Even in someone else’s dreams, Kirk didn’t think it was possible. Men like Lance just didn’t notice men like Kirk. Lance was top tier, and Kirk... well, he was mid-range at best.
But this wasn’t a date. Every time Kirk looked himself over in the mirror, every time he adjusted his glasses, or double-guessed his shirt, or considered a different cologne, he reminded himself that this was not a date. Tonight wasn’t going to end in anything other than a handshake.
As for the reason for the dinner? Lance wanted to speak to him about a business venture. What that business venture was, Kirk hadn’t a clue. But he didn’t really care. Truth be told, it would just be nice to bask in the man’s presence for a couple of hours.
Even the restaurant of choice wasn’t too “datey.” It was an Italian pizza place in Western Sydney with a casual ambience that was geared more toward friends looking to eat and drink, rather than couples looking to stare into one another’s eyes all night long. When Kirk walked into the restaurant, he spotted Lance tucked away in the back, a half-finished glass of red wine in front of him.
“Hey!” Lance called out and waved Kirk over. Kirk gave a sort of half-wave designed to not appear too excited and made his way toward the personal trainer.
“Hey there,” Kirk offered up as he slid into the seat. “Didn’t recognize you without the gym gear on.”
“Surprising that I own more than just tank-tops and bike-shorts, right,” Lance joked.
“And I guess you sleep in a normal bed too? Not on a gym bench,” Kirk followed up. He was actually pretty funny when his nerves allowed him to be. They just rarely did, is all.
“No, I do,” Lance said seriously. “But I have a comfy pillow and a blanket, so I get by.” He smirked to himself as he took a sip of wine. And then, as if he were purposefully trying to throw Kirk off his guard, he winked.
Lance looked good tonight too. Oh, so very good. He was dressed up a little more than Kirk was, having opted for skinny tan chinos that struggled against his bulging thighs; a button down shirt with the sleeves half-rolled that looked as if it was having a hard time keeping his chest and shoulders at bay; and a cologne that Kirk couldn’t place, but that had him wanting to lean in and sniff the man all night long. Even his shaved scalp looked as if it had been polished.
“So... what’s good here?” Kirk said stupidly.
“The pizza, apparently,” Lance joked. “At least you would hope so. Nothing like going to a pizza place that makes shit pizza.”
“Is the wine any good at least? Maybe they went cheap on the chefs, knowing everyone would just be too drunk to notice anyway?”
“Not a bad idea!” Lance chuckled and threw back the rest of his glass of wine. “If the whole university thing falls through, you might have a calling in the fine dining industry.”
“You mean fine drinking?” Kirk shot back quickly. “And average dining.” His pulse was up, and his heart was thumping. How Kirk had managed to get through that, he will never know.
“Obviously,” Lance winked.
Kirk could feel the tension beginning to ease. Truth be told, there wasn’t much tension in the first place, and any that may have existed was most likely on account of him. He had come into this dinner a nervous wreck and was now shocked that he was actually doing half-decently.
“The wine.” Kirk went for the wine list. “Oh— can I even drink? Is this part of my new meal plan?”
Lance scratched at his chin for a minute. “I’ll allow it,” he said. “It’s important to find that balance between business and pleasure, you know?”
“Huh?” Kirk blinked. The moment that Lance had said the word ‘pleasure,’ Kirk’s stomach had done a back-flip.
“Never mind,” Lance grabbed at the menu. “Come on, let’s order. I’m starving.”
The next hour and twelve minutes – because Kirk was counting – was the best date that Kirk had ever been on. But that was probably because this wasn’t a date.
First of all, he still wasn’t entirely sure if Lance was even gay. Oh sure, the man dressed well, looked after himself and had a slight effeminate streak about him. But that’d didn’t mean anything. He might have been straight, but not macho. He might have been straight, but not the kind to rub it in one’s face.
The fact that this