Page 27 of His Choice

“Each stood out in their own way,” I said, trying to sound diplomatic. I was about to praise each, but I sensed Emilio wanted to cut in.

“Especially Mikey, right? Looks like we’ll have some liquor-fueled drama coming our way in the next week,” Emilio commented with too much glee.

I shook my head. “Both he and his roommate, Aaron, said he doesn’t drink.”

“Hard to believe,” Emilio jumped in with a laugh. “He drank plenty.”

“I think what they meant was, until tonight, he hasn’t been a drinker,” I clarified. “The poor guy was nervous. I certainly won’t judge him based on one miscalculation.”

“Mikey and Aaron have come a few times to the diner where Keller and I work,” Simone added. “They were always sweet. And it’s true, I don’t recall ever seeing either of them order alcohol.”

“Yeah, me either,” Keller agreed. “Although I have to say, I’m surprised to see that Aaron dude on this show. He sure seemed to have an eye for the pretty girls.”

“So did you,” Adam pointed out. “Yet here you stand with your boyfriend, Mitch. I was the same, but I’m married to Myles. You of all people should recognize it isn’t just one or the other for everyone.”

“Yeah.” Keller nodded. “I suppose. But he never gave me a second look.”

Mitch chuckled. “Aww, don’t take it personally, Keller. Maybe he just heard you were taken already.”

“Or maybe he’s just into old guys like Cliff,” Flynt piped up, earning glares from Adam, Myles and Mitch. Flynt gulped, recognizing he might have offended with his choice of words. “Um, I mean…men in their thirties?”

Emilio attempted to regain control of the conversation. “Speaking of more…mature men, tell me your thoughts on Brighton. He was the oldest of the contestants and seven years your senior.”

“I liked him,” I admitted.

“He was a dreamboat. I’d take him in a heartbeat,” my mother chimed in.

I forced a grin. “Too bad for you that this isn’t The Golden Bachelorette instead of His Choice.” Considering Brighton acknowledged his bisexuality, if my mother flirted, she might have a better chance with him than I did.

She shot me a smile that I knew was a warning. “Ah, c’est droll, darling. I don’t think they’d cast a woman in her early forties.”

Emilio ignored the obvious lie, considering they knew my age. “So, Cliff, you liked Brighton.”

“As much as anyone can in the course of a few minutes,” I answered.

“Were there any potential red flags with others?” he pressed. Dani and Daryl hadn’t altered my opinions after I spoke with them more during the cocktail hour, but I wasn’t about to volunteer that yet.

“Everyone seemed great.”

Emilio appeared disappointed that I had nothing more interesting to share. “Well, let’s see what your friends and family think. First impressions, guys. Around the room. If you had to choose someone right now for Cliff, who would it be?”

The camera zoomed in on Simone first. She swallowed a few times, looking my way to gauge whether I’d be annoyed if she weighed in. I nodded to let her know I was curious as to what she had to say. “Well, I thought Brighton was handsome and classy like Cliff. But I also liked Ted…maybe just because he was such a hunk.”

The group chuckled. Ezra spoke next. “I could see Ted as the choice, too. He seemed like a responsible guy, and he’s into fitness like Cliff.”

Adam scratched his neck. “I don’t know. Sure. Ted.”

Myles contemplated. “He seemed nice. But I’d like to learn more about Alex. Isn’t he pre-med? Serious, quiet, studious…”

Adam snickered, rubbing the back of his husband’s neck affectionately. “Your kindred spirit.” He turned my way. “Cliff, if Alex is anything like Myles, I’d change my vote to him. And he’s nice looking, right?” It still amused me that Adam wasn’t turned on by men other than Myles, so he saw them through a lens of whether their features aligned to traditional views of attractiveness.

“Very,” I confirmed.

Keller shook his head. “No offense, Mr. and Mr. T, but Mr. Walker needs someone who’s going to shake it up a little, not encourage him to hide and read more books. I vote for Daryl. I get the sense he’s a good time in the sack, too.” He turned to look my way. “At the end of the day, that’s important.”

Mitch cleared his throat, shaking his head at his boyfriend. “Uh, I’m not sure after meeting Daryl that he would be someone I could see enduring…”

Keller snickered. “Looked like a guy with plenty of stamina, to me.”