“Is there something more?” Sean’s eyebrows raised.
“What? No, we’re just friends. Why?”
“Oh, because you just lit up when you talked about him.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing, maybe I’m seeing things.”
Bernard watched him, but he didn’t say anything else.
Their food came. Bernard bit into his cheesesteak. “This is amazing,” he gushed.
The cheese wrapped the meat and onions together. The flavors eclipsed any cheesesteak he remembered having.
“Told you,” Sean said with a grin.
They finished up and got their milkshakes. Bernard savored the chocolate shake. He held it in his mouth to drink the flavor in before he swallowed.
“I wanted to ask you something.” Sean stirred his milkshake. He refused to make eye contact.
Bernard’s heart sank at the sight.
“Sure.” Bernard tried to catch his eye, but Sean’s eyes stayed on his shake.
“Do you think sleeping together was a mistake?”
“Honestly, I thought it was at first.” Bernard reached over to put a hand on Sean’s hand. “But as I thought about it, I can’t live that way. I can’t think something like that was a mistake. It happened, and I am okay with it.”
He rubbed Sean’s hand and waited for a response.
“I’m glad you don’t think it was a mistake. I’d feel even worse if you did.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes. Did Sean want more, but was afraid to connect with someone?
“It was an amazing evening. We had great conversations and got to know each other.” Bernard lowered his voice. “We had great sex.”
“You thought it was great?” Sean perked up and his smile widened.
“Yes. I even told Sarah it was. I only told Rory yesterday we had a date. Nothing more.”
“Why not?”
“I…” Bernard paused. “I don’t know. I guess I just got him back, and that’s not something he wants to hear about.”
Why didn’t he tell Rory? He had told him about men he’d slept with, even if not the details.
If I told Rory, would he be jealous?
Bernard dismissed the thought. There wasn’t a reason for someone he wasn’t dating to be jealous.
“Or you like him and don’t want him thinking about you in bed with other men,” Sean joked.
“Stop.” Bernard punched him lightly. “I’m not in love with Rory.”
“Yes, you’ve mentioned that.”
“I stand by that, and—”
Sean cut him off. “I know there’s something more there. You light up this place when you talk about him, the connection you have with him.”
