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“No Have you?”

“Nope You’re my last…”

“Conquest,” he supplied, twirling the straw in his cup

“So like that” My smile dipped when he narrowed his eyes suspiciously “What’s wrong? You don’t believe me?”

“No, I believe you I was thinking…you look very faht that we…”

“Fucked”

He cleared his throat and shrugged “Yes Uer sense of déjà vu now Like I’ve been here in this coffee shop with you”

“Well, that didn’t happen I would have remembered you,” I assured him

“Hmm Maybe” He flicked his wrist dis a no-nonsense glance my way “You said you had a sensitive issue to discuss I’ve been on pins and needles for two days If you’re going to tell me you have a sexually transmitted disease, please spit it out now”

I widened my eyes comically “No, I’m healthy I promise”

He exhaled noisily “Phew So…what is it, then?”

Okay Now I felt stupid

I sipped aze wander around the busy shop This place was always packed with college students and local hipsters The artsy decor and indie s didn’t do much for the acoustics It was loud

I leaned forward, resting one elbow on the table “This is going to sound weird, but…you knohen I mentioned that I’m bi?”

“Yes No one I know cares Your secret is safe with me”

“Thanks, but that wasn’t what I was going to say”

“What is it?” he prodded

Okay…here goes nothing

“At the risk of sounding like a complete nut job, I asked you to meet me because…you’re perfect”

He smiled coyly “Why, thank you”

“What I mean is…you’re out and proud And I don’t know you, obviously, but you seem very self-assured”

“I try to be”

“And you keep yourself in check with your personal grading systeh standards, and you don’t want to let yourself down Aht?”

He nodded “Yes That’s true”