“There. You look wonderful.”
When Lorenzo stepped back, Thomas Garner peered at his reflection in the mirror.
The new striped button-up shirt and khaki slacks he wore looked okay, but he still
had his same old boring brown hair and hazel eyes. He also hadn’t lost any weight or
gained any new muscles in the past few minutes. ‘Wonderful’ was probably an
overstatement.
“Are you sure you’re not saying that because you’re my friend?”
Lorenzo laughed. Denny, Lorenzo’s partner, came up behind them and whistled.
“Nice, Tommy.”
Tom grinned to hide his nerves. “Thanks. Now let’s go, before I chicken out.”
A few minutes later, Denny pulled into a parking spot across the street from their
destination. Tom got out of the car, taking deep breaths. God, he was nervous. He
hadn’t been to a place like this in years, since the early days of his relationship with
Michael. He’d never really liked the bar and club scene anyway. The only reason he
stood here tonight, about to go into a gay bar, was because Lorenzo had insisted it
was past time he started getting out again.
And he was right. Michael had been gone two years now. Tom still loved Michael,
probably always would, but he was ready to date again. Who knew, maybe he would
meet someone interesting tonight. Even if he didn’t, braving the bar scene would be
good experience. He hoped.
“Come on! I’m freezing.” Denny’s voice pulled Tom from his thoughts.
“Sorry.” He trailed behind his two friends, not quite able to match their enthusiasm.
When Lorenzo stepped back, Thomas Garner peered at his reflection in the mirror.
The new striped button-up shirt and khaki slacks he wore looked okay, but he still
had his same old boring brown hair and hazel eyes. He also hadn’t lost any weight or
gained any new muscles in the past few minutes. ‘Wonderful’ was probably an
overstatement.
“Are you sure you’re not saying that because you’re my friend?”
Lorenzo laughed. Denny, Lorenzo’s partner, came up behind them and whistled.
“Nice, Tommy.”
Tom grinned to hide his nerves. “Thanks. Now let’s go, before I chicken out.”
A few minutes later, Denny pulled into a parking spot across the street from their
destination. Tom got out of the car, taking deep breaths. God, he was nervous. He
hadn’t been to a place like this in years, since the early days of his relationship with
Michael. He’d never really liked the bar and club scene anyway. The only reason he
stood here tonight, about to go into a gay bar, was because Lorenzo had insisted it
was past time he started getting out again.
And he was right. Michael had been gone two years now. Tom still loved Michael,
probably always would, but he was ready to date again. Who knew, maybe he would
meet someone interesting tonight. Even if he didn’t, braving the bar scene would be
good experience. He hoped.
“Come on! I’m freezing.” Denny’s voice pulled Tom from his thoughts.
“Sorry.” He trailed behind his two friends, not quite able to match their enthusiasm.
| Excerpt "One Night Stand" Friction Anthology |
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