Page 15 of Scrap Metal & Love Reforged

“Are you asking if I find you attractive?”

“If you like,” he said.

I drew in a deep breath. “I’m not…outto everyone.”

“I understand that. I was really fortunate to have supportive parents,” Seth replied. “And a lot of enormously kind people in my life. I won’t tell anyone. If it makes you feel better, I’d just sort of guessed you were gay. I’ve been around a lot of gay guys, and I can just sort of tell, most of the time.”

I had supportive people in my life, too. But I still had doubts about how well they’d all take something like this. I’d learned that people could really surprise you sometimes, and not always for the best.

“My apartment is near here,” Seth said, as we wandered onto the sidewalk, “If you want, we could swing?”

“And do what?” I asked.

“Just look. See my space. Unless…” Seth trailed off and looked as though he was considering something.

My pulse quickened. “Unless?”

Seth clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Unless nothing,” he said. “What did you think I wanted?”

“I think you…” I trailed off. “Are you coming on to me?”

“Would you like me to?” Seth asked, stopping before an apartment building.

I gazed upwards at the white pristine building with gilded doorways and glass doors etched with floral designs. “So this is how the other half lives, huh?”

Seth laughed, his face becoming a bit sheepish. “Yes,” he said, “The other half.”

I took a deep breath. A delighted shiver went down my spine. My toes curled, as I imagined pushing Seth against those expensive glass doors. “I might like to see it,” I said.

It had been so long since I’d slept with another man, and that had been a one-night stand. I’d never really had sex with someone Iknew, although I didn’t really know Seth that well either. He was just some guy I’d met at work.

Seth gave me a coy grin and a wink. I hesitated. Then, I followed him, and the closer I came, the quicker I wanted to go. I was really doing this. “God, Seth,” I said.

“Hm?”

Seth typed in his passcode and shoved the glass door inwards.

“I haven’t done this in a really long time,” I confessed.

“That’s all right,” Seth replied. “We can go at whatever pace you like.”

It took all my willpower to keep my jaw from dropping as Seth and I crossed the white and gilded lobby. A crystal chandelier glowed overhead; it was as large as a car. Seth continued up a short staircase, covered in a red carpet, trimmed with golden embroidery.

I trailed him, suddenly all too aware of my stained jeans and battered jacket. “They aren’t going to throw me out of here, are they?”

“Only if I tell them to,” Seth said mischievously.

We entered a gilded and crystal elevator. Seth typed in his code on a keypad and clicked the button for the penthouse. As we soared upward, I watched the gilded floors pass and then, the city of Bluehaven in all its glory. To be fair, Seth's apartment building wasn't the tallest building in all of Bluehaven. I bet you could see an incredible Bluehaven skyline from his balcony. When the elevator doors opened, we stood in the largest, most beautiful apartment I’d ever seen.

I whistled between my teeth as I took in the sleek, minimalist apartment and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Bluehaven. The lights of the buildings and cars from below disappeared this high up which highlighted the stars in a sea of black. This place probably rented per month more money than I’d ever earn in my life. Everything was white and freakishly clean, too. “This is nice,” I said.

“Thanks,” Seth replied. “It’s new.”

Maybe that was why it didn’t look like him. I’d expected Seth’s apartment to be something brighter, for it to have spots of red or maybe purple.

“I like the view,” Seth said, throwing his jacket onto the sofa as he walked into the living room.

I kept my coat on, suddenly aware of how cheap and worn it felt for me to throw it over Seth’s furniture.Ifelt too poor and soiled to be here.