Page 5 of The Best Bad Decision

And yes, Betty had dropped a few hints about that but only because she’d been trying to decide if Casimir might want to date her second cousin’s great nephew or someone like that. Her family tree was more confusing than mine, so I’d tuned her out early in the one-sided conversation.

“Ugh.” Flopping back in his chair, he groaned. “I make such bad decisions.”

Correct, but it seemed like this time it was going to work in my favor.

I wasn’t in danger of going to prison no matter how frustrating my family was. I couldn’t say we wouldn’t end up screaming at each other in the garage, but I didn’t think that was high on the list of possible ways I’d entertain the neighborhood this time.

Casimir seemed like the type to get even, not loud.

“You just haven’t found the right partner.” There was no way I was going to agree with him about the quality of men he’d brought home. “I’m just asking to use your spare time until you’re ready to date seriously again.”

It was an efficient way of managing resources.

Cocking his head, he studied me for a moment. “You are really the strangest man I’ve ever met.”

There didn’t seem to be a polite or even slightly impolite response to that, so I ignored it and just waited. For whatever reason, it got another smile from him. “Alright, first question. Are you actually bi enough to date a man convincingly?”

Before I could do more than roll my eyes, he huffed. “Your jeans are pressed and you’re so uptight you squeak. Under most circumstances I’d never ask about your sexuality because it’s rude, but these are not normal circumstances.”

He had a point, even if I didn’t like it.

“Yes, I am bisexual.” I didn’t care if I didn’t look bi because no one could ever tell me what that meant anyway. “I’ve been told that if there is a scale from very straight to very gay, I’m on the slightly straighter side of the spectrum.”

Casimir’s head cocked the other direction that time. “Who told you that?”

Numerous people.

“Most of the non-straight people I knew in college and several of the first women I dated.” Everyone always had an opinion of what side bi people were closer, which was weird and seemed inappropriate, but I’d long since stopped trying to make people seem reasonable.

Casimir’s eye roll said he might be on my side with that. “Good fucking grief. Okay, stop letting other people label you. If you like a label or need it then that’s fine. But only you know how you actually feel. I’m gay. Period. Women have never done anything for me, even the ones who are nice and aren’t insane.”

Life would’ve been a lot easier if that was the case for me.

“I’m not really worried about labels but people like them. It makes them more comfortable in relationships and social situations.” That was the only thing I was concerned with. “I just wanted to explain that I have no problem dating a man. I just haven’t done it in a while.”

Because unlike my ex, I didn’t cheat.

“Alright.” He still looked skeptical but he didn’t make me wait long to hear what he was thinking. Standing up, he opened his arms. “One test. Give me a hug.”

He wasn’t going to be the bossiest person I’d ever dated or the most high-maintenance, but he was going to drive me insane in interesting new ways.

Still, it was a simple request…or maybe order…and it was unexpectedly logical, so I didn’t fight with him.

Getting up from the couch, I rolled my eyes but I took two steps closer and wrapped my arms around him. He was lean and more muscular than he’d first appeared but the way the loose fabric of his pants and shirt draped around him made him look like he had more curves than he actually did.

It was on the more feminine side of clothing but he wore a lot of clothing like that. I wasn’t sure if it was a personality choice or just because the fabric was softer than most men’s clothing, but it made feeling his body easier even if I kept the hug appropriate. “Well?”

He frowned, shifting his hands on my shoulders and clearly unimpressed. “Like you mean it. I’m going to look like a real date or we’re not doing this. I have no desire to look like I’ve tortured the straight guy into submission.”

I’d underestimated how difficult he was going to be…but he hadn’t told me no.

So…

Like I meant it…

Not like he’d tortured a straight guy.

He wanted it to look like we were comfortable with each other and not like he was chasing a straight guy. I’d never been in that kind of situation but it would have to be frustrating. He probably also needed to be desired on some level.