Only twenty more minutes, Jaime thought, trying to console himself as he fetched the sanitizer from the kitchen and returned to the dining area. His sister seemed engrossed in her magazine. She didn't acknowledge him even when he stopped at the table next to hers, which was known as the brat table, and started cleaning.

Isaac was at the counter with a customer, making himself useful for a change. The customer was old enough to be Isaac's mom. But that didn't stop her from giggling like a teenager at something undoubtedly hilarious he said.

Jaime rolled his eyes while he wiped off the brat table.

"Olli, you're a woman. Tell me: what do women see in guys like Isaac Carrillo?"

Olivia looked up lazily from her magazine. She glanced at Jaime and then at the counter.

The woman tossed her hair over her shoulder in a flirtatious manner, and Isaac winked at her shamelessly, this woman twice his age, as he handed her her change.

Olivia shrugged. "Maybe we like him because he actually smiles. You should try it sometime. Plus, he's cute."

Cute, my ass. Jaime didn't see anything cute from where he was standing. Isaac was messaging someone, staring down at his phone. He'd clearly forgotten about the woman the moment their conversation had ended, while she was still shooting him longing glances from the waiting area.

He was such a douchebag. At least Jaime had the courtesy to go outside before messaging anybody. They weren't allowed to have their phones out in front of customers at all. But when their boss wasn't around to keep a watchful eye on him, the rules didn't apply to Isaac Carrillo. Even if the boss was around, she probably wouldn't fire him because she and Isaac's parents were good friends.

Jaime rolled his eyes. "Sure, Isaac's very cute… if you’re into for the buff, generic douchebag jock type of guy."

"Wow, someone's extra salty today." Olivia shot him a look over the rim of her glasses. "And what's with the way guys can never just admit other guys look good?"

“Oh, no," Jaime replied, pointing his index finger at her. "I can see where this is going. And you lost the right to make any comments about me feeling insecure about my masculinity when we both hit puberty and you ended up taller than I did."

The difference was only an inch or two, but people just loved reminding Jaime his sister was taller. Somewhere, something had gone horribly wrong in their gene pool. They must've switched genes, as Jaime was left short, skinny, and had two left feet, while his sister was tall, athletic, and played for the best local women's soccer team. If Jaime ever joined a soccer game, it'd probably be as the ball, being kicked around.

Olivia shrugged. "Fair enough, no masculinity comments," she said. "Hey, check on my pizza, ‘kay? I'm starving, and I don't want to have a full stomach during practice."

"Sure."

Jaime gathered the dirty wipes and left the table. After depositing them in the trash behind the counter, he took out his phone on his way to the kitchen.

Olivia would never, ever make a comment about him being insecure about his masculinity if she knew what he was going to be up to tonight while she was at soccer practice.

He was, in fact, very capable of admitting guys were hot, too. So capable that his sister would have to crown him king of masculinity. Maybe. The jury wasn't entirely out yet, and he was only carefully sticking his toe out of the bisexual closet with tonight's hook up. What did he really want out of this? Jaime didn't know himself. But he did know the curiosity, and the need to be sure was slowly suffocating him. He'd spent weeks installing, deleting, then re-installing and re-deleting the dating app before finally daring to actually talk to a guy, promising himself it would be a one-time experiment.

Phone Company - do not answer: Busy again? [Sent: 17:40]

Phone Company - do not answer: Orrrr nervous? You should be. did you know I'm actually a 60 year old pervert? [Sent: 17:44]

Like hell Jaime would admit he was a nervous hookup amateur.

Me: why do you think I'm on here? my fetish is 60 year old perverts [Sent: 17:50]

Me: I'll be very disappointed if you're not [Sent: 17:50]

Phone Company - do not answer: haha! what about you, no picture guy? still not sending me one before we meet? gotta wonder what you're hiding. Are you really 17M, Latino, shortish and kinda cute? [Sent: 17:50]

Me: yup [Sent: 17:51]

Jaime had decided to be honest about his looks. There was really no point in lying, and saying he was a tall, athletic guy when he was, in reality, a short and scrawny guy, if they were going to meet. Horniness goggles could be very strong, but he'd probably notice that difference.

Me: and like you should talk, mr I downloaded some stock image of abs and tried to pass it off as me. You didn't show me your picture either. Are you really 17M hot and athletic? [Sent: 17:52]

Jaime had called him out on the stock image thing ("I know how to reverse image search you know"). That's actually how it had all started. Cue some insults and sarcastic verbal sparring the next day, and suddenly they were exchanging numbers and names and agreeing to meet. But Jaime was a lot wittier when typing than he was in real life. He really hoped he wouldn't disappoint by being shy. He would be shy. Not only was he completely unaccustomed to internet dating, this was also his first and only gay hookup.

This was insane. Completely bonkers. Why was he doing this again? “Curiosity” and “because he could” suddenly didn't seem like good enough reasons anymore.

Phone Company - do not answer: as a token of my sincerity, I actually took a real picture of my abs - feel free to reverse search it, will come up empty. They're better than the Google abs too [Sent: 17:52]

Jaime received a picture.

And he instantly remembered why he was doing this again, his heart rapidly pounding in his chest. Jesus, “Phone Company” Al was not lying. His real abs were better than the fake image, and it looked like a young guy's body. That was a relief. He didn't look sixty. And if he was actually sixty, he was the kind of sixty Jaime might be able to get on board with.

Phone Company - do not answer: taken today - hot off the press. it's my best asset. personality included [Sent: 17:53]

Me: that is your best asset? Ew. never mind that date :') [Sent: 17:53]

Phone Company - do not answer: right? we can just skip the date and hop right into a bathroom stall. Let me know when you leave k? [Sent: 17:54]

Jaime snorted in a most inhuman way, making the cook glance up and raise an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing," Jaime hastily replied.

Me: yeah, you're definitely a 60 y/o perv. and will do [Sent: 17:54]

"Quit watching your cat videos and move your ass." The cook pushed a plate his way. "Your sister's pizza's ready."

"Right, right. Going." Jaime tore his eyes away from the screen. He snatched the steaming plate and ignored the cook muttering "kids these days" under his breath.