Love In Slow Motion (Love Beyond Measure #2) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,40

So, I’ve had to learn other ways to trust someone’s sincerity and form a connection beyond being able to see them.”

“Oh,” Hudson breathed out. “Oh. Shit, I didn’t mean…”

“I know,” Fredric told him. And he was on the edge, knowing he had the choice to let him off the hook or not. “Seeing is the status quo.”

“Doesn’t mean I wasn’t a huge asshole just now,” Hudson admitted. “I meant a personal connection, but I said it all wrong. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t say it was fine, because it wasn’t. But he wasn’t going to torture the poor man either. He was already kinder than John, and even if they didn’t get past a first date, getting to the end of dinner would be a bigger win than the last try.

“Do you like Greek food?”

Hudson was quiet a moment at the sudden change in topic. “When it’s good, yes.”

“There’s a place not too far from where I live, right off the A1A. Athena’s? They have really nice rooftop tables with an ocean view.” He bit his lip as he waited for a reply.

“I think I know it,” Hudson said softly.

“We could do six-thirty tonight. Beat the dinner rush?”

“If you’re sure…”

“I’m not going to crucify you for a single, thoughtless comment,” Fredric told him, and he meant it. “And look, if the date goes well, we can walk up the boardwalk together and get to know each other a little better.”

“That sounds perfect,” Hudson told him, and just like that, it was done.

Fredric debated about texting Ilan to let him know that he had another date on board, but he wanted to prove he could do this on his own first. Maybe he’d need back-up. Maybe he couldn’t do this at all. He hated the phrase damaged goods, but sometimes that shoe fit a little too comfortably. On both feet.

Taking a fortifying breath, he stood up and called for Sebastian, then shuffled outside to lean against his fence. It didn’t take long to hear the creak of the door on Agatha’s lanai, and he smelled her soft floral perfume before she said anything.

“Can I throw the ball for him?”

Fredric smiled and gestured for her to come through the gate, which she did. Bas let out a happy yip, and Fredric made his way back over to the chairs and waited for her to join him. “I think I have another date,” he said as he heard the ball whip through the grass.

Agatha let out a soft hum. “Not with that one guy?”

“God, no,” Fredric answered with a laugh. “No. His name is Hudson.”

“He sounds like a TV doctor.”

At that, he grinned widely and turned his face toward her voice. “He’s a divorce attorney. We talked on the phone for a bit. I feel like this is going to be a mess, but he’s probably not going to try to get someone to blow him in the bathroom while we’re waiting for apps.”

“Unless he wants you to do it,” Agatha pointed out, and Fredric blushed hard because while he had considered the idea of fucking a man, he hadn’t let himself think about it too closely.

“I think that’s at least third date activities,” he finally answered. He waited till he heard her throw the ball again. “I want to get one date right. I want to have dinner and conversation and maybe a walk afterward. A kiss at my door would be icing on the cake.”

“That sounds very much like your generation,” Agatha told him. “On our third date, Ted and I went to see a play, then he drove to a dirt road and ate me out for like an hour in the backseat of his car.”

“Jesus,” Fredric breathed out.

There was silence, then she said, “Sorry, I just shrugged. It felt right, you know? Like sometimes holding hands feels right, and sometimes having a really good orgasm does. Don’t try and define it with expectations.”

“Have you ever thought about going into philosophy?” Fredric mused, and she laughed.

“Yeah, but I’ve met people who came out of the philosophy department, and I decided to hard pass.” He laughed, and she stood up, walked off, then came back a moment later. “Do you want a ride?”

“I actually think I’m going to take Bas with me,” he answered her. He and Bas had spent the week going from his front door to all the shops within a mile radius, and Athena’s had given him extra plain chicken for Bas in his take-out box because he’d given the