"Just as friends," he added quickly. A soft chuckle followed. "I know you're taken."
We met at a restaurant close to both our workplaces and settled into a leisurely punctuated by bouts of laughter and disbelief. For you see, I finally let Noah in on what I've really been up to since graduating from university back in Florida. He didn't believe me until I pulled up Simone's old profile at our former agent's website, as well as some photos of her and I together.
"Are you shitting me?" he said. "Are you absolutely shitting me?"
"No," I said plainly. "I'm telling you the truth. No shit whatsoever."
"I would have never suspected. I would have never thought... You were so low-key back in high school. I mean, how did you even get involved in all this?"
I gave him the Cliffs Notes version. Soon, however, I got tired of talking about myself and asked him to fill me in on his life. He lost his passion for team sports during university and is glad that he finally came out to his friends and family. He had a few boyfriends in college -- nothing serious, though he and an older guy (and by older I mean mid-30s; not truly old, just older than Noah at the time) had a thing for close to two years.
"I guess that does it," he said, after a second glass of wine. "Anything else we should talk about?"
I couldn't muster myself to bring up Simone's request. Too much, too soon. However, Noah did share that he and his latest squeeze were no longer together. It was a mutual decision, he said. Nothing worth getting upset about, really.
"Let bygones be bygones," I added. "I've had my fair share of those."
"Really?" Noah asked. "What was her name?"
"Rebecca. Another escort, believe it or not. She lives in _______ now. I still think of her now and then. I mean, Simone is great, but Rebecca was first, the most serious..."
Noah smiled. "The one?"
"Like you said, let bygones be bygones."
Noah didn't buy it -- he told me so himself. I couldn't help but chuckle. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted two attractive young women giving us the eye from the bar. I smiled politely, then turned back to Noah. He didn't notice, which isn't surprising. I suppose not noticing women goes hand-in-hand with being a homosexual.
"So what, they're hoping to get lucky with the both of us?" Noah asked.
"Not necessarily sex. They probably just want to talk."
"Hmm. Talk. Sounds kind of boring."
"Yes, well, best we ask for the check then," I said.
Noah and I bid adieu in front of the restaurant, and on the walk home I couldn't help but think of having to tell Simone that her plan was a no-go. I just didn't get the idea that Noah was into women in any shape or form. Simone would be disappointed, I thought, but she'd get over it.
Me, on the other hand... I got the best deal of all: a new friend.
And when Adam and Bailey visit during Thanksgiving, things will be even better.
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