The gate closes behind Grey, and he doesn’t even flinch when the sound of metal hitting on metal sounds through the air. Even I flinch, and I saw it happen.
“You live here? On the street?”
“No, but around here… somewhere.” It’s the truth. I live on the same street as him, but where there are houses for the not-so-rich as well. Nothing with too much privacy, no private beach. I can even see the Li’s house from my bedroom window. It looks a lot smaller, but I can see it.
“What are you doing here?”
I shrug. “I was hoping the stars look better from up here.” I look up to the sky to check.
“Do they?” His voice comes closer, from right beside my ear, actually. As much as I want to look back down and turn to face Grey, I keep still and silently wish he doesn’t move away again.
I’m not sure what it is about this man, but something keeps pulling me into his direction. It’s not a crush or something deeper, that would be ridiculous. And yet that guy is like a magnetic field and I’m the magnet.
“Not really,” I answer. “They used to be so much brighter when I was little. My friends and I used to climb up on trees just to be closer to the stars. It was stupid, and sometimes I fell off the trees and broke a few bones, but it was worth it every time.”
“What are you really doing here, Luan?”
Can’t he guess? “I’m twenty-three,” I say instead of answering his question. Technically I am answeringaquestion, just not the most recent one. “It’s quite funny, actually, because my birthday is on valentine’s day, but I never had someone to spend that day with. Not like one would, you know? Like the day’s intended to. I did have a boyfriend though, but he was too busy writing stupid poems to remember it was my birthday, or valentine’s day. But that’s not a big deal. So, yeah, every year it’s just me and my best friend, celebrating my birthday, with apple juice.” At leastnowit’s apple juice. It used to be stronger drinks, but I had those daily anyway.
Finally, I turn and look at Grey again. His eyes are softer than before, less bricked-up, more open to talk. God, his eyes display whole universes that I’m not sure he knows are in there.
“Give me your phone,” he demands, holding out his hand to me.
My eyebrows dip a little in confusion, but I don’t question him. Instead, I pull out my phone from my pocket and hand it over, telling him my passcode.
Grey types into my phone for a whole minute and just when I think he does more than just add his contact, his phone chimes at a rather suspicious timing before he hands me back my phone.
“What did you do?” I ask.
“Texted myself so I have a way to reach out to you should I ever be back here again.”
Right.
Wait, but I thought he lived here. He said he didn’t, but I thought that was a lie. I thought he was playing tricks on me.
“Youreallydon’t live here, do you?” New York…
Grey shakes his head. “I live in Manhattan.” Okay… but that’s just across the country, no biggie. “I’m only here for my father’s birthday. I’ll leave in two weeks, if not earlier.”
Two weeks. That’s like no time at all. How am I supposed to get to know that man when he’s as open about himself as the mafia?
“Before I embarrass myself even more,” I start, already knowing this question is going to be the most embarrassing thing I have uttered in Grey’s presence, and I talk a lot. “You, uh, you are into men though, right? Because… otherwise I’ll just make a fool of myself. Well, it’s not like I planned on making a move on you or anything, but you know? Don’t get me wrong, I totally would, but—”
The corner of his mouth tugs up just a tiny bit, it’s almost nothing and not there for long, but I swear it happens.
“Did you forget? I’m in love with you and all,” he says, the tiniest hint of amusement in his voice but not a lot. It’s barely there. “You’reverylikable and hot. You have cute dimples and a perfect smile. There’s no need for me to be subtle,” he more-or-less repeats my own words back to me.
It’s been days. How does he still know them word for word?
My smile breaks free, mostly because I’m glad he didn’t reject me like I thought he would. Or feared he would.
I’m not good at this dating game. I don’t know how people do it, or if there’s one specific way to do it. When I saw Grey all alone by the beach, I just thought fuck it and went to talk to him. I wasn’t giving myself hopes that he would be into me or that he’d be interested in getting to know me. I truly thought he could use a friend. I still think he does.
But it doesn’t hurt knowing I don’t have to reassure him I won’t fall for a straight guy. And if I do flirt with him, which I know I will, he won’t be disgusted. Hopefully.
“I am all of those and I do look pretty great,” I confirm. “Well, then, Grey Davis, I’ll see you around.” I salute him with two fingers, and he just shakes his head at me like he cannot believe what he’s gotten himself into.
Tough luck, my friend.
