Read Better Than Good for Free Online Page B

and right now, which would you rather be? Come on, we’re heading this way.” I directed him up the avenue.
    Along the way, he chatted nonstop about the party he’d just been to. A work gathering. Someone’s birthday. He was supposed to go to his best friend Jay’s house later, but he’d just text him and tell him he had other last-minute plans. He told me about a new layout he was helping the photographer with for his magazine shoot. And on and on. It was enchanting, honestly. I got the sense that things were never dull in Aaron’s world. He wouldn’t let them be. He asked about me, but I was able to give him only the briefest of updates before we were at our destination.
    The bar was packed. It was wall-to-wall people. I signaled for him to follow me and made my way to the bar.
    “What do you want?” I yelled above the din.
    “Umm… let’s see. A cosmo, please.”
    “Aaron. This is a bar bar. How about a vodka soda or vodka cranberry?”
    “Really? They can’t throw in a little triple sec and lime juice? Fine. I’ll have a vodka cranberry, then. But make it strong. I was at a work party. I’ve had like two sips of wine tonight, and now I’m in enemy territory. I need a drink more than anyone here.” He gave me a dramatic eye roll and flipped his hair back from his eyes. All it did was make him look even more adorable, especially since he was still wearing my jacket. I had to fight the urge to lean over and kiss him.
    I ordered our drinks and asked the bartender if I could get word to Sam that I was here. Maybe give him a note or something. A waitress picking up drinks from the bar said she was heading toward the stage area. She would tell Sam I was there in the audience. I gave her my name and thanked her. I played in the same kinds of bars Sam did. Sometimes we played together. We always let each other know when we were at a show. It was good to know you were playing to at least one friendly face. Helped steady the nerves, I thought.
    We were still at the bar when she came back to us and instructed us to follow her. We made our way to a very small table placed to the right of the makeshift stage.
    “Sam reserved this table for guests. It’s yours tonight.” She gave me a flirtatious smile and seemed to flash a bit of cleavage as she leaned forward to place our drinks on the table.
    Aaron noticed too. He gave her a cool smile and leaned back in his chair. He then sprung suddenly to his feet and shrugged off my jacket, making a big production of handing it back to me.
    “Too hot for me now, Matty. Do you mind taking your jacket back for me?” He batted his eyelashes at me. Seriously. I noticed his voice had a more feminine note as well. Was he jealous of the waitress’s attention? This was new territory for me. Once again, I felt unsure. The glass of vodka soda I ordered would help a little with my unease.
    Aaron was uncharacteristically quiet for a few minutes once he took his seat again. He swept his gaze warily over the crowd as though trying to gage what sort of folks came to bars like this. I could tell he was feeling a little uncomfortable. He caught me watching him and flashed me one of his beautiful smiles before taking a big gulp of his vodka cranberry. I wasn’t surprised when he started choking.
    “Easy, big guy. There’s no hurry.” I patted him on the back the way my mom had always done to me when I was little. I’m not sure what she thought that would do, but that silly pat was an ingrained gesture in my family.
    Aaron gave me a weak laugh as he regained composure.
    “The bartender must have heard me ask for a stiff one. Ha! Pun only sort of intended.” He laughed out loud at his own joke, and I couldn’t help but join in. His laughter was infectious. “Better be careful, Matty. I get a little slutty when I’ve had too much. I don’t want to do anything you’ll regret in the morning.” He giggled softly. Geez, I was beginning to wonder if Aaron had eaten at all. I leaned