“I’m definitely up for that.”
A second date would bring him ever closer to his third date vow.
Tomas leaned in but held his body achingly separate from Jaime’s as their lips met. The soft, lingering kiss held the promise of much longer and harder ones. Jaime hadn’t even realized he had been holding his breath until their lips parted and he let out a sigh of longing. All Jaime had to do was make it to the third date without ripping Tomas’ clothes off, and maybe he’d have his chance at a real relationship.
Chapter 6
Tyler spent the next two days trying not to look at his phone. Unfortunately, he could think of nothing else except how he was going to hold onto Jenny. She was the only thing standing between him and a whole lot of awkward thoughts he’d rather not have. The weekend came and went without a call from Jenny. It wasn’t until Tyler was getting ready for class Monday night that her name displayed on his phone.
“Jenny, I’m so glad you called.” Tyler tried not to sound too desperate. “I know we can work things out.”
“Let me go first,” Jenny interrupted.
“Go ahead.” Tyler swallowed his worry.
“I think we’ve got something special,” Jenny’s voice was calm, although it did little to reassure Tyler’s nerves. “You are a great boyfriend, most of the time. And I know we can build a future together.”
Tyler held his breath as he waited for Jenny to continue. The confidence he felt that he could compartmentalize his life was slipping away. Jenny was the key to everything staying the same. He had to keep his life as it was, and that meant keeping Jenny. No matter the cost. The alternative was one that was too scary for him to consider. He was on the edge of everything changing, and nothing had ever scared him more.
“But it’s going to take compromise,” Jenny continued. “On both our parts. Come over to my place, and we can discuss it.”
“Tonight’s a karate night.” His answer was reflex more than a conscious response. He could almost hear Jenny cringe. “Sensei Melissa is out of town. I told her last week I would teach for her.”
“Can’t someone else do it?” Jenny’s patience was reaching its ends if the strain in her voice was any indication. “Why does it have to be you? Why does it always have to be you?”
Tyler didn’t have an answer for her, at least not one that wouldn’t upset her. Karate was a part of him. And he had given Sensei Melissa his word. Maybe Randy could have taken over the class. But barring illness and injury, Tyler hadn’t missed a karate class in two years, not since Sensei Hunt’s funeral. Watching his sensei’s casket lowered into the ground, Tyler had vowed to never miss another class. Giving in on this one issue felt like going against who he was and what he believed in.
“I’ll come over after class.”
“No.”
The one word was so final.
“Either you come over instead of going to class or we are through.”
How was that a compromise? Try as he might, there was nothing Tyler could say to change Jenny’s mind. A sinking feeling built in his stomach as the world he wanted was pulled out from underneath his feet. With a heavy heart, he said goodbye to Jenny and returned to getting ready for class.
* * * *
The two days after Jaime’s first date with Tomas, Jaime could think of little else. He spent his weekend cleaning his apartment and trying to resist the urge to call the marvelous man who had all but swept him off his feet. Now all Jaime had to do was think of a way to resist his charms and not maul him on their second date. Assuming there would be a second date.
Jaime didn’t have much experience with anything beyond a one-night stand. Was Jaime supposed to call Tomas back to let the man know he was interested? Certainly there should be no doubt in Tomas’s mind Jaime was into him even if Jaime had resisted sharing a nightcap. Jaime wasn’t used to worrying about whether the man he was interested in was interested in him. Then again, Jaime hadn’t ever had to worry about a second date.
Maybe he should wait for Tomas to call him.
In between loads of laundry and dusting, Jaime picked up and hung up his phone about seven times. There was definitely a dial tone. How long was he supposed to wait? How long without hearing from Tomas meant that there wasn’t going to be another date?
Obsessing over a phone call that may or may not come was making Jaime more anxious. At least he’d decided he’d let Tomas make the next move. Jaime knew where he stood. He wanted a second date and maybe something more. The thought made him giddy and nervous in equal measures. Now all he needed was the go ahead from Tomas.
Jaime was rushing around his apartment to get ready for class Monday night when his phone rang. All the calm he’d mustered in convincing himself that Tomas wasn’t going to call went right out the window. Lunging for the phone, Jaime knocked it off the receiver and scrambled to get it to his ear. He took a deep breath before he did. It might not even be Tomas.
“So I waited the standard three days before calling you and it just about killed me.” Tomas’s voice was the sweetest music Jaime had ever heard. “Tell me someone else hasn’t swept you off your feet yet.”
“Still on the market.” Jaime breathed a sigh of relief. All his doubts dissolved. “I was wondering when I’d hear from
