Perrier. I carried the sparkling water to the wide window that gave a great view of the city—a city full of people with loved ones and secure in their happiness. When would I ever have that? I hoped I wouldn’t have to get cats when I turned forty. I was allergic.
I sat on the ledge, lost in thought, until my phone buzzed in my pocket. Frowning, especially since no one ever texted me so late at night, I looked at the screen and almost threw the phone across the room.
Jaiden: What dinner are you talking about and why the frantic texts?
Really? He was going to pretend like nothing happened?
Me: I got a card signed by you saying you wanted to have dinner tonight.
Ha! Let him try to worm his way out of that.
Jaiden: I didn’t send you a card, though I should have. I’ve been in Toronto for weeks and I won’t get back until March.
Oh. fuck. If he didn’t send it, then who…?
Shit, this had Heather written all over it, that vindictive little viper.
I went to the kitchen to grab the card off the counter and look at it more closely. Yes, that was her handwriting. Goddamnit. I felt like such a dumbass as I texted Jaiden again.
Me: Never mind, I just figured it out. It was just some prank. Sorry to bother you.
Instead of sending a message, Jaiden called. “You’re not a bother. You never were. I wish I was there to prove it to you, but the day after my party I had to leave town for work, and it had to do with that project you worked on for me. Great job, by the way.”
I swallowed and decided to lay my cards on the table. “What’s there to prove? Heather was right about one thing. You are way out of my league, and whatever silly dreams might have been running through my head were just that. I don’t even know if I want to stay with the company. I’ve spent so much of my life there I don’t know who I am anymore, or what I want.” I sighed and rubbed my eyes with my free hand. “Sorry to dump this on you. I guess I’m tired. It’s long past my bedtime.”
He was silent for a minute before asking, “At which restaurant were we supposed to have had dinner?”
“Gino’s.” The memory of sitting there alone for hours still burned.
“Wow, that would have been perfect.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “You are worth a thousand Gino’s, Alister, and I would love to take you out when I get back in town. Maybe not there, but somewhere just as nice. I want to get to know you better. Would…would you like that?”
I took a few calming breaths. “Are you sure? This isn’t some kind of pity date, is it?”
“Not even close. I like you and I think we could get along well together.” He likes me? Really? I sounded like a teenager, in my head.
What else could I say but “Okay.”
“That’s a ‘yes’?”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“Oh, good,” he replied, sounding relieved. “I didn’t want to have to fly down there and bang on your door on bended knee, though I would, if I thought it necessary.”
My face heated. “Well, it’s not, so don’t even think about it. I should go to bed. Have a good night, Jaiden.”
“You, too, Alister. Sweet dreams,” he whispered at the end before hanging up. I held the phone to my chest as I stared at the night sky.
A real date with Jaiden. I was too tired to run around the apartment screaming, but I did a little fist pump. Even with the Heathers of the world, a silver lining was possible.
I finished my water before heading to bed.
* * * *
I was at lunch two weeks later when I received a text from Jaiden, asking me if that evening would work for dinner. I replied that yes, it would work, and we sorted out where and when.
I grinned as I enjoyed a spicy turkey sandwich, only to have the mood change when Heather seated herself uninvited at my table. She looked the same as she always did, b
ut I knew her true character now.
“So, how was dinner at Gino’s?” she asked, her smirk saying she knew good and well what she’d done.
“Oh, it was fine,” I replied with a smile, slowly wiping my mouth as I had the last bite of my sandwich, then taking a sip of my ginger ale. “I had a salad, which was fabulous.”
Her look of triumph faltered at my careless response. “You…I thought you’d be…”
“Crying in my beer, maybe? Not at all, especially since I’ll have the real thing tonight with Jaiden. You have a nice afternoon, hon.” I stood and gathered my trash before leaving her gaping at the table. Heather would never have that much power over me ever again.
I was a little late leaving work, but I made it home with enough time to get ready for my date. Jaiden would be picking me up at the apartment. Anderson was spending the week at Albert’s place so it was up to me to pick out an outfit. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and khaki pants, along with a brown blazer. I added a USS Enterprise Insignia badge to the left pocket of the jacket. Jaiden might as well know what he was getting into, if he was really interested in getting to know all of me.
I had just grabbed my keys and tucked the wallet in my pocket when the doorbell rang. I took a deep breath, shook out my shoulders, and headed for the door. When I opened it, I about passed out at how handsome Jaiden looked in his navy suit and crisp white shirt—no tie. He had a pink rose in his hand.
“Hi,” I said, somewhat breathlessly.
“Hey, yourself,” he replied, smiling as he handed me the rose and leaned in to kiss my cheek. When he pulled back, his fingers brushed the insignia on my jacket. “Star Trek fan, are you?”
I flushed as I nodded. “Be warned. It’s a thing, right down to the underwear.”
He laughed. “Thanks for the warning. You look wonderful, by the way. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be, and you look fantastic, too.” I locked the door behind me and took his arm.
When we got to his car, he opened the door for me and waited until I was settled before heading for the driver’s side. Once we were on our way, he said, “I have Sirius. What kind of music do you like?”
“I like a lot of things. Choose what you want.”
He ended up settling on a blues station.
“How was your trip to Canada? Fruitful?”
“Oh, yeah. The company wants to expand, and they sent me to look into some possibilities in Toronto.” He turned left at the traffic signal. “We’re laying the foundation now and it could happen in the next six months or so.”
“Wow. Do you think they’ll move some of the staff around, once the merger takes place?”
“It’s possible. Too early to say.” I hoped that Jaiden wouldn’t be transferred.
“So, this place we’re going for dinner, have you been there before?”
“No. First time. I heard about it from a friend and thought we’d try it out.”
“Cool.”
We pulled up in front of the restaurant fifteen minutes later and Jaiden handed the keys to the valet. When we got inside, the hostess seated us quickly. The atmosphere was subdued, and a violin trio played on a raised platform in the middle of the floor.
“This place is…I had no idea,” I mumbled, hoping I wouldn’t embarrass myself here.
“It’s marvelous, isn’t it? I’ve seen pictures of the place, but in person, it’s something else.” He grabbed the wine menu. “How about champagne to start with?”
I nodded just as a young man came to take our drinks order and fill our glasses with water and ice. Once he was gone, we decided on appetizers and the main course so we would be ready for the waiter when he returned.
“Tell me about you,” Jaiden said, leaning on his elbows. “I want to hear everything.”
“I’m not sure you do,” I replied. “There’s not much to tell, really. I grew up an only child, raised by my grandpa, who died just as I finished college. He was my family and I miss him dearly. I won an internship to the company where I still work, and I live in a nice apartment with a roommate who thought he was straight but recently discovered he’s a little bent and is enjoying the hell out of that.”
Jaiden laughed. “I see. What about hobbies? Though I suppose being a Trekkie would be one of them?”
I grinned. “Can you tell? I love all things Star Trek, from the shows to the movies to the books. I also like to watch things like Gotham, Arrow, anything in the Marvel / DC universe. I’ve been that way since I was a kid. My grandpa was a Trekkie before the term became cool. Maybe I do it in honor of him, but I do enjoy the genre. And now, feel free to run away screaming.”
After sipping his water, Jaiden said, “A couple of my exes were into cosplay and Comic-Con, all that stuff. I’ve been to a few conventions, though I’ve never dressed up. I enjoy the shows and movies, but I’m not as into it as you are. I’m always busy with work and travel, especially lately, and then I’m too tired to even turn on the TV when I get home.”
The waiter returned at that moment with our champagne, then took our food order. When he left, Jaiden raised his glass in a toast. “To friendship, and maybe more.”
I raised my glass to his, then clinked it. I was a bit too enthusiastic, however, and caused us both to spill champagne on our hands and the tablecloth.
Trust me to ruin a perfect moment.
I was subdued the rest of the meal, though to give Jaiden credit, he didn’t seem to care about the mess I’d made. But I did, and I felt so stupid. Things had been going so well…
“Alister,” Jaiden said, his tone sharp.
I looked up at him, surprised.
“Stop worrying about the champagne. I don’t care. So you’re a little clumsy sometimes. So what? No one’s perfect.”
“But I wanted to be…to impress you. And now…”
“We’re having a nice meal and enjoying each other’s company. Has that changed?”
I shook my head.
“Did I run away screaming when the champagne spilled?”
I shook my head again.
“Then there’s no problem, is there?”
“You don’t understand. The day we met, I spilled hot chocolate on the counter. Our first lunch, I had an incident with a sandwich. And now, the champagne. It’ll only get worse.”
“Or it may not.” He put down his fork and grabbed both my hands in his. “Don’t worry about it. And I repeat, I don’t care. I like you just the way you are, spills and all.” His slow smile made me want to believe it.
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed my hands, then went back to eating. “I have two older brothers—Joseph and Jeremy—and a younger sister, Beth. They live on the other side of the country, all of them married and with kids, adopted or otherwise. My eldest sibling, Joseph, is gay, and he and his husband have five children. His oldest kid, Hank, just graduated from college, top of his class. We’re all overachievers—Joseph is a lawyer; Jeremy is a chemical engineer; Beth is a pediatrician. My parents are retired university professors. We can’t seem to help ourselves.”
I smiled reluctantly. “I guess not.” I fiddled with my fork. “Do you visit your family often?”
“Twice a year on Thanksgiving and Christmas. If I don’t see some of the family on one holiday, I’ll see them on the next one. It’s always noisy and chaotic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Sounds lovely.” I probably sounded wistful, but I didn’t regret the quiet and fervent times my grandpa and I had when we celebrated the holidays. And I still remembered those times fondly.
“It is.” He grabbed the dessert menu. “I think I’ll have tiramisu. What about you? They have cannoli, cheesecake, gelato—”
“Definitely cannoli. I don’t care if I have to run three more miles than usual this week, it’s worth it.”
Jaiden grinned as the waiter showed up to clear our table. He gave the man our dessert order and asked for more champag
ne. When he disappeared, Jaiden said, “Let’s talk about exes. I have a few, but none of them were ugly breakups. Just, time to move on, you know?”
“I really don’t. Uh, I’ve never had a boyfriend. All my infrequent hookups are just that. It never happened for me.” And there I go being pathetic again.
“Nothing wrong with that. Some guys prefer it that way. And others are just biding their time until the right moment, which I think, for you and me, is now.” Well, that was bold.
“Is that right?” I said after our dessert was placed before us.
“I guess we’ll find out.” He winked at me and took a bite of his tiramisu. His moan matched mine as I chewed the cannoli. “This is to die for.” He cut another piece with his fork and held it in front of my mouth. “Taste it.”
I did, licking my lips slowly, eyes locked with his. “You’re right. It’s good.”
He swallowed. “Unless you want me to do something that would get us thrown out of this restaurant, you need to stop.”
“Party pooper.”
We finished our dessert, and after he paid the bill, Jaiden drove me to my apartment.
“I had a wonderful time,” I said as we stood outside my door. “I’d invite you in, but I’m going to be a dork and say I have to work tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep.”
“Can I get a kiss good night?” he asked while crowding me into the door. I didn’t mind in the least.
“I would do you bodily harm if you didn’t—” And then all thought was lost as my mouth was taken in the best way possible.
When Jaiden finally pulled back, my eyes were shut and my mouth was slightly open. I felt him place a finger under my chin and I opened my eyes. “On second thought,” I said, after catching my breath, “maybe you should come inside, and screw my beauty sleep.”
