Finding Love Again: Adrian's Story

Part 2: The Drink

It had been a few days since the handsome Grayson Thorne had first been in the bar and he'd come in each night since, sat at the bar and ordered a drink, so when he sat at the bar in front of Adrian with a charming smile Adrian returned it with a nod of his head. He tilted his head and watched Adrian work, his dark brown eyes focused on him, a soft sigh escaping him as he gently bit his lip.

"Hello handsome, it's good to see you again, how are you this lovely evening?" he asked resting his chin in his hand and gently taps his bottom lip as Adrian poured him a drink and sat it in front of him.

"I'm good Grayson, and you?" He asked him wiping his hand on his bar towel and leans against the liquor shelf beside him. He watched Grayson take a long slow drink and sit the glass down on the bar and slide the tip of his index finger around the rim of his glass as he looked up at Adrian with a smile. Adrian's breath hitched at that smile, it was both charming and adorable at the same time and it was starting to work on his resolve.

"Better now that I'm here talking to you my handsome barkeep." He said with a grin and a wink as he lifted his glass toasting Adrian and takes another drink, emptying his glass. Chuckling Adrian picked up the bottle sitting beside him on the bar and refills his empty glass then watches him drink from his refilled glass. As he drank his eyes remained on Adrian, which made his cheeks redden because no one since Tucker had been this interested in him. If a man that had claimed to love him more then anything and want to marry him could just wake up one day and just toss him and their son out like garbage, what chance did he have with a man like the one that sat in front of him. Shaking his he took a deep breath and replaced the bottle on the shelf and turned back to the bar.

"You must really love the liquor here, you've been here every night drinking." He said filling a bowl with peanuts and sits it on the bar next to Grayson's drink and watched him take a handful and toss them into his mouth. He chuckled as he leaned forward and beckoned Adrian forward with a smile on his face.

"You're a smart man Adrian, do you really think I come here every night to drink and eat salty peanuts in a smoky bar?" He asked looking at Adrian as he moved closer and leaned on the bar looking Grayson in the eyes with a soft sigh. He smiled when Adrian shook his head and looked into his eyes and his cheeks took on an alluring rose shade as he admitted what he knew.

"No, but you don't want to have anything to do with me Grayson, I'm cursed and it might rub off on you and I'd hate for that to happen, you're to great of a guy for that to happen." He said looking at the man across from him as he started to draw away from the bar and Grayson but was stopped by a gentle hand on his arm and a smile.

"Don't you think you should let me make that decision Adrian, I really like you and I'd love to get to know you better if you'd let me. Cursed or not you're the handsomest and kindest man I've met in a long time and I'll take my chances." He said moving his glass aside as he looked at Adrian. "Now how about after your shift I buy you a drink and you tell me more about yourself?" He asked smiling at him as he gently stroked Adrian's pale hand.

"I suppose, but just so you know I come with a lot of bandage Grayson, more then you'll probably want to deal with." He said watching him stroke his hand then let his eyes travel back up to his handsome face with a weak smile.

"I look forward to hearing all about it when we have our drink." He said as he slowly released Adrian's hand and sat back on his stool, watching him as he returned to work, counting the hours until he was off work.

Adrian returned to work, trying not to look at the dashing man he'd just made a drink date with, but it was hard to concentrate on his work while Grayson sat at the end of the bar watching him work, nursing a beer and a bowl of peanuts. He couldn't believe he was actually getting back into the world and not sitting back and watching it pass him by, he'd let Tucker's action rule his life long enough and it was time to find happiness again. The rest of his shift went by slowly and on his break he'd used his free time to call home and let Damon know he'd be home late and why, his brother was happy for him and when Damon told his wife, Regan, about his having drinks with Grayson Adrian heard her squeal as she grabbed the phone from his brother.

"This is great Adrian! I'm so happy for you, I was so worried you'd let what happened with that bastard Tucker keep you from finding someone else." She said over the phone as an infants coo came over the phone with her words. "I expect you to let me and Damon to meet this guy soon, alright Adrian, he's got to pass my expection before I give you two my blessing." She said with a smile in her voice.

"I will Regan, I promise you that hon, I have Dev to think of and I don't want anyone around him that's not going to love him like he deserves to be loved." He said sighing softly as he thought of his son that was with him with his brother and sister-in-law. "Tell Dev I love him and that I'll be home as soon as I can." He said with a smile as she agreed and wished him luck before hanging up. Going back to work he spent the remainder of his shift serving drinks to tipsy bar patrons, occasionally glancing at Grayson who still sat at the bar. Finally when 1 am rolled around Adrian untied his apron and when to punch out for the evening, coming back out he was met by Grayson who had gotten them a table in the corner of the bar and already ordered the drinks.

"That was the longest four hours of my life, waiting for you to finish your work and join me Adrian." Grayson said as he showed Adrian to his seat and then sat across from him and offered him a drink. He accepted it with a soft thank you and took a drink, building up the courage to look the handsome man in the eyes.

"I know what you mean, I kept watching the clock and wishing it would go faster so we could have our drink." He said sitting his glass on the table and looks at Grayson with a soft, shy smile as he licked his lips. Grayson smiled at Adrian's shyness around him, he could tell he was afraid of being hurt again but he intended to prove that he wouldn't hurt him if he could help it.

"So tell me about yourself Adrian, your family, friends hobbies, I want to know everything about you my handsome friend." He said sipping his own drink as Adrian sighed and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants.

"Well I was born over seas, around Rome and was abandoned by my mother the same day, it's not as bad as it sounds." He said when he saw the expression on his face. "She's not much of a mother anyway, I would let her raise her hand if it were my decision, my best friend is my younger brother Damon, he's been there for me when I needed him the most. I and my adopted son live with him and his family right now... I was living with a man, his name was Tucker and he said he loved me and wanted to be with me. We were even engaged and planned to raise my son together, but one morning he woke up and decided he didn't want either of us anymore and told us to leave our home." He finished then looks up at Grayson, expecting to shock and revulsion in his handsome features. But to his surprise he sees only concern and understanding, something that he'd never expected to see, he was so surprised that he smiled at the man across from him.

"I'm sorry that this Tucker was such an ass to you Adrian, in my opinion he had to be completely stupid to let you go, I'd never be that stupid." He said taking a drink, keeping his gaze on Adron as he leaned forward to get closer to the man across from him.

They spent the next few hours just talking and drinking, just enjoying each other's company and growing closer both physically and in what they had learned about the other. Looking at his watch Adrian's eyes widened slightly when he saw the time, it was almost 3:30 in the morning and the bar would be closing soon. Gathering up his belongings Adrian thanked Grayson for the drinks and the lively conversation, starting to leave Adrian felt Grayson's hand on his shoulder. Turning he looked from Grayson's hand to his face with wide eyes as they looked at one another in silence for a few moments.

"I enjoyed our time together, would you like to have dinner sometime? Maybe on your next day off." He asked letting his hand fall from Adrian's shoulder and shoves them in his pockets as he looks at him.

"I'd love to Grayson, I have to work the next two days but we could have dinner after that, maybe at the ACME Oyster House, one of my coworkers say it's very good and I've always wanted to try oysters." He said looking at Grayson who was smiling. Grayson nodded with a smile on his face at the thought of a date with the stunning man in front if him.

"Great, I'll meet you there at say seven thirty, and I'll call you if anything should change, but I doubt it will." He said taking out his phone and gives Adrian his phone number, then with a smile and a very gentlemanly bow he left the bar with a look over his shoulder at Adrian. With a soft sigh Adrian smiled as he left the bar and got in his car, he actually had a date, with a man that was handsome, charming and so very kind. Getting in his car he laid his head back against the headrest and smiled, a soft laugh escaping his lips. His lift was finally getting back on track after it had been derailed by the sudden loss if what he'd thought was the love of his life, starting the engine he couldn't wait to get home to tell Devon that Daddy had a date.