Grayson lifted the cup to his lips. For a moment, he seemed to simply process. Then, his eyes widened.
“Holy shit, that’s so good. How is it better than cold sake?” he demanded.
Keld’s facial fins shivered with satisfaction. “I can only offer second-hand accounts, but something about the temperature affecting the aroma and flavors. I’m surprised you’ve even had sake. Isn’t that a bit adventurous for you?”
“Shut up.” Grayson laughed. “Jenna made me try it like two weeks ago.”
Keld snorted a laugh. “The more I learn about you, the more I’m convinced you grew up in some Florida backwater.”
He meant it as a joke, but Grayson sobered instantly.
Shit.
“Sorry,” Keld muttered, “I shouldn’t—”
“Georgia,” Grayson interrupted. “It was a Georgia backwater.”
Keld cocked his head. “How’d you end up in Miami? Why not Savannah?”
Grayson jammed another tangle of udon noodles into his mouth.
Keld let his gaze fall to his plate. He probably should have guessed that Grayson didn’t have the best background. He was timid, poorly exposed to the world, and enjoyed being tossed around a sex club’s private room like a horny little bag of flour.
“My family’s not great.”
Keld looked back up at Grayson. His light eyes were fixed on his bowl.
“I didn’t want them to be able to find me.”
Something in Keld’s chest tightened to the point of pain. “You don’t have to talk about it. I get it.” And he did. His own mother had driven him to the furthest reaches of the island, though he’d never been bold enough to abandon her entirely. Grayson was brave, whether he knew it or not. Even talking about it was more than Keld had ever been able to do.
Grayson looked up at Keld through his blond lashes and offered a small smile. Keld returned it, and the pair fell back into their meal.
By the time Keld had (forcefully) paid the bill, Grayson’s dour mood had lifted.
“Thanks for dinner,” he said as he slid into the passenger seat. “It was fantastic. Jenna’s going to be thrilled.”
“Maybe I’ll finally get on her good side.” Keld placed a hand on the back of Grayson’s headrest and turned to reverse. The Omega went quiet.
Keld’s eyes flickered down to him. “What?”
“Nothing.” The pink stain on his cheeks said otherwise.
Keld fought back a grin. They drove the five minutes back to Sandpiper Park in comfortable quiet, watching the violet foliage pass by, and the sun collapse behind the horizon.
“You work tomorrow?” Keld asked.
“Yeah. Pretty much every weekday.”
A violent buzz from Keld’s pocket halted his reply.
“Sorry,” he said, extracting the phone and glancing at the screen.
Jiei
Keld let out a slow breath through his nose. “I have to take this. Why don’t you head in?”
Grayson’s face fell. Disappointed? Why?
