Page 59 of Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

CHAPTER 13

ZACHARY

Ford: I told Brennan we had phone sex. He thought it was great.

What the fuck? I stared down at my phone, then I glanced up at Joel and Mateo, who were straightening each other’s bow ties in preparation for the ceremony.

Fuck it, I had a few seconds.

Me: I’m glad to hear he approves, but who’s Brennan?

Ford: Bike tour guy. I bought him a margarita.

Jealousy hit me in the chest with a sledgehammer.

Me: Oh? Is he someone you’re thinking about sleeping with?

Might as well ask so I’d know how drunk I needed to get at the reception.

Ford: No way. He’s married. And not nearly as sexy as you. Sorry, Brennan.

Ford: Oops, I meant to say that out loud and not type it. The sorry part, I mean. You are sexy.

I smiled down at the phone, my earlier jealousy vanished.

“Ready, Zachary?”

I jumped, fumbling the phone and only just saving it from falling to the floor. “Uh, sure. Sorry. Let me tell Ford I’ll text him later.”

“Oh, it’s Ford . When are we going to meet Ford , anyway?” Mateo tried to peer at my phone, so I turned my back to him.

Me: You’re sexy too. Gotta go. Wedding time.

I didn’t get to check my messages again until a good hour into the reception. Ford had been drinking with Bike Tour Brennan the entire time.

Ford: Have fun at the wedding

Ford: Brennan and I were trying to do the “mawage” lines from The Princess Bride but neither of us can do it right

Ford: Oh, good. Brennan’s husband can do the voice.

Ford: I can’t remember his husband’s name, but he seems nice

Ford: We’re talking about Bigfoot now. This is much more fun than trying to pick up guys at the bar

Ford: I wish you were here

Ford: Not that I’d want you to miss your friends’ wedding

Ford: I’d like to get to know you in person is all

“Awww.” I clapped my hand over my mouth and glanced around to make sure none of the guys were paying attention.

Me: I’d like to get to know you in person too. We do need to meet to exchange our bags. Can I buy you dinner in Austin?

His response came almost immediately.

Ford: Yes. Please. Brennan and his husband are happy for me. I showed them your picture. Not the dick picture. The one from the pool.

“What’re you grinning at? Is it Ford again?”

I elbowed Joel in the stomach as he leaned over my shoulder to try to see my phone. “If you must know, we’re having dinner when we get back to Austin.”

He whooped and held up his arms like he was signaling a touchdown. “Hey, everybody! Booty Call Zachary has a date with Ford, the guy he’s been mooning over all week!”

I pretended to punch him. “I do not do booty calls.” Which was true, mostly. Late-night Grindr hookups weren’t the same. To me, “booty calls” implied you were having sex with the same person multiple times, and I tried to avoid that unless it was someone I was interested in actually dating.

Like Ford.