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Noel nods, immediately understanding. “The passion for art…”

“You can easily learn the tools,” I say. “Sure, someone with the job experience or with the right background would make things easier. Cedric has neither. But he is motivated and loves the work. He can learn everything else. I guess that’s why we work well together.”

Noel stays quiet for a moment. “You are an interesting man,” he says quietly.

I eye him curiously, and he shows me a smile. He seems to be like he usually is, but something does feel a little off. Maybe my imagination.

*NOEL*

I promised myself not to let my mom ruin this date for me. She has ruined so much for me already, she can’t ruin any more. Not when I, for the first time, met a man I really like. Aden is nothing like the stuck-up businessman I thought he would be before I went to that gallery opening. He also isn’t anything like the arrogant, intelligent genius I thought he would be before I met him for our first date. I was sure that since his art and his gallery made him successful, he’d be full of himself, but he isn’t. However, he is also not like the angel-like being who I’d put on a pedestal all those years ago.

He is just nothing like any of it, and it’s making me fall head over heels for him. It scares me, but I can’t help it. I like how calm and serious he is without being stoic or closed. He seems to have his boundaries, but he is patient and he listens.

He is fucking good listener!

He is also fun to talk to. I can’t remember that I ever had a boyfriend, who I actually liked talking to, or who liked talking to me. Aden seems to be truly interested in what I have to say, how I feel, and what I think.

It’s such a new concept to me that it makes me feel terrified as fuck.

I just can’t fuck this up. I can’t!

It’s that mixture of joy to be here with Aden, and the feeling of doom that he will realize how much work I am, how muchbaggage I carry around, and that I am just not good enough for him.

“Noel?”

I raise my gaze, looking right into Aden’s dark eyes. It sends a shiver down my spine. Man, he can look intense. “Sorry, did you say something?”

“I just asked you if you are alright?” He puts a hand on the small of my back, making my heart skip a beat. I am not sure if he notices, but this is such an intimate gesture, especially when we are out in public. “You seem to be distracted.”

“I am sorry. I was just taking everything in.”

“Is that all?” he asks, still looking at me through his thoughtful eyes.

I can’t lie when he looks like that.

“I might not have slept well recently,” I admit.

His eyes suddenly cloud with worry. “I am sorry. I probably made it worse by dragging you out here.”

“I am actually so glad you did.”

As if Aden couldn’t get any more perfect, he reaches out his hand to touch my cheek softly. “I will fetch us something to eat. Maybe that will help.”

“Are you not scared?” I ask. “Or embarrassed?”

“To eat? No, not really.”

I feel my cheeks heating up, wondering if he is just teasing me or seriously that oblivious. “I mean, scared of showing affection“—I swallow thickly before I continue—“towards me.”

“No,” he says simply. “Everyone knows I am gay, and I invited you here as my official date. Everyone here knows it now. I would never invite a simple fling to such an event.”

“We are official?” I ask. Wait… is he serious?! I am not just a random fling?

“Aren’t we?” He purses his lips. “I guess it sounds weird to you, because we barely dated. We don’t need to put any label on usyet, but as for me, I am not going to see anyone else. What do you think? Do you want to keep things open?”

“Yes!” I blurt out. “I mean, no, I don’t want to keep things open.” I can’t help but beam at him. “What I wanted to say was yes, for me, we are official too.”

“Then we are on the same page.” He smiles. “As for showing affection openly… if you feel uncomfortable, I will make sure to watch out when we are in public. I am sorry, I should have considered that.”