Page 34 of Sweet Thing

“You know… Feelings and shit. Baggage.”

“His or yours?”

“Both. Jesus, Peety.” Simeon exhaled loudly and slumped to sit on the bed, raking his hands through his black hair.

“We’re both broken. I don’t know if I’m the man to… I’ve never had a proper boyfriend. I’ve never been a proper boyfriend. Does he even want a boyfriend? I mean, the man’s still grieving, and he’s all kinds of messed up. I have all kinds of shit going on myself, and I just don’t think I can do this”, Simeon exclaimed, a hint of alarm in his French timbre as the words babbled out.

“Do you like him?”

“I don’t know him. I like what I see, but I haven’t spent enough time with him to know if I want more than hot monkey sex.”

“And that’s why this dinner party is such good timing, no?” Pieter smiled triumphantly.

“Look. We’re all grown up now, and this is what grown-ups do, Sim.” Pieter said, knowing all too well that the Simeon he knew before his breakdown was a Grindr addict. “From an outsider’s view, it’s clear you like him, he likes you. Yes, your first time together was… well… fucked-up beyond belief, but you both talked about it like adults and apologized, yeah? That’s progress, no? If you felt unsafe with him, you would tell me, yeah?”

“You think he likes me?” Simeon sighed, the insecurity all too evident.

“Uh, yeah!”

“What happened was both of our faults. I don’t think he’s a violent man. I don’t feel unsafe with him… Me on the other hand…”

“Oh, Gahh’d, I know! Your temper is legendary. To be honest, I would actually be more worried for him.” That comment got Pieter another jab in the ribs.

“So, we have a nice relaxed dinner and all get to know each other a little, Ja? If you both get on, then, you know what to do next.”

“Fine”, Simeon exhaled. “

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