Upside Down(45)

“I do?”

“Sure. Like Feri,” he said, nodding toward where Feri was talking to another couple at the counter. “Most people would have described him as short, kinda round, Hungarian, or loud. All they see are obvious physical descriptors. But not you. You said he has the best laugh. You see a trait that embodies him as a human being.”

I was a little stunned by his assessment. He had an uncanny way of stripping away the bullshit and seeing the real me.

“Oh,” he added, then leaned across the table. “And you’re a great kisser.”

I snorted out a laugh and let my smile linger as I studied him for a moment. “It was kinda great.”

His cheeks drew a nice pink, and he rolled his eyes. “Actually, it was terrible. It was so bad, I think we might need to practise a whole lot more until we improve. And the hand holding needs work; there should be much more of it until we have it mastered. And we haven’t got to hugging yet, but I’m confident enough to know there will probably be a need for much training. I hear repetition is key.”

I laughed. “Most definitely is key.”

Just then Feri came over to ask if there was anything he could get us, but we were done. We halved the bill, bid Feri good night, and walked out into the street. The night had gotten dark and cold, and we both shoved our hands in our jacket pockets for warmth as we began walking back toward Cleveland Street.

“So we should try and organise a meeting of friends,” I suggested. “For me to meet Angus, and for you to meet Michael. Or do we leave it a while and just enjoy being us for a bit.”

“I don’t mind,” he replied. “I’d say you could meet Angus right now, only he’s getting his itch scratched and won’t be home until morning.”

“An itch?” I asked. “Does he need antibiotics?”

Jordan snorted. “He probably will after.” Then he explained. “He has a couple he meets up with every other weekend when they have an itch or when he does. If you get my drift.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. When I said we’re very different, I meant it,” he said with a smile. “He doesn’t really want a relationship, I don’t think. He just likes to hook up when it’s convenient. And the fact that there’s two of them isn’t such a great surprise, knowing Angus. A husband and wife who enjoy his company every so often, maybe every second or third weekend, with no strings attached. But apparently they’re super nice and they treat him well, so that’s all I care about. Plus, it’s how Angus likes it; he doesn’t want complications or anything but mind-blowing sex every so often. So when I say he’s getting an itch scratched, it’s getting scratched very thoroughly.”

I chuckled. “Sounds like it.”

“So if the universe has a quota of the amount of sex allowed, then Angus evens out my loss,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t want any, and he does two at once. Like I said, we’re very different, but maybe that’s why we get on so well.”

“How did you meet?” I asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Well, it’s a bit weird, but the real estate agent who manages rentals hooked us up.”

“Hooked you up?”

He made a face. “Not like that, God no. I meant hooked us up. She knew I was looking for a new place and the unit was perfect, but I needed a flatmate to help cover rent and she knew of someone else who was looking and she asked me if I’d seen Notting Hill…” He grinned. “The rest, as they say, is history. That was three years ago.”

“Notting Hill?”

He nodded. “Yep. You know Hugh Grant’s flatmate? The tall, weird Welshman?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s Angus. Except he’s not tall, and he’s Australian, not Welsh.”

“Sounds… fun.”

“Never a dull moment, that’s for sure.”

I had wondered about his dynamics with his flatmate, or best friend, or brother as he’d called him. Jordan had said they were close but very different, and I’d wondered if they had some kind of history. I couldn’t deny the selfish stab of relief when he confirmed there’d never been anything physical between them. I knew everyone had a past and exes. I had my own. But I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about them still living together.

We’d somehow managed to walk ourselves to my place. “Oh,” I said, rather stupidly. I pointed to the townhouse I called home. “Um, this is me.”

“Oh!” Jordan looked kinda horrified, and if I could read him properly, he looked anxious. “I um, I should, uh…” He glanced up the street.

“Jordan,” I said gently. “I can call you a cab or an Uber right now, and I’ll even pay for it so I know you get home safely. Or you could come inside? I can promise you there will be no pressure for sex or anything, really. Although I wouldn’t be opposed to maybe some more kissing or hand holding. And I’m pretty sure Deep Space Nine is on Netflix, and I haven’t seen it in years.” I was nervous and it was very obvious. “I’ve just had a really great day and I don’t want it to end yet, but if you want to go, it’s totally fine and I understand, I really do. It is kinda late, but if you do want to leave, please let me pay your Uber fare because as much as I love this place, it can be kind of sketchy at night and—”