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Their hug was perfunctory, not nearly as clingy as the embrace Bobbi had given me, and after a quick wave to the rest of his friends, we crossed the bar.
As we passed by Percy’s table, he started running his mouth again. “You think you’re so smart—”
I jabbed a finger in his direction, fed up. “Shut your mouth before I shut it for you.”
Percy gaped, his mouth hanging open instead of shut—but he’d gone silent, thankfully.
I pressed a hand to Clark’s back to urge him forward. “I hope it’s okay I did that.”
Clark looked up, his eyes full of absolute trust in me. “Yeah, thank you. Pretty sure he’ll leave me alone before he risks your wrath.”
I wasn’t a violent guy. I’d had approximately one fistfight in my entire life, and that had happened when a drunk asshole tried to grope my wife in a bar. But the way Clark looked at me made me feel ten feet tall.
It had been a long damn time since someone looked to me for reassurance. Holly used to lean on me a lot, and maybe it wasn’t good that I’d enabled her dependency, but I missed being someone’s rock. It wasn’t the same with Toby. Sure, he needed me to be his parent, but he pushed me away more lately than he pulled me close. He was no longer at the age where he wanted me to read to him or put him to bed or even hug him. I insisted now and then, much to his annoyance.
But this…this reminded me of the part of being in a relationship I missed. Maybe this thing with Clark was for show, but there was no rule saying I couldn’t enjoy it, right? Without the fear of jumping into dating too soon for me and for Toby, I was free to indulge in these little moments and no one had to be the wiser.
We reached the sidewalk outside without any further nonsense from Percy, and Clark gestured toward the far end of the block. “I’m parked down there.”
“Okay, I’ll walk you over.”
We were both quiet as we strolled down the sidewalk. My mind was whirling with thoughts of how this might all play out. Should we just go out to dinner, then let the gossip take care of the rest? Would that even work, considering most of the town knew I was straight? What if people needed to see us kissing before it was believable? Was I ready to go there?
Clark stopped before we reached his car, suddenly blurting, “Are we really doing this? Like, really?”
I turned to him. His face was illuminated by streetlights. The rosy blush was gone, but he still looked like an angel with those blond curls, smooth pale skin barely showing a hint of stubble, and pink, pouting lips. Yeah, I thought I could handle kissing him if it came down to it.
“Are you having second thoughts?” I asked.
“No.” He hesitated. “But this is kind of a big deal for you. Everyone will think you’re into men if you do this.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not a homophobe, Clark. My brother is walking around this town in a dress half the time. You think a little gossip is going to scare me away?”
“I don’t know. Accepting gay people and being perceived as one yourself are two different things. I just want you to be sure you’re ready for that.”
I stepped closer, brushing a wayward curl off his forehead. “I’m sure.”
“And what about Toby? We can’t let him think…”
“No, I know. I won’t lie to him.”
He exhaled, some of the tension leaving him. “Good. I think it’ll be good for Toby to let go of his worry that you’ll be snapped up by some woman who’s going to replace his mom.”
My heart twisted in my chest. “Shit, did he say that to you?”
“More or less,” Clark said.
“Damn.” I shook my head. “I know he’s been stuck on this idea I’ll reunite with his mom, and I’m not sure that’s good, but I hate that he’s been upset by all this attention I’ve been getting, you know? He shouldn’t have to see that.”
“I agree. And look, I know it’s not ideal he’s hanging on to the hope that you will reconcile with your ex, but it’s entirely normal. He needs time to accept it won’t happen. Nothing you do or say will change that. And if you try to rush him, by dating a woman…”
“That’s not happening,” I said firmly. “I’m dating a man. You might know him. He’s the best damn teacher in Granville.”
Clark smiled. “I think I may have heard of him. Kind of geeky? Wears too many bowties?”
“I like your bowties. If you’re a geek, then you’re a cute one.”
Clark looked away, blushing, and I grinned. Yeah, dating him wasn’t going to be so hard. Maybe convincing people we were the real deal wouldn’t be either if I could put blushes like that one on his face with a simple compliment.
