“That’s good to hear.”
“Either way, Sean and I are friends now and we’re going to a ball game at the end of May.”
“Are you going to have sex after the game?”
“Sarah,” he laughed. “No, it’s just friends hanging out.”
“Friends can have sex.”
“Sarah.”
“Okay, fine. So, it’s not a date?”
“Right, it’s not a date.”
“Good, you need to take care of yourself.”
They agreed to meet at Carrie’s Sandwiches for lunch, and he headed up in the elevator.
Bernard grabbed his usual coffee and a few donuts in the staff break room someone brought and headed to his office.
He shut the door and lit his candles. The scent filled the air and surrounded his desk. He took a deep breath and got to work.
Bernard was working on a file when Mark called out to him.
“Huh?” Bernard asked.
“Someone’s got a date,” Mark sang.
“What are you talking about?”
Mark leaned against the doorframe. He had a grin on his face. Mark was short and lean. His solid body from years of the gym filled out his suit.
“Well, I talked to Sean, and it seems you two are going to a ball game at the end of May.”
“He just asked me to go last night. How in the world did you find out?”
“Because I called right after you did to see if he wanted to go, and said he was already going with you.”
“He has season tickets. It’s odd that you asked about the same day he’s going with me.”
“I asked what days he had free, and he said all except that Saturday and he told me he was going with you.”
“Mark, we’re just friends. I’ve already told you he isn’t interested in dating. He wants to stay single,” Bernard said.
His heart ached. He hit it off well with Sean. There was a connection. Sean was a guy he’d see himself spending his life with. If only he wasn’t in the closet.
“Not what I’ve heard.”
“What has he said?”
“Well, Melissa said Sean might be getting lonely and might want to open up more about himself. Not that he’ll come out at work, but maybe find someone to spend his life with. I thought of you.”
Here it was. Mark knew exactly two gay men and thought they were destined to be together. He was unaware of a wider world and the fact Bernard met at least a dozen gay men at college. He wasn’t wrong though. Bernard could give him that much.
“He didn’t say anything to me,” Bernard said.
“Well, maybe he’s waiting. Either way, this might be a chance for you to find love. You guys would be handsome together.”
