Page 205 of A Matter of Time

“Whatever. When I was twenty-three, I was fuckin’ wild. I used to go out all the time, night after night, and I never took the same person home twice.”

“You were a big-time player.” I passed judgment.

“Yeah, I was. I was twenty-three. You’re supposed to sow wild oats so you don’t try and recapture your youth when you’re, like, fifty or whatever.”

“I see.”

“I have a theory that guys that go through a midlife crisis just never really got to be young the first time, ya know? Like my dad—he was insane before he met my mom, but he got it all out and he never had a midlife crisis. He never had to buy a Porsche or get a divorce and date blondes the same age as his daughters. I think that comes from being crazy when you’re supposed to.”

“Okay.”

“So my question to you is this—aren’t you gonna miss going out with your friends or⁠—”

“I can still go out with my friends,” I assured him. “If you want to go dancing with me, or to the movies, or out to dinner, or come along with me for game night, you can. You’re invited. You’re always invited. If you don’t, I’m not gonna beg you. You have your friends and I have mine. They might not ever mix.”

“You’re still gonna go out?”

“Why not?”

“To the club to⁠—”

“I may wanna go dancing, Sam. I enjoy it. If I wanna go and you don’t wanna go with me, then I’ll go alone. But I have some really good friends that get me. They know me, and if I say I’m with you, they’ll respect that. When you meet them, you’ll understand.”

He let out a deep sigh. “I just don’t want you to resent me a few years down the road ’cause I kept you from doing whatever you wanted to do.”

I put my hand on his thigh, and he immediately covered it with his, sliding his fingers between mine. “I’ve been on my own a long time, Sam, and I’ve slept with my share of strangers. I don’t wanna do that anymore. I don’t need a one-night, I need a home.”

“Okay. Good,” he said with a grin. “Now, I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m a top, right?”

“I’m sorry?”

“I am, aren’t I?”

I looked over at him. “Are you kidding?”

“No, why?”

“Sam, what’s with you and Gay Sex 101?”

“I’m just asking because I don’t know.”

“Okay, for the record, yes, you’re a top.”

“And that makes you what?”

“A bottom.” I rolled my eyes. “I know you know this.”

He just grunted.

“We could mix it up if you like.” I grinned slyly.

“No, I don’t think so. I like everything just how it is.”

“Oh, I bet you do,” I said, looking out the window.