“Me too,” I say softly. “So, when you say you’re out of practice?”
Gayle looks away, his cheeks reddening. “Isn’t it like a rule not to talk about your exes on the first date?”
I chuckle. “I have no idea, but I’m curious,” I admit with a shrug. “If you don’t wanna talk about it, that’s fine.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve only ever been with one person. Bruce is his name and we were in an arranged mating situation. We’re both alphas but that didn’t seem to matter for our parents. We had Calloway and when he turned six, I finally came out and admitted that I was trans and wanted to live authentically. Even before I came out, things were never what I imagined a real relationship should feel like. We were just best friends, always have been, probably always will be.”
I hum as I listen, my heart softening even further for the man across from me. “I’m glad you guys can still be friends. I imagine that must have been hard.”
“It was scary,” Gayle admits softly. “It all worked out though. The hardest part was cutting our mating bond.” He touches the back of his neck when he says that. “It still hurts sometimes but I’ve always thought the ache was worth being able to find someone we actually wanted to be with both romantically and, you know, carnally,” he says, chuckling to himself.
I can’t help but smile. He’s so fucking strong. I don’t know if I would have been able to do the same if our positions were reversed.
“Kei mentioned that you were a shifter. He’s a shifter too and he’s got a really strong sense of smell.”
“I noticed,” Gayle says with a grin. “I can smell him on you.”
I nod my head and take a sip of my boba. “I hope you don’t mind,” I say. “Now that I know we’re both trans and that you’re a shifter, I was curious if you meant your primary or secondary gender. From your story though, I think I understand.”
“I don’t mind spelling it out. I was born a female alpha. Still an alpha.”
“Have you heard anything about swan maidens?” Gayle shakes his head. “I prefer to call myself a swelkie. Like a selkie but I can turn into a swan instead of a seal,” I say with a grin. “All swelkies are born female no matter what but according to my moms, I was telling anyone who would listen that I was a boy as soon as I could talk. I’ve just always known and thankfully, my moms just always accepted it.”
“That’s amazing,” Gayle says, his deep brown eyes lighting up. “Your moms sound great.”
“They’re literally the best ever. I wish they lived closer but we’re constantly texting and calling each other.”
“I’m not very close to my parents,” Gayle admits. “They’re not bad people or anything, but we just kinda drifted apart as I got older. TheyadoreCalloway, though and honestly, that’s enough for me.”
“Okay, okay,” I say, setting down my boba and picking up the deck of cards from the table. “We need a break from the serious stuff. Do you know how to play Kings in the Corners?”
“I do,” he says, sliding off the couch onto the floor. “For the record, I don’t mind talking about the serious stuff. You’re really easy to talk to, Rodney.”
“Oh,” I breathe out, ignoring the way those words make my stomach flutter pleasantly. “You’re easy to talk to as well.”
I deal our hands and set up the board. We talk while we play, about nothing and everything. I learn about Calloway’s camping trip next month and how Gayle is both excited for him and also nervous because this is the first time he’ll be away from home like this. I tell Gayle about my moms and then get into story after story about living with Kei and Rin.
Gayle wins the first game but I win the second which means wehaveto play a third game just to see who comes out on top.
“Apparently,” I say as I watch Gayle take his turn. “I ended up at a bachelorette party? The memories are kinda fuzzy but I do remember dancing for some ladies and ending up with fifty bucks worth of singles in my boxers the next morning.”
Gayle giggles and the sound almost makes me choke. His voice is like the prettiest song I’ve ever heard. His voice isn’t very deep so his laugh goes a bit high pitched. I’ve noticed he tries his best to hold it back so anytime hedoeslaugh, it makes my chest fill with pride.
“Rodney,” he says softly, covering his mouth with his hands. “You’re staring.”
“Shit. Sorry,” I say right away. “I just really, really like your laugh.”
“You do? Really?” I nod my head. “I kinda hate it.”
I wrinkle my nose and start taking my turn. “Why would you hate such a wonderful sound? Every time I get you to laugh it feels like I won the lottery.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not.” I look up at him. “I don’t say things I don’t mean. Unless I’m on stream talking about Clifford Lloyd. Youcan’thold anything I say about that man against me, Gayle. I’m overcome with this demon who takes over my mouth anytime that man is on screen, okay?”
Gayle giggles again, covering his mouth but this time, it seems like he doesn’t fight to keep it back as hard. I count that as a win.
Gayle wins the third game and we decide to switch to Crazy 8’s which I win. Then we play a couple rounds of Go Fish. All the while, we continue to chat and get to know each other. Just like when we’re on a Discord call, the words flow easily. Talking with Gayle feels so easy.
