A Bar Tender Tale Read Online Free Page B

fool. “That’s just me in the morning.”
    “Zombie fan?” Auryn asked.
    “Yeah, big time.”
    “I liked that Walking Dead . Did you watch that?” Nathan blinked in surprise. “You mean, The Walking Dead ? Are you kidding? I love it!” A Bar Tender Tale | Melanie Tushmore 27

    “Yes, I thought they did a pretty good job. Lived up to the comics, and you don’t get that often.”
    “You read comics?” Nathan asked in disbelief.
    “Now and again. I’m a bit of a nerd, I’m afraid.”
    “I’m sure I could outnerd you!” Nathan was confident for once he was right.
    “Oh really? Well, that depends in what area. Are we talking TV, films, comics, or computer games?” Nathan was surprised. He’d lost already. “You’ve outnerded me! I don’t do computer games.”
    “That’s a pity.” Auryn said.
    Nathan’s heart skipped a beat. “I, um,” he stammered, looking away and fumbling with a glass, pretending to clean it. “I’m not anti-gaming or anything. I just… haven’t before.”
    “So, you are game?”
    “For most things, yes.”
    Nathan felt heat rising in his cheeks as soon as he’d spoken. Slipping into flirty banter happened all too easily, and usually it didn’t faze him. Today, however, was a different story.
    “That’s good to know.” Auryn took another sip of his drink, eyes still on Nathan.
    Staring back at him, Nathan’s mind stumbled over what to say. He wanted to say something witty or clever.
    There were flirting, right? Or was this all in his head? It was so awkward trying to chat to guys outside of gay clubs.
    That, and Nathan’s uncanny ability to always fall for the straight ones anyway….

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    Auryn placed his pint on the bar and eagerly suggested,
    “Korean horror films!”
    “Er, what about them?”
    “You said you’re game for most things? So, what about Korean horror films?”
    “Well, yeah!” Nathan replied. “Have you seen Dark Water ?”
    “Yes! We had a water tank like that back home. I tell you I couldn’t go near it again after watching that.” Nathan laughed. “I’m not surprised! They’re the kind of films you think are fine to watch, but the creeps catch up to you when you least suspect.”
    “Speaking from experience?”
    “Experience hiding behind the sofa? Er, yes! I love it!”
    “Some of the computer games I play are like that,” Auryn said. “I have to peek around the sofa with my controller to keep playing!”
    “Really?” Nathan thought that sounded silly and automatically made a face. When he remembered he was trying to impress the guy, he instantly wiped the skeptical look away. “I mean, surely they aren’t as good as films?”
    “It’s like being inside a film!” Auryn looked excited now.
    “We’re going to play on Saturday with Gaz—why don’t you come?”
    Nathan almost dropped the glass he was pretending to clean, mind reeling at the invitation. He tried in vain to keep his hopes from rising at the thought of someone actually inviting him out.

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    Gaz , he told himself. He’s friends with Gaz and has blokey, video-game nights with other straight guys. Nathan smiled wryly. It would be like his teenage years all over again, crammed into a stale-smelling room with a bunch of boys, watching them absorbed with their video games for hours and desperately wishing someone would pay attention to him. He’d told himself ages ago to stop pining his time away with straight men.
    Although the thought of sitting close to Auryn and watching him all night was almost enough to make him waver.
    “As tempting as that sounds,” Nathan said as he carefully stacked glasses, “I’m working Saturday.”
    “Oh.” Auryn sounded disappointed. “Not here, no?”
    “No, I’ll be at my actual job. I think Gaz has a girl in for Saturdays.”
    Auryn nodded absently. “Yes, I’ve seen a girl here sometimes.”
    “Yeah.” Nathan moved away from Auryn and the