Imposter in Zebra-striped Briefs by C.C. Dado Read Free Book Online Page B

felt his face heat up.
    “Um, hi, Nathan. This is David. I was the dancer the other night at your friend’s bachelor party.”
    “Oh, yeah. Um, hi. What can I help you with today?” Nathan quietly banged his head on the counter, wishing his life had a rewind button, because he sounded like a customer service agent.
    Nathan thought he heard David chuckle under his breath. “Hey, listen, I wanted to apologize for freaking out on you the other night. I had a bit too much to drink before the party.”
    “No need to apologize. I did too. I barely even remember that night,” Nathan lied through his teeth.
    “Oh.” Nathan wasn’t sure, but he could swear David sounded disappointed. “Well, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to hang out. I could bring over some beer and we could catch the game or something.” David sounded a little nervous too.
    “Uh, sure.”
    “Cool. I’ll see you in like twenty.”
    “Okay,” Nathan said.
    “Bye, Nathan.”
    “Bye, David.”
    Nathan stood in the kitchen for a few minutes not moving, then realized he had twenty minutes. Was what he had on okay? What did you wear for a guy coming over to watch a game? Is that all this was, or was it a date? He was not going to mistake affection again. Maybe David wanted to be his friend. That actually made more sense than a super-hot ripped stripper coming over for a date with him. But why would he want to be buddies with him either?
    Nathan stopped thinking about it and left his apartment, crossed the hall, and banged on Brandon and Josh’s door.
    “Hey, Nathan,” Brandon said as he opened the door. He took a second look at Nathan’s panic-stricken face and called Josh. “Honey, I think Nathan is here to talk to you,” he hollered without taking his eyes off Nathan.
    “What’s… uuup?” Josh’s voice trailed off as he took a look at Nathan. “You okay, buddy?”
    “He’s coming over. Why is he coming over? He said he wanted to watch a game with me, and he’s bringing beer. Why would he want to watch a game with me?”
    “Okay, calm down. You’re fine. It’s called a date,” Josh said, moving in front of Brandon and grabbing on to Nathan’s shoulders.
    Nathan looked up at Josh, feeling like his eyes were going to bulge out of his head.
    “Seriously, dude, calm down. What time is he coming over?”
    “Twenty minutes, but that was like five minutes ago, so, oh God, he will be here in fifteen minutes.”
    “Okay.” Josh gave Brandon a quick kiss on the mouth. “I will be right back, baby,” he said with a little chuckle.
    “Take your time. I’m going to start dinner.”
    Josh turned Nathan toward his apartment and walked him across the hall, through the open front door, and sat him down on the couch. “Okay, now tell me why you are freaking out,” he said as he squatted in front of Nathan.
    “I don’t know how to do this.”
    “Do what?”
    “Date!” Nathan screeched. “The closest I have come to a date was kissing your neck while you tried to hide from your fiancé,” he admitted as his face flushed.
    “Let’s not forget you’ve also made out with the straight stripper,” Josh tried joking to lighten the mood but failed drastically. “Too soon? Sorry. It’s going to be fine, Nathan. You’re twenty-three. Have some fun. See what happens. He would not be coming over if he weren’t interested in you.”
    “What if he just wants to be my friend, like you did?”
    “He doesn’t.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “Because I’ve been with a lot of guys. Trust me. That man does not want to just be your friend.”
    “Okay.”
    “And if you’re going to practice, you might as well do it on a ‘curious straight guy.’”
    “Why?”
    “Because if you suck at it, no pun intended, he isn’t going to tell anyone about it. It will be like it didn’t even happen.”
    “Oh,” Nathan said, deflated.
    “Just don’t fall for him, okay?” Josh said, grabbing Nathan by the side of the neck