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“OH.” JERRELL NODDED, trying to tamp down his bitter disappointment. He’d still had a nice time. He still liked Rafi a lot and, attraction aside, he was also hands-down the most pleasant, non-judgmental man Jerrell had ever spent time with. If Rafi wanted someone to fool around with while he figured things out...
At least Jerrell could be with him for a little while, before he moved on to someone he actually wanted. “Okay.”
“It took me a little longer than most to come to terms with that aspect of myself,” Rafi said, smile shy. “But when I saw you at the cafe, I knew you were someone I wanted to get to know.”
Jerrell tried to smile back. “Yeah, uh. Me too.”
“That all being said, if I say or do something that makes you uncomfortable, please tell me. I don’t want to overstep. And I don’t want to insult you by accident, or push a stereotype on you.” Rafi shook his head. “I might still be learning, but that’s not an excuse for bad behavior.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, for sure.” Whoever Rafi ended up with for real was going to be a lucky, lucky guy. Jerrell kept his tone light. “Don’t think you’ve got to worry though. You’ve been doing good so far.”
“I appreciate your saying so.” Rafi grinned.
“Anytime.” Jerrell took a breath. He wasn’t going to make things awkward. “We should probably head back. I can’t take up your whole day.”
“I haven’t minded in the least so far,” Rafi said, reaching down to undo the brakes on his chair. “But you’re right. I have a few things I do need to get done today. I’ll just have to look forward to seeing you again.”
“Yeah.” Jerrell stood. “We could talk about it while I walk you to your car?”
Rafi smiled up at him. “I’d like that very much.”
***
BY THE TIME THEY GOT to the parking garage, they’d made plans to meet again that coming Thursday, for dinner this time. Jerrell was already both looking forward to it and dreading it, because part of him knew that each additional interaction he had with Rafi would be another opportunity to fall harder for him.
It was fine. He’d get Rafi for a little while. He’d get to pretend that someone like Rafi wanted him for real. That he was worth consideration and conversation, and flirting that wasn’t innuendo about how good he’d be in the bedroom.
It was fine.
***
JERRELL ENDED UP REGRETTING having Sunday off. If he’d been at the cafe, he could lose himself in work. As it was, he had too much time to spend alone in his head. He did some cooking for the week. He went to the gym. He caught up on some shows.
He thought about Rafi.
Monday was better. He woke up, got ready, went to work. Kept his head down. It was nice to have Mary back in the space and taking over. After three years, they worked like a well-oiled machine, moving around each other easily. Jerrell did what she told him to, happy to have his work to focus on.
“So Melody said you met the Doc,” Mary said conversationally, around eight.
Jerrell didn’t look up from his work. He had expected Mary or Melody to bring it up. They were the kind of sisters who were close. Had to be, to run a business together. Melody had probably told Mary everything. And was counting on Mary to get the new dirt and report back. “Yeah. Yeah, he wanted to compliment a cheesecake and got me instead of you.”
“A few times, she said.”
“Mm-hm.”
“And that it looked like you two were getting along.”
Jerrell bit the bullet. “He asked me out. We had lunch together on Saturday. It-it was nice. We’re going out again this week.”
“Oh, honey,” Jerrell didn’t have to look at Mary to know she was smiling. “That’s great.”
“Yeah.” He swallowed. “I like him a lot.”
“It sounds like he already adores you,” Mary said. “Melody said that his face lit up every time you went out to talk to him.”
“Melody’s been saying a lot of stuff,” Jerrell said, trying to sound more flippant and less resigned.
“Well, neither of us thought you were interested in dating! Three years with us and nothing? But if you are, it’s about time you had someone. Rafi’s a great guy too. It’s a good thing, you and him.”
For as long as Rafi wanted it to last. “Thanks.”
***
JERRELL DIDN’T USUALLY keep his phone on at work. It was a distraction over everything else, and difficult to check when he usually had hands covered in ingredients. So it was only after he’d hung up his apron and started his walk home that he took it out of his pocket and turned it on.
He had several text messages, sent at about eleven.
Rafi: I stopped by today, because I had a promise to fulfill.
The next message was a picture of a small box of macarons. One each of the five flavors that the cafe sold. And then,
Rafi: I’ve only had the chocolate and the pistachio so far, but they were both excellent. Saving the rest to try for a treat tonight.
Rafi: I hope your day is going well! Looking forward to seeing you Thursday :)
Jerrell couldn’t help his smile at Rafi thinking of him, of remembering about the macarons. It was such a silly, little thing.
God, he liked him so much.
***
THE NEXT FEW DAYS PASSED quickly enough. Jerrell stuck to his usual routine. The only change was that now his days were often interspersed with texts from Rafi. Asking how he was doing, telling him stories about his own day, initiating conversations about anything at all. Rafi slipped plenty of flirting and teasing into text as well.
It was fun to talk to him and to have the texts to look forward to. Jerrell just kept having to remind himself that he was a test run.
And then it was Thursday and time for their second date.
