Little Guy finally said, “I don’t like to talk while I’m working, so you keep quiet too.”

　　Samuel Reed agreed, “OK.”

　　After that, the door closed, and Eric Clark couldn’t hear them talking anymore. In the front room, a young girl was playing slow English songs on the speakers. Eric Clark sat on the sofa, continuing to stare at the metal ornaments on the shelf. Quite a bit of time passed, and he started to feel a little drowsy.

　　It wasn’t until Adam Wright and a short-haired girl came out of the tattoo room that Eric Clark finally woke up a bit. The girl had a white crane tattooed on her neck, vivid and lifelike. There was a layer of plastic film over the crane, probably pretty painful, and the girl kept fanning her neck with her hand.

　　Adam Wright told her, “Don’t get it wet when you get home, at least until tomorrow.”

　　“Okay, thank you, Mr. Wright.” The girl smiled at him.

　　Adam Wright said, “No need to thank me.”

　　He never seemed to show much expression, always looking a bit cold.

　　After the girl left, Eric Clark pointed to the room next door and said, “My friend just got a tattoo from that Little Guy.”

　　Adam Wright said, “I heard.”

　　Eric Clark made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded, then just sat on the sofa, not sure what else to say. Adam Wright sat in the single chair next to him and asked, “Boyfriend?”

　　Eric Clark said, “No, I’m single.”

　　He said this a bit deliberately, but it didn’t matter—Eric Clark had meant to.

　　Adam Wright nodded. Actually, Eric Clark could tell Adam Wright wasn’t much of a talker. Last time they drank together, he barely heard Adam Wright say a word. Eric Clark didn’t talk much when he wasn’t drinking either, so the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

　　Adam Wright asked him, “Last time you said you were a teacher—middle school?”

　　“University.” Eric Clark still had his hands in the pocket in front of his stomach. He smiled and asked, “Don’t I look like it?”

　　Adam Wright said he didn’t, and then asked how old he was.

　　Eric Clark said he’d finished his PhD and had just turned thirty.

　　Adam Wright repeated, “Doesn’t look it, you look young.”

　　They were sitting pretty close now, about the same distance as when they drank together last time, except last time the lighting was dim, and now the lights were bright. Eric Clark could see Adam Wright more clearly. He noticed a scar near Eric Clark’s ear on the side of his face.

　　It must have been there for years—not too obvious, but up close you could see it.

　　Not ugly, and… actually kind of sexy.

　　Eric Clark had a sudden impulse and asked Adam Wright, “Are you single?”

　　Adam Wright was briefly stunned, then gave a faint smile and replied, “Yeah, I’m single. I’m used to it.”

　　Eric Clark didn’t pursue the topic, just nodded and changed the subject. They were both adults—he’d made his intentions clear, and Adam Wright had responded.

　　That little tattoo Samuel Reed wanted sounded easy, but it still took almost two hours. When he came out, he acted like nothing had happened and asked Eric Clark, “Want to take a look, Mr. Clark?”

　　“No, you can go home and admire it in the mirror yourself.” Eric Clark stood up and handed him his clothes and phone.

　　Adam Wright stood up too, and Eric Clark took a step toward him. The distance between them suddenly got a little closer.

　　Eric Clark rubbed his nose and looked at Adam Wright. Mr. Clark looked good from any distance—he’d been handsome since he was a kid. Adam Wright was being stared at and heard him say, “Last time, the drinks didn’t count as you paying me back. You still owe me a drink.”

　　Adam Wright paused, then smiled and nodded.

　　“You need to find time to pay me back,” Eric Clark said.

　　Adam Wright agreed readily, “Sure, you pick the time.”

　　Eric Clark wasn’t speaking loudly, but Samuel Reed still heard everything. After the two of them left the shop, Samuel Reed tossed the car keys to Eric Clark and gave him a sidelong glance with a smile, “Not bad, Mr. Clark.”

　　Eric Clark got into the driver’s seat—Samuel Reed probably couldn’t drive with his butt in that state anyway.

　　“What’s up with you?” Samuel Reed was still a bit surprised. He’d almost never seen Eric Clark like this. “Are you serious? Interested?”

　　Eric Clark didn’t deny it anymore. He nodded, “Serious. Interested.”

　　Last time they met, he’d already felt a spark, and had been thinking about it. This time, seeing him again, he was even more interested.

　　Eric Clark was a young, single guy—it was perfectly normal for him to be interested in someone. He’d been single for so long, he’d almost forgotten what being in love felt like.

　　He glanced at Samuel Reed, then suddenly laughed, a genuine, hearty laugh. He shifted into reverse and pulled the car out onto the road. Eric Clark said, “I want to give it a try.”

Chapter 7

　　Eric Clark said he wanted to give it a try, and he definitely wasn’t just saying it.

　　When he was younger and more impulsive, he’d chased people before. Eric Clark had always been playful, and when he pursued someone, it was hard for them to resist. After all, he had the looks and a great body—he’d been a star since his student days.

　　In recent years, he’d calmed down and settled, but that didn’t mean he’d stopped being interested in people. That was impossible.

　　That’s how it is with everything—once a thought takes root, it grows wild and fierce. The more Eric Clark thought about Adam Wright after he got home, the more interested he became, so there was no need to hold back.

　　Eric Clark called Adam Wright directly, and it was still the bald Jack Morgan who answered. Eric Clark said, “I’m looking for Adam Wright, this is Eric Clark.”