Flash Fic Friday

I thought I’d so something a little different this week, and post an excerpt from my WIP.  Let me know what you think!

“What’s wrong?” Seth asked, his lips turning down into a frown.

Mark shook his head fast.  “Nothing.  I just—uh, I wanted to catch you before you left because I wanted to ask if you wanted to meet me later somewhere.  For a drink, or coffee, or dinner.  Or whatever.”

Wait a second.  What now?  Was Mark asking him out?  Seth blinked, nonplussed.  That was probably the last thing he expected to happen.

“If I’m overstepping, just say so,” Mark offered.  “If you aren’t gay—”

Seth snorted out a laugh.  Mark grinned.

“Yeah, okay.  But if you’re not interested or are already in a committed relationship or whatever, then no hard feelings.”

Seth squinted.  “Why would you want to go out with me?  You don’t even know me.”

“Ah but how am I going to get to know you if you don’t go out with me?”  Mark smiled, and one if his eyebrows crept up.  He shrugged.  “You’re cute.  I like your smile.”

That was flattering.  But still Seth hesitated.  This seemed a little weird.  And even though he thought Mark was gorgeous, and very kind, he couldn’t understand what a man like him would see in plain, unassuming Seth.

“Give me your phone,” Mark commanded softly.

“What?” Seth asked, even as he moved to comply.

Mark started touching the screen, but he moved his shoulder to block Seth’s line of sight when he tried to see what the man was doing.  After a few more seconds, Mark handed the phone back.

“There.  I’ve put my name and number in your phone.  How about this?  How about you think about it, and if you decide you want to, you just send me a text with a time and a place?  I’m out of here at six.”

Seth nodded dumbly, clutching his phone in his hand.  Mark’s smile was soft, and his gaze raked Seth’s body from head to toe, before he reached out a hand and squeezed Seth’s elbow affectionately.  Then he turned and walked back into the store.  Seth stared after him for a long moment before he managed to head for his car.

Once inside, he pulled up his contacts list and scrolled through until he reached the M’s.  Mark Deveraux.  The man had even added a little heart.  Seth rolled his eyes, even as he found it charming.  He touched Mark’s name, then pressed send message.

Antillio’s.  8.