“Did you get his number?”

Devoid of context, Gregory’s question went in one of Blane’s ears and out the other. “Did I…?” he repeated, furrowing his brow.

Gregory looked amused as he glanced up from sprinkling calcium powder on raw meat. “The guy who wanted to eat you up.”

Oh. Blane’s cheeks flushed and he frowned. “You mean, uh… when was that?”

“Don’t bullshit me,” Gregory laughed. “You know who I mean. I know he’s your type. Did he talk to you?”

“Yeah.” Blane glanced at the list of feedings to see what was left to prepare. That was it. Damn it, nothing to keep his hands busy. And he’d filled the prescriptions this morning already. “Uh, a bit. He’s an artist. Gonna be hanging out here for a bit… doing art.”

“An artist doing art, huh? Sounds hot.”

“Fuck off,” Blane flipped him the bird and grabbed his bowls of chopped veggies.

“Meerkats, huh? I saw him hanging out there a lot today.”

“Oh, shut up. I always feed them.”

“Mmm.” Gregory avoided the carrot chunk that Blane winged at his head. “I’m just saying! You were cute in the run-up to that date with Loser Accountant. Get back on the horse.”

Blane eyed him, unsure if that was a sex joke.

Gregory’s smirk grew, confirming his suspicion. “And if you end up riding it, well…”

“You’re way too comfortable with this for a straight guy,” Blane complained and led the way out of the kitchen. “It’s weird.”

“It’s only weird if you make it weird.” Gregory snickered. “Besides, maybe you’d be less touchy about everything if you were getting laid more—okay!” he ducked when Blane reached into his bowl again. “I won’t ask again. Until we meet again, anyway. That gives you ten minutes to go talk to him.”

“If he’s at the exhibit.”

Gregory broke into a trot and grinned over his shoulder. “Oh, he’ll be there. Pining for you.”

Blane couldn’t make a rude gesture in public, so he restrained himself to a filthy glare and then strode off to do his job.

That was all he’d planned to do, anyway. But when the familiar wooden gates and Plexiglass-lined viewing platform came into view, and a certain man perched on a low rock wall nearby, he almost forgot his resolution.

Falcon was staring off into the distance, his hands wrapped in a way-too-suggestive way around a water bottle in his lap.

Blane reminded himself that was all his own baggage he was bringing to the moment, but it didn’t stop the shiver, or the thoughts of what it would be like to see Falcon gripping…

“Hey, gorgeous.” Falcon gave him a saucy grin and rose to his feet. “Having supper with the meerkats?”

“Very funny.” Blane adjusted the bowls in his arms. “Last meal of the day. We’re closing soon.”

“I know.”

Now that he thought about it, Blane wondered: had Falcon really been waiting for him? What did that mean about his life? He found himself wanting to know more. “Back in a minute.”

The announcement went out over the speakers, and zoo staff spread out to find visitors and inform them that five o’clock was almost here. Blane made sure the meerkats were settled for the night, taking his time so he could compose himself.

He emerged again a few minutes later, his heart lifting when he saw Falcon still waiting there, scrolling through his phone. He’d half-expected him not to be.

“Sorry about that.”

Falcon looked startled and tucked his phone in his pocket as he rose. “What? No, it’s your job, man. I shouldn’t be hitting on you in the workplace anyway.”

“Oh, so you admit you’re hitting on me?” Despite himself, Blane was flirting. It was irresistible. There was something so… open about him. Big-hearted. Were those the words? He wasn’t sure. Falcon’s energy was just magnetic, one way or another.

“Sure I do. If I didn’t, nothing would ever happen, would it?” Falcon countered. “Unless you prefer the thrill of the chase and none of the catch.”

“I… like the catch.” Blane’s voice was soft, although there were no other guests around. He couldn’t remember feeling so interested in somebody before they’d even swapped numbers.

Falcon smiled. “So you’re single, or open…?”

“Single.” Blane wasn’t even pretending to keep this conversation friendly now. “Haven’t dated anyone in… a couple years now. Well, I’ve been on dates, but they usually end in disaster or that awkward ‘we didn’t feel chemistry all night, do we go for a good night kiss’ thing, or just… a hookup, and they never call.” He took a deep breath. That was a little more than he’d meant to say. “You?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean.” Falcon glowed again, his gaze intense as he watched Blane. “I haven’t had a real relationship since I was a teen, before college.”

“Seriously? Shit.” Blane frowned. “I mean, if that’s not what you want…”

“No. I guess it isn’t.” Falcon was wandering alongside him to the park entrance. “But like you said, dates just don’t tend to do it. I mean, I’m on Grindr as much as the next guy, but if you try and find something more there…”

“You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment,” Blane agreed. “I mean, now and then it seems like we might click…”

“And then they block you the minute they get out the door?”

“Yes!” Blane laughed, his shoulder bumping into Falcon’s. Heat rushed through him, and his fingers curled with the impulse to take Falcon’s hand. What the hell was going on? “Did you find out more about the animal painting auctions?”

“Only what you said. This sounds up my alley.”

“It’s sort of a wine-and-dine night. Sponsors and zoo members and guests and stuff. Pay for admission, bid on paintings, drink free wine… I get tickets, but I never end up bringing anyone.” Shit, Blane was in too deep now. “But, you know, if you’re around… I’ve got that second ticket.”

Falcon looked uncertain, but he offered a smile. “That’s real kind of you. You wouldn’t mind?”

“I’d love to bring you. That’s very southern all of a sudden,” Blane teased.

They were reaching the gates now, and Falcon seemed to realize it. His face creased in disappointment. “Shit. Yeah, I’d better go and let you go home.”

“If you must.”

Blane was acutely aware of a couple of the ticket booth attendants watching. “So, see you sometime?”

“I’ll be back in a couple days.”

“I’m sure I’ll see you around then.”

“Try online,” Falcon winked.

Blane raised a hand in a small wave, and Falcon gave him an awkward wave back and a laugh. As Falcon headed to his car, Blane went to lock up the kitchen and grab his stuff.

He was the last one out, so he shut off the lights. He fiddled with his phone all the way to the parking lot before deciding to do it. As he sat behind the wheel in the nearly-empty lot, he watched the dark screen load, then fill with a grid of small, square photos of men.

There. Less than a mile away, unmistakably Falcon’s face. He swallowed and tapped on it.

There wasn’t much in his profile. A good photo of him, it looked like he was the same age as Blane, but no profile text or statistics.

It occurred to Blane that Falcon might have set up his profile as bait for him. He’d take it.

Blane tapped out a quick message.

Hey. Got you. :)

By the time he got home, his phone had buzzed again.

You get a prize ;) I’m glad though. I like to leave digital breadcrumbs.

Blane laughed to himself.

So actually, you got me.

He was barely in the door when he got an answer.

Bingo. Wish I could make it to the zoo this weekend, but hoping for Monday. Do you work weekends?

No, Mon-Fri. It’s a nice schedule when I don’t have work to take home.

When you say work to take home…

Blane winced, then reminded himself that Falcon wasn’t that guy. He’d seemed interested in everything going on at the zoo. He paused, then tapped out an answer.

Every now and then we have an animal that needs hand-rearing.

Aww. Rescuing the world, one animal at a time. :) Any fun weekend plans?

Blane let out a sigh of relief, then scolded himself. Just because Falcon hadn’t freaked out at that one specific thing didn’t mean this was going anywhere. But the more the conversation went on, the more invested he was.

Going to meet some old school friends tomorrow. It’s always great to see them.

Awesome. I get dragged to a family wedding planning meeting for my sister. Groan. I’d rather drink paint water.

Blane laughed.

You’re not a wedding planner, huh?

I’ve always doubted I’d ever get married myself, so you know.

Blane caught his breath. It was kind of a relief that Falcon was so open—somehow, spilling his guts about his dating disappointments felt safer. His phone sounded again, drawing his attention back to the conversation.

Anyway I better run. Nice profile, handsome. TTYS? ;)

Thanks haha. Talk soon :)

When Blane came to, he found himself standing in the middle of his living room, grinning at his phone like a dumbass.

He was doing it all over again, wasn’t he? Getting attached while the other guy could just walk away. A couple of his exes had called him a hopeless romantic, and it was hard to deny.

“Dumbass,” he muttered to himself, but it didn’t stop the bounce in his step as he walked to the kitchen.

Maybe a little naivety would eventually pay off.