The BL Nook

Chapter 5: He Knows Me And Jack Got A History

We hit the first bar, and as we were getting carded at the door, I leaned over just enough to peek at Josh’s ID. Come to think of it, I’ve never asked how old he is…
Twenty-six. Two years older than me. Ugh, so annoying. He even looks hot in his ID photo. Cue the dramatic eye roll.

We got lucky and found two empty seats at the bar. As we sat down, Josh flagged the bartender.
“Two Jack and Cokes, please,” he said. Then he turned to me with a cheeky grin. “And what are you drinking?”
“Oh, ha-ha. You don’t have to order for me. I’m not your date”
“Lucky for me, huh?” he winked. “I figured that’s your drink of choice”
“And how exactly did you ‘figure’ that?”
“That’s Tyler’s go-to. I figured all you backwoods Minnesota hicks drink the same thing.”
“Well, damn. Rude.”
He threw his head back in laughter. “I mean it with love!”

Josh glanced around the bar. “I picked a chill spot first. Figured we could talk a bit and have one drink. There’s mostly older women here though, unless that’s your thing.”
I smirked, taking a slow sip. “Hey, older women can be hot. If I find a cougar, maybe I’ll take her home.”

Josh blinked. Then, without warning, dropped his head with a dramatic “Pfff.” The bartender came back just in time to catch his moment of defeat.

“Here you go.”

Josh handed over his card. “Keep it open, please.”
I tilted my head at him, confused. 

Didn’t he say we were just having one drink?

Reading my expression like it was printed in bold, he added, “Since you love older women sooo much, we might as well settle in for the night.” He kept a straight face for a second… then cracked a smile.
“I wouldn’t say I love them,” I muttered. “I’ve just never dated one.”

He squinted at me like he was scanning me for lies. “Okay, real talk. What’s your type?”

I took another drink, eyes drifting lazily around the room. “Hmm… I guess someone with a great body. Like, obviously works out. Beautiful eyes. Smart. Sarcastic as hell. Has to make me laugh. But also has a cute side.”

Josh suddenly burst out laughing. Like, full-on, can’t-breathe laughter.

“What the hell is so funny?!”
He covered his face with both hands, still cracking up. Then, peeking at me through his fingers, I saw those stupidly beautiful black eyes gleaming.
He reached out, squeezed my shoulder, and said with a stupidly smug grin, “Dude. You just described me.”

“What?”
“I’m smart. You die laughing at my jokes. I’ve got a killer body. I basically live at the gym. And don’t pretend you haven’t complimented my eyes before.”
He raised one finger per trait he listed. I laughed, flustered and annoyed by how not-wrong he was.
I shoved him. “Pfft… You’re such an idiot.”
“Aw, it’s okay,” he said with a grin. “We’ll find you a girl version of me. But, y’know… I’m one of a kind.”
He winked. That goddamn wink.
“Shut up and drink,” I muttered, cheeks burning.

I chugged my drink way too fast and waved for another one. Josh didn’t take his eyes off me, not for a second. He looked amused. No… fascinated.

Eventually, I glanced down and realized I’d put away five Jack and Cokes.
“Oh, shit…” I blinked at my phone. “It’s already 1 a.m.?”
Josh was already closing the tab.
I pulled out my wallet to give him some cash, but he shook his head. “Nah, man, it’s on me. You can get the next one.”
I shoved the money in his hand anyway.
He laughed. “Fine. I’ll use it for the tip.”

As he signed the check, I stood up and leaned into him. My arm went around his shoulders, and without thinking, I whispered into his ear, “Gotta hit the john.”
My lips brushed the shell of his ear.
I pulled away fast, suddenly realizing what I’d done.
He chuckled. “I need to go too. Wait for me.”
I didn’t.

By the time I got to the restroom, he was right behind me. He stood at the urinal next to mine, fumbling with his pants.

“Fuck no! Go to the other one!” I kicked at him sideways.
“What?! Why?!”
“I don’t wanna see your huge dick, that’s why!”
He paused. “Wait… how do you know it’s huge?”
I laughed, covering my face with my hand. “I saw it in the locker room showers.”
He gasped and slammed himself against the wall, trying to cover his body with his hands.
“You were watching me in the shower?!”
I grinned. “Maybe close your shower curtain next time.”
“Oh, great. Blame the victim!” He stalked off to a stall. “No peeking, perv!”

I couldn’t stop laughing. He was so flustered, but it was definitely performative. He liked the attention, the dork.

---

We left the bar, and the cold air slapped us in the face.
“God, it was hot in there,” I said with a breathy sigh.
Josh slung his arm around me as we walked. We both leaned on each other to keep from stumbling. He started singing, loudly, getting stares from strangers. But I didn’t care. His voice was nice. He waved at a group of girls, fully drunk now.

“Hey,” I said through a laugh. “I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Is it true you switch gyms to avoid girls you trick into sleeping with you?”
He stopped mid-step and dropped his arm from around me.
Then, slowly, dramatically, he sat down on a nearby bus bench and groaned into his hands.
“Oh no, no, no, NOOOO!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I looked around, half laughing.
“Who told you that?! Tyler? That jerk!”
“….”
“You’ve got it all wrong!” he whined. “That happened one time! She came on to me! She was hot, okay? Smooth skin, no hair, just how I like them! We texted, she came over, and she pounced on me! But I ghosted her after… I wasn’t ready for anything serious. But that was years ago, I was just a dumb kid”
“Okay, okay, crybaby. Let’s go.”

I helped him up, his arm wrapping around me again. He was sulking.
“Do you forgive me?” he asked, nuzzling his head against mine.
“Yes, yes! I forgive you,” I laughed. I agreed with him to move on. I nudged him playfully.
“Hey! That tickles!”

By the time we got to the lobby, I was cackling, he kept singing the same dumb song from earlier.
“Shut up! People are staring!” I hissed, kicking him lightly.
He just sang louder until we reached the elevator.
Then he stopped, grinning.
Inside, he pressed the button for his floor, and suddenly I got curious. About his biceps. 

I grabbed his arm with both hands, running my fingers over his bicep. God, it was solid. He watched me quietly.
“Hey… what’s happening?” he asked, voice softer.
I didn’t answer. I just looked up. We were face to face. One hand was still on him, and he was flexing slightly, holding my gaze.

Then, out of nowhere, he buried his face in my shoulder.
My heart jumped.

“Ugh… this elevator is making me sick.”
“Josh… the elevator’s not even moving. You forgot to press the floor, you idiot!”
“Heh, oops. But why’d you stop feeling me up? That felt nice.”
“Just get us upstairs! I’m tired. I need to get my shit and go home.”
“Stay over.”
“What?”
“Spend the night. No big deal.”

---

Inside, he handed me a shirt but the sweats were way too big. I stayed in my boxers.
“No toothbrush?”
“You can use mine,” he smirked.
I kicked him out of the bathroom. Literally. 

When I came out, he was already half-asleep, lying face down on the bed in nothing but his boxers.
I slid into the other side, plenty of space between us.

We’d argued earlier. I wanted to sleep on the couch. His argument was that the couch was uncomfortable and if I slept on it, I would ruin it. 

“Are you going to buy me another couch?! That’s a $7,000 couch!”

His argument was flawed but I gave in nonetheless. I needed to sleep. It didn’t matter where. Plus, A $7,000 COUCH, IS HE INSANE!

I looked over at his back, breathing slow. His head was turned away.
Bubble butt, I noticed, amused.
“Why the fuck are you naked?” I asked, half-joking.
“I’m not,” he mumbled. “Boxers. Just like you.”
“But at least I’m wearing a shirt.”
“My body runs hot.”

I tried getting comfortable, but it was no use. Frustrated and cold, I inched closer to him. Still not close enough.
Then I saw his arm stretched out, palm up towards me. 

‘If I touch him I might get warm’ Drunken logic. 

I reached out and gently placed my hand in his.

The warmth hit me instantly.

His fingers curled around mine, soft and slow. Like he was holding something precious.
Then he opened his hand again, slid our fingers between each other’s, intertwining them.

That tiny gesture sent a wave through my chest. My heart slowed.

Safe. Warm.

I closed my eyes… and let sleep take me.