“What sort of things do you want to know, Alexander Bennett?” I laughed softly, reaching over to gently fix the collar of his shirt.

“Where are you from?” He smiled, rubbing my back with his fingers as his arm still rested behind me.

“Livingston, Montana. Small town.”

“Parents?”

“They're still with me. Teodoro and Remington Hope. You?”

“Ruthie and Jacob Bennett. My mum is actually from England. She met my dad in Auckland when her family moved there. My parents were five when they met and have been together ever since.”

“That's so sweet. My parents met because their parents are best friends. Oh, do you have any siblings?”

“A little brother, yeah. Zeke. He lives back home though. We're 18 years apart. He's 10 so we're not close.”

“Oh, so you're 28?”

“Just turned 29 actually. Laney told me you're 26. What about your siblings?” He shot back the rest of his drink and I finished mine with a smile.

“I have five. We all have C names. I'm the second of six actually. Closest to my older brother, Cassian. My sisters Cadence and Calliope live in California now. Cyrus and Cruz live with my parents since they're just now figuring out their lives. I have two nephews and a niece as well.”

“It sounds like you don't go home often. Your tone is cold,” he moved his hand to the nape of my neck and I shrugged.

“Not particularly but I do love my family. I just go home during the holidays so I'm not alone since Laney goes to Sydney. That's my next question. Why in the world are you in Indiana?”

“You're not the only doctor around,” he winked and I looked at him surprised, “Dr. Bennett at your service. I'm a hematologist.”

“Really? You study blood?”

“Well diseases that affect a patient's blood but yes. I finished my residency last year and have been working at Memorial Hospital ever since.”

“Well, aren't you impressive?” I teased gently, making Alexander laugh, his nose scrunching a bit and making me smile, “how did you manage that?”

“I finished my bachelor's in Auckland and decided to see the States. So I applied to quite a few universities and chose Notre Dame when I got my acceptance. Finished what I needed there and got to work.”

“Are you going back to New Zealand?”

“In 2 years. It takes time to transfer a medical license. I never planned to stay here for long. I have tests to pass before I can be licensed to practice in New Zealand as well. Are you going back to Montana?”

“No,” I shook my head and reached for my glass before realizing it was empty, “I don't want that. I love my family but I'm happier away.”

“Do you want another drink?” Alexander tucked my hair behind my ear and I nodded, “daiquiri?”

“Whiskey sour is my preference it's just easier to order a daiquiri since I always buy Laney her drinks.”

“Give me a second,” he smiled gently and left the table and I looked around to find that Delaney and Serena had left.

Pulling my phone from my pocket quickly, I found two texts from Delaney.

-D: You two were too busy flirting to notice that we had left. Alexi is a fucking catch, Caelan, and looking for something serious. The same as you if you'd just admit it to yourself. You'll have a lot in common.

-D: Also tell Alexi to order a ride and try to be quiet. We're not going to be available until tomorrow.

Gagging, I shoved my phone into my pocket as Alexander joined me with a confused expression.

“You made a disgusted and annoyed face,” he set my drink in front of me before taking his seat again, moving closer to me than before.

“Serena and Laney ditched us.”

“Yeah a while ago.”

“No, I mean they left the bar. Laney said you'll need a ride home since they're going back to her place.”

“Oh that bitch,” he sighed softly, running a hand down his face, “her place is my place. She rents a room from me. We're best friends after all. Funny she never introduced us until now. My dad calls it cliche.”

“What's cliche?”

“Two gay people live together and the neighbors assume we're married. He said it'd be a funny skit of us trying to explain we're both gay.”

“Ah try having six siblings and only two are straight,” I snorted, running my thumb down the side of my glass, “I've got two dads, both gay and one is trans. In order by age, Cash is straight, I'm bi, Cadie is pansexual, Calliope is straight, Cyrus is bi, and Cruz is gay. You'd think that would be flipped.”

“Zeke is too little to know I think. Well, he's 10 so maybe not. He doesn't talk about those things. I'm actually wondering if he's ace. He never seems to have crushes or anything along that line,” Alexander started to play with the bottom of my hair, “but it doesn't matter. Our parents accept us, no different than yours seem to.”

“Yeah. Okay, ask me a question.”

“Sounds fun. What's your favorite… food?”

“Lasagna with extra mozzarella. Favorite weather?”

“Rain. Hot or cold doesn't matter. I love the sound of the rain. If you could move anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

“Ah. This will be weird because you're from there and I'm worried if I say New Zealand you'll think I'm crazy.”

“Really?” He smiled as his eyes grew wide, “no one seems to want to live in New Zealand. Most people say Italy or Greece.”

“It's a mountainous island. That solves two things I want from life. A place to hike, climb, and camp. And an actual beach on the ocean. My dream is to live somewhere I can easily get to the coast whenever the urge calls. I'm free-spirited after spending so long alone. I just pack up and leave. But… I'm lonely, Alexi. I won't lie to you.”

“I understand,” he whispered as the sound in the bar increased rapidly. Slowly, Alexander leaned to the side and pressed his lips near my ear, “It's a bit too loud and full of people in here for me. Would you like to finish our drinks and walk to that cheap pizza place on the corner?”

“God yes,” I whispered back, my face burning when he left a feather-light kiss on my cheek.

We both drank the last of our drinks as fast as possible and I grabbed my denim jacket from the back of my chair, pulling it on quickly. Alexander fixed my hair for me, pulling the loose curls from under my shirt collar, and left his hands tangled in my hair for a moment. I squeezed his arms and he smiled, pinching my ear before holding his hand out.

“Come on,” Alexander smiled and I immediately took his hand, letting him pull me from the bar.

“Alexi?” I looked up at him and he nodded, “Why are you single?”

“Ah. I had a pretty nasty breakup when I left Auckland to come to school here. Kind of made wanting to date again difficult. I'm also not comfortable with casual and a lot of people seem to only want that. Delaney assured me you weren't the same way.”

“I'm not. She can tell you I'm not because I've never been with anyone. This is technically my first date.”

Alexander stopped, making me bump into him a bit, “so you've never… like physical stuff?”

“Oh I'm not a virgin,” I shook my head, laughing softly, “I mean I wanted to know how being with someone that way felt. I also have a healthy sex drive. I'm just shy and come off a bit cold. So it was hard. I was 16 the first time. Just a friend I knew from school. She was nice. Had a massive crush on me so that was a pain to deal with after. Then uh… oh! 18. Cute guy on my travel basketball team before I went to college. I mean I am bi after all. In my head, I thought I should know how it felt so I wouldn't be surprised or scared once I met someone I wanted to be with forever. I definitely prefer men, but I can be attracted to women.”

Alexander laughed and wrapped me in a tight hug, startling me, “I'm sorry but you're so fuckin’ cute. You took the act of sex and made it analytical.”

“Well I… I guess I did. I'm sure it'll feel different or better when I'm in love but I did enjoy it.”

“Caelan, I'm not big on intimacy without love or at least a stable relationship,” he ran his hands along my lower back and I shivered, laying my forehead on his shoulder, “so I won't take you to your house for that. It makes me happy to know you're the same way. But, I do want to make it clear that I'm very attracted to you and would like to continue to see each other. Can we go on our second date next weekend?”

“Really?” I leaned back, looking into his eyes, “I haven't scared you off yet?”

“Absolutely not,” he laughed, gently pulling my hair, “you're such an interesting person. I'm not sure why you think you're hard to talk to. I've done nothing but enjoy myself tonight being with you. So please, next Saturday let's go on a hike together. We can pack a picnic and enjoy lunch.”

“I’d love that but it's going to be pouring rain everywhere next weekend and while I love camping in the rain I don't know how fun eating a picnic in the rain will be. Instead, I have a sitting room off of my living room that is entirely made of windows and faces the St. Joseph River. I'll make us lunch and we can enjoy the storm together. If you don't mind cats of course.”

“You have a cat?”

“I do. His name is Hobbes. I found him trying to get into my garage last year. He was tiny so I kept him.”

“I love cats. I had one as a kid. Her name was Shelly. I found her on the beach when I was 5 and carried her all the way home. My parents let me keep her since they never thought I'd have a sibling. Then Zeke was born.”

“Your parents are younger, aren't they?”

“Oh yes,” he let me go and we started walking hand in hand toward the pizza place, “they were 15 when I was born. We lived with my grandma on her dairy farm. My dad owns it now and my mum works as a hotel manager. I send money every month to help with the farm. It's part of why I became a doctor. To take care of them,” he opened the restaurant door and let me go in first, his arm sliding around my waist, “they always took such good care of me and deserve the best.”

“They have you as a son. I think they already got it.”

“Oh you're smooth aren't you?” He teased as we reached the counter to order, “Hey there. Can I get a medium… what kind?” He looked at me and I pointed to the menu on the counter, “Ah perfect. Medium combination please.”

“You got it,” the employee smiled and Alexander pulled his wallet out, paying before I could say anything, “drinks are free for the night. There are cups by the dispenser. We’ll bring it to your table.”

“Thanks.”

Alexander pulled me to the drinks and we both got lemonade before finding a quiet booth in the back. I sat down and moved toward the middle, waiting for Alexander to sit across from me. Instead, he slid in next to me and smiled, making me giggle.

“We won't be able to eat sitting this way,” I covered his hand gently under the table.

“Oh I'm sure we'll figure something out,” he winked, “hm. I just realized I never got your phone number.”

“Give me your phone and I'll put it in,” I held my hand out and Alexander immediately gave me his phone, watching as I made my contact name Cae♥️. I also added my email before giving his phone back, “I can't always get texts at work but I'm on my computer all day so I'll see it sooner if you email me during the week. We're both doctors so I know how busy we'll be. Don't feel like you have to maintain constant contact. I'll understand.”

Alexander pressed his forehead to mine and I smiled, wrapping a hand around the nape of his neck, “I just noticed your freckles. They are so cute. I'm glad you won't get mad if I'm out of contact for a few hours or something. But I'll make sure to always call you when I get off work. If that's okay.”

“You can call or text whenever you want. I hope you'll be gracious if I'm not able to answer as well.”

“No need to worry about that. I'll just be happy you replied at all.”

I leaned against him and Alexander rested his chin on the top of my head, his arm tight around my waist now.

“You know what's funny?” He whispered, “I wasn't expecting anything out of tonight. I figured you'd just be polite or feel trapped by what Laney did.”

“Well. She was right after all. I hate it when she is. I'm at a point in life where I don't need to be alone anymore. It's okay to put myself out there. To meet someone and see what can come of it.”

“I'll make you a promise. To only date you. To only see what can happen between us and no one else.”

“You know what?” I sat up and smiled, “I promise the same.”

Our pizza was finally brought out and after we ate our fill we started walking to my car. I had agreed to drive Alexander home, knowing that it was more of an excuse to spend time together. He easily gave me directions and as soon as we pulled up outside, I parked and looked over at him.

“Tonight was nice. Thank you,” I smiled.

“I really liked it too. I'll text you when I get inside and you let me know when you're home okay? I want to know you're safe.”

“I will.”

Alexander gently wrapped his hand around the side of my neck and leaned over, pressing a slow kiss to my cheek. I grabbed his wrist, my heart racing, and I could feel him laugh more than hear it as he pressed a second kiss to my cheek.

“Goodnight, Caelen,” he whispered against my skin, “I can't wait to see you next weekend.”

“M-me either.”