The Better Side of Me - Jerry Cole Page 0,22

wasn’t a date also helped immensely. It allowed for Kirk to relax and just be himself for once. Jessie and Otis always told Kirk that he was as good as any man out there, and that he just had to relax and be himself. It was advice that made sense in theory but was impossible to put into practice. But this here. This ‘non-date’ allowed for Kirk to be himself, to relax, to actually be interesting!

Oh, and then there was the wine.

“Let me know if I get a little sloppy,” Lance demanded about thirty minutes into dinner. The two were roughly three glasses of wine down at this point and where Kirk felt fine, Lance was evidently struggling just a little. “I don’t drink that much.”

“What happens when you drink?” Kirk leaned forward, looked into Lance’s eyes and smirked. The wine was having an effect on him too, and he was choosing to lean into it.

“Nothing good,” Lance winked and took another sip. “Or maybe it is good? Depends on where you’re sitting.”

“From here? I’m leaning toward good. But I’ll let you know in another bottle or two’s time.”

“Two?” Lance blinked. “If we get that far, you might have to carry me home.”

“Well I’ve been working out lately. So, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Oh yeah, they were flirting.

Kirk was still careful not to get his hopes up. One thing Kirk had always noticed about drunk, straight men was that they tended to get very flirty. He presumed it was just their ego, a sort of ‘I can totally fuck this guy if I wanted,’ sort of thing.

And yet... Kirk could feel the chemistry. He wasn’t a moron. He knew what mutual attraction felt like. And this was it.

It wasn’t until they finished eating that Lance straightened up and entered ‘business mode’ as he called it. “That’s why you’re here,” he said and cleared his throat. “The banter, wine and pizza are all just a bonus.”

“For you or me?” Kirk shot back before he could stop himself.

“Both...” Lance smirked and took a final sip of his wine. Despite how much he had drunk, he was holding himself quite well. “But stop talking. It’s time for you to listen.”

“I’m all yours – ears. I meant, I’m all ears,” Kirk hurried. It was a purposeful Freudian slip, and based on its reception, it was well worth it.

“All right.” Lance cleared his throat. “I asked you here because I said I had a proposition for you.”

“A business proposition,” Kirk corrected.

“Right. Anyway...” Lance gave his head a quick shake, then closed and opened his eyes as if trying to re-align his vision. “You remember my idea – the one you helped me with. With the protein-smoothies and the bar and all of that?”

“It rings a bell.”

“Well... after you gave me a hand, I went and spoke with the manager of Hercules... and he loved it! He really, really did.”

“Amazing!” Kirk’s heart was pounding. He still had no idea where this was going but was thrilled he’d had such an effect on Lance’s life.

“The only problem was funds. Hercules Gym just doesn’t have the money to fund the idea – Oh! I’m not about to ask you for money, by the way. I could see you were looking a little—”

“No, not at all,” Kirk laughed nervously and waved him down. “I didn't think...”

“I don’t want you thinking I invited you here to ask for money – that'd be weird as fuck. I want your help, is what I want.”

“My help?”

“Yes. I don’t think you realize how much you helped me the other day. Like, you seriously, seriously helped. And what I want to do now is create a sort of... a pitch, I guess? Like a portfolio that I can take to the bank and ask for a loan. My credit score sucks, and I have almost nothing to give up as collateral. But I figure that if you helped... maybe gave me some tips... that I don’t know?” Lance shrugged. “I just feel like with you helping me, I might have a chance. Is that stupid? It feels stupid to say out loud now – you know what. This was a dumb idea. I’m sorry I—”

“No, wait.” Kirk reached across the table and took Lance’s hand. It was the first time he’d touched the man like that and when he did, he almost pulled back immediately. “I want to help. Seriously, I do. I just don’t know how – I'm not a financial planner.”

“I know.”