Page 93 of Septembers

“Have you seen…” She spotted Becks.

“You deserve better.”

She let out a short breath through her nose, which was her version of a Theo-sigh, then took his drink and downed it in one go. “She’s flirty. That’s how she is.”

“It’s your night.” He usually kept his mouth shut when it came to Becks, but tonight, he found it hard to stop the words from jumping out.

“Yes.” She squared her shoulders. “It’s my night, and I say my best friend doesn’t get to disparage my girlfriend.”

“I don’t disparage, I point out facts.”

“Was that Dae?” She nodded to his phone, and he nodded back, fine to let the obvious topic deflection work. “How’s his date going?”

“She spits when she eats.”

“Yikes.” She caught the attention of the cute bartender and ordered two shots of whisky, then nudged Theo’s arm. “You’re still up for next week, right? The roommate-aversary?”

“Yes, Jordan.” She’d confirmed with him no less than five times since coming up with the brilliant idea to throw a party at an apartment she was no longer on the lease for. It was obvious she’d needed a project to throw herself into as a distraction from the album release, so when she insisted Dae and Theo needed to celebrate one year of (re)cohabitation, they’d agreed.

The cute bartender slid the shots across the bar and Jordan raised one in salute, shot it, then wiggled off the stool. “This is my agent, Theo,” she said to the bartender with a wink, “and he’s single.”

Theo watched her walk away, the heels he knew she hated clomping against the hardwood. His glass still sat on the bar, lonely, so Cute Bartender poured himself a shot. “I try not to let people drink alone.” They cheersed, and the whisky forged a molten path to his stomach. “I’m straight, but you’re welcome to flirt if you’re bored.”

Now that was the marker of an exceptional bartender. “Actor?”

Theo didn’t represent actors, but he could give him a referral. He had a face that could sell cold medicine or health insurance.

“Even worse.” He pouted like his choice had been unavoidable. “Dancer.”

“Ah.” Theo had zero control over hiring dancers for tours. “Don’t s’pose you can hold a tune?”

Cute Bartender shook his head, full of exaggerated regret. “If only.”

Theo nodded, commiserating. “If only.”

He ran his fingers over the cold condensation on the drink he didn’t remember ordering, rubbing the water on his fingertips, watching it run down his knuckle. It was strangely comforting; this reminder that his skin could still be delighted by something as simple as the tickle of a water drop.

“Theo.” Dae’s voice. Dae’s hand on his shoulder. Dae’s body beside him. He’d grown out his hair, and now it framed his face.

“Can I touch your hair?”

Dae shot a look at the bartender, then back to Theo. “Um, sure.”

He did. It was so soft. “Dae, meet Cute Bartender. Cute Bartender, meet my Dae.”

“Your Dae?” Cute Bartender’s smile was teasing. “I thought your friend said you were single.”

“Oops.” In Theo’s haste to introduce them both properly, he left out a crucial word. “My friend Dae.”

“Hello Friend Dae, would you like a drink?”

Dae shook his head, and Theo pulled him close so he could whisper in his ear. “He’s a dancer.”

Judging by the way Dae winced, Theo’s voice hadn’t come out as quietly as he’d anticipated. “And have you already gotten his number so we can get you home?”

There he went again, leaving out crucial information. “He’s a straight cute bartending dancer.”

Cute Bartender laughed. “The two are usually separate, but I do take requests if the tips are good.”