I considered objecting, but we both knew a spiral into freak-out mode was highly likely. If I put pressure on myself, then I would freak out for sure. But to think of him as just a friend was almost calming. Huh. So weird. “No, I think I like the idea of being friends with him. I mean, I need to know him first, right? Regardless of the fact he’s gorgeous and his smile gives me butterflies and he loves audiobooks, I mean let’s not pretend the man isn’t perfect boyfriend material. But it’d be pretty damn cool to have a friend who’s more like me than not, ya know?”

“Absolutely. Friends is good too.”

I sighed. “It is. And I would be happy with him just as a friend. I’m not even kidding.” I took a second to internalise that, and I nodded to myself. “I’m actually really okay with that. To the point where I’m starting to wonder if that’s what I need right now. A friend, nothing more.”

Chapter Six

Hennessy

I was nervous. Probably more nervous than I should have been, and I tried to tell myself that I should treat this like any and all of my asexual support group meetings. But something felt different.

Jordan was different.

I’d spent most of the morning at work, which was a great distraction, and it allowed me to get a lot done. Except my mind was all over the place.

I couldn’t even believe I’d asked him for coffee. I had everything planned in my head for our brief encounter on the bus yesterday, but that all went to hell when the bus was full and that sweet little old lady asked if she could take the seat. There was no way I was saying no to her, but then Jordan got on the bus, all flustered and clearly disappointed that this new seat-saving thing we’d started had been thwarted.

And the idea of being robbed of my daily five-minute conversation with him just wasn’t going to fly, so I gave up my seat and squeezed through the crowd just for the chance of saying hello. I’d wondered what on earth had possessed me and had visions of it being a disaster, but then he’d looked up at me and smiled.

And I knew then I’d totally made the right decision.

But five minutes wasn’t enough. Not even close. I had the feeling that he and I could talk for hours. Okay, correction. I had the feeling that Jordan could talk for hours. But I also had the feeling that he’d be interesting and smart, and coupled with his sense of humour, it was refreshing.