“No.” He fidgeted and changed the subject again. “Should I… give you my number?”
“Oh. Right.” Derek took out his phone, opened a new contact, and handed the device to Patrick who entered the information. He returned the phone and Derek looked at his entry—which included his full name as well as his number. “Patrick Weber.” He raised his eyes and smiled. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow morning and we can decide where we want to go on our date.”
“Okay.” Patrick fidgeted. “I… I should be getting back. Our group is taking shifts at the booth and I’m supposed to be there, helping out.”
“You’re on shift right now?”
“Yeah. With my friend Brian.”
“Brian.” Derek raised an eyebrow. “Since you said you had no boyfriend, I assume he’s just afriend-friend?”
Patrick nodded.
“Well, I can walk you back, if you like?” He looked around and smiled. “Protect you.”
“From what?”
“From all these hot gay boys eyeing your sexiness.”
Patrick blushed again. “I think I’m safe.”
“Don’t be so sure.” Derek winked. “I should still probably walk with you just to be on the safe side.”
Another internal battle seemed to break out within the young man. Derek couldn’t figure him out—Patrick was clearly interested, and he had no boyfriend… so what was the problem?
Not everyone engages in the same frivolous lifestyle as you. He’s shy. That’s all.
Shy boys were the sexiest. And Patrick was no exception.
“I’m sorry,” Derek laughed softly. “I’m coming on too strong. I don’t mean to, it’s just a…” He squinted. “… character flaw, maybe?”
Patrick raised his eyes to Derek’s face, his gaze warm, almost affectionate. “I wouldn’t call it a character flaw,” he said quietly. “You’re outgoing. Nothing wrong with that. Brian is the same. He can talk to anyone. I’ve always envied that about him.”
“You do seem to be on the shy side.”
Patrick laughed and ducked his head. “A little bit.”
“I kind of favor shy men. I think it’s… adorably sexy.”
Heat spread through Patrick’s cheeks. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Derek chuckled. “Maybe because the shy ones seem more mysterious. They’re harder to figure out because they don’t show you everything all at once. They…” He smiled. “… make you work for it.”
Tentatively looking up, Patrick whispered, “And you like that?”
Derek held his stare, his pulse rising. “Absolutely.”
