Annnddddd just like that, he now had a raging hard on he had to cover up under the table.
Of course, Ash’s mother came back into the room right at that moment, baring a huge pie in one hand and a stack of plates in the other.
“Right on,” Jason fist pumped the air. “You’re the best, mom.”
Ash’s dad looked relieved and Ash shot her brother one more evil look before helping her mom pass out plates. She grabbed the pile of forks off the table and doled those out as well.
A huge piece of pie was set in front of him and even though he was achy and cold and hot on and off and was probably still overly sweaty, he dug in. He wouldn’t mind repeating this. Ash’s mom was a great cook. And her pie was heaven.
Okay, that sounded wrong.
The pie she made was amazing.
Okay, that also could be wrong, given that she’d made Ash and Ash was…
Trace gave himself a mental shake and got his mind off Ash’s amazing- everything. Which was good, because suddenly all eyes were on him again. He looked up, aware that he’d been caught, yet again, not paying attention.
“I’m sorry. I was lost in this. It’s amazing. All my senses were tuned into savoring every single bite.”
Ash’s mom flushed with pleasure.
Ash shot him a private smirk. If only she knew he wasn’t trying to put on a show. If he wasn’t already sweltering, he might have flushed. And there went his man card…
“Jason said that you should hone your board game skills for a rematch,” Ash filled him in. “He’s implying that you’re obviously not as big of a nerd as I am.”
“That’s exactly what was implied,” Jason confirmed. He turned to Trace as he lifted his plate and literally licked it clean. Yeah, the pie really was that good. “What do you do anyway? I mean, for a job?”
Trace tried not to squirm, though he literally felt a bead of sweat trace its way down his back. Probably just the whole fever thing he had going on. He really hoped he was going to get through the night without having to answer too many personal questions, especially the work one. He’d thought about it ahead of time, thought about lying, but decided he didn’t exactly have to. It wasn’t like the entire world knew who he was.
“I- manage a nutrition store. Supplements and protein powders and that kind of a thing.”
“Sounds boring.” Jason grinned. “I mean, you like working out, so I guess that’s probably not that lame for you.”
“Jason, come on,” Ash protested.
“I wasn’t trying to be mean,” Jason insisted. “Honest, Ash. I was just saying, I mean, the guy is all solid rock. He probably runs every morning and then goes to work and then works out on his lunch break and then goes back to work, stays late like a good employee and goes home and eats five chicken breasts and finish up by working out again in his home gym.”
“Uh… right. That’s exactly how my day goes,” Trace laughed. “Hit it right on the mark.”
Ash and her parents joined in, though it probably wasn’t a good idea to encourage Jason. Of course, it wasn’t. Because he leaned forward, obviously pleased as a pig in mud with himself and directed his question to his sister. “How did you guys meet anyway? You seem like you’re complete opposites?”
“Oh- well- that’s a funny story…” Ash stammered.
Trace took her hand, wrapped his fingers in hers, and picked up right where she left off. “We actually met online. Your sister liked my profile name. She said it sounded like a good comic book villain name, so she messaged me.”
Jason snorted. “Are you sure that’s all she liked? Not that Ash has had many boyfriends, but you’re definitely way too hot for her.”
Trace stiffened, ready to defend Ash’s hotness and sexiness AND elaborate on ALL the details, even right in front of her parents, but she laughed. She released his hand and rolled her eyes.
“That he definitely is. See, Jay, I told you karma is a thing. I’ve been a nice person all my life. Being nice is way better than being attractive, which you think is the only thing that counts. I definitely thought Trace was hot. I mean, I have eyes. That wasn’t the only reason I messaged him. Despite the fact that he did have an amazing profile name and the fact that he really does look like he’d be a good villain, there are other aspects of attraction. He’s smart and funny. He’s kind and selfless. He wasn’t feeling well, but he still came tonight, and he didn’t even tell me. I had to pry it out of him. He probably let you win half those games we played earlier-”
“No, I really didn’t,” Trace interrupted. He didn’t just feel it, he knew he was flushed. And he’d never, ever, blushed before. Not that he could remember, at any rate.