Page 5 of Love Language

No one since his Sir.

He turned and thanked the stranger, but the sorrow that had been haunting him all day had returned.

The stranger looked him over once, as though checking that he was OK. Greg wasn’t sure what he saw, but after a moment the stranger thanked him in return and turned away.

The bartender looked at him expectantly, and he said the first thing that popped into his head. “Sprite, please.”

It wasn’t what he’d been intending to order, but it was what Sir had always ordered for him.

Shoulders hunched, he took the cold glass and returned to Brett’s table.

◆◆◆

Greg sipped listlessly at his Sprite. The other couple had gone, and Brett’s partner was teasing him in a way that Greg definitely didn’t want to observe. He wasn’t entirely sure where the man’s hands were right now, and he hoped he would never find out.

Not that he minded a bit of voyeurism, but he hadn’t consented to this, and it was frankly rude.

The best part of his evening had been two minutes of conversation with a man he’d never see again about how the bartender was an asshole.

Surely, he’d stayed long enough, right?

He looked over at Brett, but… nope. He’d wait for them to come up for air and then say a quick goodbye. Or maybe he could just walk away, and Brett would never notice.

He gazed around the room while he was waiting.

And there was the sexy stranger, walking right towards him.

No, not walking. Stalking. He was homing in on Greg without a single glance to the side or deviation from his path. Like Greg was the only person in the room.

It had been a long time since Greg had felt like that. That thrill of fear at being prey to a dangerous predator, combined with the warm glow of someone’s undivided attention. His heart started racing.

He tried to calm himself, recalling that the stranger was far too young for him. He was probably only coming over to chat because his friends couldn’t sign. Not to mention that Greg wasn’t looking for a hook-up or a date.

Though his traitorous cock was trying to tell him something else.

So, maybe he was more ready for being with someone than he thought. The idea of it was both refreshing and painful.

He’d been thinking that a lot over the past few months. That he missed Richard, but maybe not with the same immediacy that he’d felt before. Like maybe he missed being in a relationship as much as he missed the man himself.

He felt horrible thinking it.

Even if he were ready to move on, though, that didn’t mean that he wanted to jump into anything. Maybe in a few years he could consider it.

The beautiful stranger was almost in front of him now. Taking in his youth and his confidence, it was clear that he could only want to hang out with a boring, old man like Greg for his signing skills.

It happened pretty much every time someone Deaf found someone else who could sign in a room full of hearing people. There was a comfort to having someone else who could speak your language even if you didn’t have much in common.

Realizing that made Greg feel the teeniest tinge of disappointment, but mostly he felt relief.

He could observe his, well, his attraction like a scientist. It was there, it was probably an indication that he was starting to get over Richard, and nothing would ever come of it, so he was completely safe.

The other man would never have to know about it.

You look like you’re just as miserable here as I am, the stranger opened.

Greg found himself smiling. He liked how the pretty man spoke his thoughts. You’re right. My... acquaintance... made me come, and I’d rather be at home.

Same here. Maybe I can snatch you away?