Dust of Snow by Indra Vaughn Page B

orange and red glows over his
thick hair. It lay loose over his forehead, like he’d washed it and
let it air dry without running a comb through it. My fingers itched
to touch.
    Around us the bar filled up. People who’d
been dining were slowly being replaced by groups of partygoers
drinking. Waiters and waitresses still tried to make their way
through the throngs, but they were having a hard time of it.
    “I’ll go get us another drink,” I said, but
Ashley waved me down.
    “This one’s on me,” he said. “You want the
same?”
    I shouldn’t really, since I had to drive home
and these things were pretty strong, but I said, “Sure, why
not.”
    Ashley stood and weaved his way toward the
bar, and I kept my eyes on him the entire time, which explained why
I didn’t see the guy approach until he sat down opposite me.
    “Hi.”
    At first I thought he was a boy with his
large baby blues, wispy hair so blond it looked almost white, and a
huge, guileless smile.
    “Uh…” I blinked. “Hi.”
    “I’m Jake.” He looked me up and down.
Definitely not a boy.
    Had I met him before? He stared at me as if
we had, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember him. “Gregory,”
I said. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
    He laughed and dipped his head. Reaching for
a forgotten straw wrapper, he began to roll it up and straighten it
out. “No, unfortunately.”
    “So, what can I do for you then?” I asked,
dragging my empty glass closer just so I had something to hold on
to.
    Jake smiled, his eyes crinkling at the
corners. “Is the other guy your boyfriend?”
    “Ashley?” Oh. Ohhh , now I got it.
Crap. My insides clenched. “No. We… uh, we work together.”
Reluctantly I added, “And I don’t think he’s seeing anyone right
now.” Why was I saying this to a stranger?
    The straw wrapper was completely smooth when
Jake lifted his eyes from it and gazed right at me. He looked
stunned for a moment and blinked slowly. His eyelids were huge, and
rounded off with long lashes so pale I had to look hard to see
them. “I wasn’t…” He cleared his throat, smiled shyly, and began
fidgeting again. “I wasn’t asking for him .”
    What.
    I struggled for something to say, but before
I could, a drink appeared in front of me, and instead of waiting
for Jake to get up, Ashley slid into the seat beside me.
    “Hi,” he said to Jake, holding out a hand.
Jake stared at it for a second before shaking it. “I’m sorry, I
didn’t see you there or I would’ve brought you a drink. You’re a
friend of Gregory’s?”
    “No, actually.” Jake smiled but there was an
edge to it this time. “We just met.”
    Ashley’s gaze shifted from Jake to me, his
eyebrows rising in a question I didn’t understand. “This is Jake,”
I offered lamely. And then came up empty. What else could I say?
The notion that he’d come over to hit on me hadn’t sunk in yet.
    “I see,” Ashley said. “Well, I didn’t mean to
interrupt.” He grabbed his drink and went to stand, but I took hold
of his arm.
    “Where are you going?” I asked. I don’t
want you to go .
    Opposite me Jake looked between us, and then
the real smile was back. He stood up, taking the straw wrapper with
him. “My mistake,” he said with a glint in his eye. “It was me who
didn’t mean to interrupt.” He winked at me, mouthed something that
looked like good luck , and left.
    “What was that?” I asked.
    Ashley turned in his seat and gave me an
incredulous look. “Are you kidding me? That kid wanted to take you
to the barn, giddyup, and call you Daddy.”
    I felt my face go beet red. “He wasn’t—he
wouldn’t—that’s not—”
    Ashley smiled a bit, and the strain left his
face. “Are you sure you don’t want to take a chance? He was very
pretty.”
    “He was, but no. I’m okay, thanks.”
    Ashley leaned closer, his knee pressing to
mine. “Not because of David still?”
    I took a drink, set the glass down, and shook
my head. “No, Ash.” Our