Page 13 of Forgotten Prejudice

“Am I making you feel awkward?” he then asked.

“N-No. Not at all.” I swallowed my embarrassment. “It’s just… I think you got the wrong impression of me.”

Soren let out that soft chuckle again.

“And I think you’ve got the wrong perception about yourself, beautiful. So how about you let me take you out on a date so we can see who’s right?”

He was so good with words, making it even more obvious he was out of my league in every possible way. Yet, he wanted me, and it felt nice.

“Okay.” I smiled to myself. “But I’m letting you know that you’re set up for disappointment.”

“That’s never going to be the case.” His words carried a promise. “Sadly, I have to hang up now, but I’ll text you the details.”

“O-Okay.” Seems like this is the only word I can come up with at the moment.

“I truly can’t wait to see you, Ashton.” With that, he ended the call, leaving me with a big-ass smile plastered on my flushed face.

Fanning myself since it was suddenly incredibly hot inside my pickup truck, I got out. His game was unreal, leaving me even more insecure about my lack of experience. It was also amazing how confident Soren was.

Was he out? Did his friends and family know he was gay? Or was it a secret? I quickly brushed off those thoughts. A man like Soren probably had no secrets to hide as he was perfect.

Walking into the restaurant, I greeted everyone and was soon asked by Rob to go and do inventory in the back storage. I loved doing this task since it took at least an hour and was much easier than working with customers.

Our storage room was a small unit in the back of the restaurant, so to get there, I had to go outside through the rear parking lot. Still giddy about the talk I’d had with Soren, I pulled out the unit’s keys and was ready to start working when I spotted Kai smoking with his eyes closed while leaning against the wall.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” I asked, pocketing the keys while checking out his uniform.

“I took a smoking break,” he said, opening his eyes. They were bloodshot red, meaning he was either tired or stoned. Going by the dark circles around them, I wanted to believe it was due to the former.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, and he snorted a tired laugh. Frowning at his reaction, I moved to open the door when he blocked my way.

“What’s up with that face, Ash?” He pointed at me, and I pushed his hand away.

“You’re being an asshole right now.”

“I thought that’s what you liked, no? Assholes?” He grinned. “Or do you prefer to be the one getting it?”

“Fuck you,” I snapped, hurt by his words, but he didn’t seem to care and instead flashed me a toothy grin.

“I’m just joking, Ashy.” He put his hand on my shirt and tried to pull me close.

“Don’t touch me,” I argued, pushing him away only for him to grab my hips and turn us around so my back hit the wall.

“Suddenly, you don’t want me to touch you?” He leaned close, his lips an inch from mine.

His breath reeked of alcohol, and I wrinkled my nose.

I want nothing to do with a drunk.

Zoe’s words struck me like a hard slap.

“You’re drunk,” I hissed.

“I went to a party last night and came back home a little too late, that’s all.” He shrugged, but his lie reeked the same way the booze did.

“So Zoe was right calling you a drunk.”

Anger crossed his face, and he stepped back. Taking a hit from his cigarette, he blew out the smoke. “She’s exaggerating like all chicks do.”