Despite being the only bar in town, Roddy’s is entirely empty other than me and the bartender, Roddy’s nephew Tate. Guess it’s a bit too early for this town to start drinking.

I left the diner right after Brenden and his group did, before the dinner rush could hit. As they left, Elise was thankfully discreet when she asked me if they’d be seeing me at the house tonight. In my haste to end the conversation before any of the diner’s stragglers got curious about what was going on, though, I mumbled what I think was an affirmative. So I’ll have to head over there later.

First, I’m meeting Connor for a beer. I invited him out as an apology for snapping at him on the phone the other day over my produce order that I messed up. I might be grumpy, but I try not to be a total asshole.

As I sip whatever IPA Tate poured me while I wait for Connor to arrive, my mind keeps drifting back to this morning. More specifically, to how I woke up this morning. In Brenden’s bed. With my hard dick pressed right against his ass.

Despite how I’ve spent all day trying to lock that moment away in a vault and shove it toward the back of my mind... well. The lock must be faulty or something.

Luckily, before I get myself too worked up with the memory, the door opens, and Connor wanders in. He quickly spots me on my stool at one of the high-top tables against the wall. In the dimly lit room, he almost glows with his white T-shirt, blond hair, and pearly white smile as he heads my way.

He eyes my pint glass when I ask what I can grab for him. “I’ll take whatever you’re having. Thanks.”

Tate is playing around on his phone as I approach the bar, so I have to clear my throat to get his attention. He apologizes, but I wave him off. When you only have two customers, you’re not just going to stand there staring at them the whole time.

I bring the beer back over to Connor, and he asks how I’ve been. My answer doesn’t take long, since my life never seems to change. Wake up, cook people food all day, clean up after them, go to sleep. The only interesting thing happening to me right now is the one thing I can’t tell him about.

I’ve known Connor forever, and I’d trust him to keep Brenden’s absurd fake dating scheme a secret if I asked. But explaining it would only tempt me to explain my very real feelings for Brenden. And Connor, like everyone else except Brenden, doesn’t know I’m gay, so that would require a whole other conversation.