Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Zolt exhaled, resting some of his weight on the counter as he continued staring at Leo. He didn’t know what he was hoping for, but if his continuous scrutiny made Leo uncomfortable, he’d count it as a win. “Makes sense. I bet Hank noticed we like each other”.
Liked. Definitely in the past now.
There it was. Zolt noticed, not without satisfaction, that Leo avoided his gaze, shifted his weight, then moved farther, to pretend he was admiring the aquarium.
“You’re friendly with everyone.”
“I’d be living in a cardboard box under the bridge if I didn’t know how to be friendly,” Zolt told him. It wasn’t a complete exaggeration. After he’d left his family home, Zolt had spent all the money he had at that time to get away as far as possible. It had been his resourcefulness and easygoing nature that gave him a roof over his head once his wallet was empty.
“I like your fish. I always check out what’s new with them when I come around,” Leo said as if he didn’t notice the tension building in the shop. From the look of it, Leo wanted to pretend nothing had ever happened and simmer in his unresolved sexual curiosity.
But his comment still pulled on a common interest, and Zolt found himself gravitating toward the tank. “Didn’t think any of you would appreciate them,” he said, gaze briefly swiping over Leo’s ass, only to settle on the violet male Zolt called Atilla.
“I’m no expert, but I just think it’s very relaxing to watch them swim about.” Leo shrugged and smiled up at Zolt as if they had never argued.
Zolt took a deep breath, staring at the elegant flow of Atilla’s tail as he swam over the sunken ship. “Yes. I got them when I moved in here. Dogs and cats are too much work. They demand things from you, but the fish? They won’t love you, they won’t hate you. They’re just there to be aesthetically pleasing. Perfect pets.”
“I’m a dog kind of guy myself. I can’t really find a girlfriend, so might as well get a dog, you know?” Leo laughed.
What was this impromptu date-by-the-aquarium? Sure, Zolt liked to stay friendly with people, but there was something in the way Leo talked to him that felt different than bros having a chat. Was it his body language or the non-threatening topic—he didn’t know, but he wasn’t fond of uncertainty either. Leo didn’t want him, had rejected him, but still tried to pull on Zolt’s strings.
“Why are you mentioning girlfriends? If this is another way of you telling me you’re straight, don’t bother. I understood you loud and clear last time.”
Leo stilled with his hand on the glass wall of the aquarium, and seeing him tongue-tied gave Zolt a bit of righteous pleasure. “Good,” Leo barked. “Fine. Christ. We don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. I’ll find myself something else to do.”
“Oh, we can absolutely talk about fish. Or about beer. Or about motorcycles, like normal guys. I’m just saying that you’re now completely safe from me. No need for chastity belts worn to sleep,” Zolt said, sending another stinging glare after Leo.
“My sister’s gay, okay? I’m no homophobe. You don’t have to be an asshole about it!”
“Yeah, and I have straight friends, which proves that I am capable of keeping my hands to myself.” So this wasn’t exactly true, since the people he met up with in his time off were all gay, but Leo didn’t need to know that.
Leo groaned and rubbed his face, hiding it from Zolt. “I’d really rather talk about fish.”
But his wish wouldn’t be granted because the Engagement Ring Man was back, and Zolt took that as an opportunity to make an exit.
“Good to see you. That piece must have made an impression,” he said, keeping his voice jovial. He would not let Leo’s presence obstruct his business.
“Y-yes. I realized I forgot to ask how much it was,” the man said and followed Zolt to the jewelry counter.
Another customer arrived, but Zolt was glad to unleash all his salesman talents on the Engagement Ring Man first, because he needed that damn trinket out of his shop pronto. The pitch was easy enough, because a few moments in the stranger’s company told him how little the man knew about jewelry. His ugly watch was yet more proof, no match for Zolt’s chunky Rolex. Made with real gold, it was worth thousands of dollars and was the most expensive item Zoltan had ever owned. His damn father could never have afforded anything like it.
But as he let the customer hold the ring, Zolt’s gaze drifted to Leo, and caught him next to a young woman in a sexy tank top and jeans. They shouldn’t have been standing that close, and when the woman tapped Leo’s shoulder teasingly, Zolt’s irritation reached its peak.