The Bartender Rob

Riding in the car, Kai sat quietly, staring out the window, he couldn't believe this boisterous man had just caused a scene like that in public.

"So, I'm taking you home, right? To Saya's place?", Rob suddenly spoke, killing the silence.

"…", not saying anything Kai simply nodded, and Rob quickly glanced over, cutting his eye at Kai and then back toward the road.

"I really don't understand you Kai, do I make you uncomfortable or something?"

Quickly turning his head toward Rob for a moment, Kai stared down at his lap, "no.", Kai finally spoke.

"Really? Okay then, so answer me this. Didn't we hit it off that night at the bar? If I had of known that you would be gone when I got back from the bathroom, I would have never gone to take that piss.", Rob chuckled. "Saya did give you my number, didn't she? She said she did.", he continued.

"Yeah, she did.", Kai answered.

"So, I ask you again, didn't we hit it off? Why didn't you ever call me or was I the only one having a good time?", said Rob, pulling up to a red light, stopping and turning toward Kai.

Letting out a barely audible sigh, Kai closed his eyes for a second before responding. "Honestly, no, you weren't the only one that had a good time. I never called because I was a mess of a man back then."

"And?", said Rob, stepping on the gas as the light turned green.

"Well, you were a good guy, I didn't feel like I deserved that at the time.", said Kai.

Letting out a sigh, Rob shook his head. "See now that isn't fair."

"What do you mean?", Kai asked, confused.

"I kept asking Saya if she gave you my number because I didn't understand why you wouldn't call me, and she would always say to give you time. The last time I asked her, she said that you were seeing someone named Jinn, is that not the same guy you're with now?", said Rob, remembering the fact that Saya didn't want Kai to know she had told his business.

"Well…Jinn is, that was different.", Kai responded, unsure why he was feeling like he had to defend himself.

"How is that different? If you simply thought that he was better than me and you wanted to date him instead, then just say that, I'm a grown ass man Kai.", said Rob, a smirk on his face as he pulled up in front of Saya's house, putting his car in park and turning toward Kai.

"That's not, okay listen, if you really want to know, then here it is. I told you that the reason I didn't call you was because I was a mess and that's the truth. I was going through a rough patch back then and I got drunk often, waking up with people I didn't remember leaving the bar with and Jinn happen to be one of those people. I had no intention of seeing him again, in fact I even snuck out of the hotel room he booked when he left to grab me some Tylenol!", said Kai, his voice rising a bit as he was becoming a little anxious. Taking a deep breath, Kai puffed out his cheeks, letting the air out slowly, "look, with Jinn, things were complicated. We ended up running into each other again because it turned out that he was my new manager, things just kinda happened with him. Is that transparent enough for you?", said Kai turning away from Rob and lowering his head.

"I see, so this was apparently just being at the right place at the right time.", said Rob, the smirk on his face turning into a grin.

"Huh?", said Kai in response, was that really all Rob had to say?

Leaning over toward the passenger seat, Rob got a little too close for comfort, leaning as close to Kai as he could go. Surprised, Kai quickly leaned back in the passenger seat, his brown eyes wide and both brows raised.

"Ro...Rob!", he stuttered, caught off guard, Kai's heart was beating out of his chest.

"Look, when I told you that I liked you that night at the bar, I meant it and if you had of given me a shot you would've known that I do not give up easily. I promised Saya I would leave you be, but Kai, come on.", said Rob as he leaned closer, his eyes focused on Kai's perfect lips, but Kai quickly placed both hands over his mouth. Letting out a small chuckle, Rob couldn't help, but to laugh, Kai was just cutest when he was nervous. Sitting up, Rob leaned back over properly, placing himself back in the driver's seat, "I'll see you around.", he smiled, his hazel eyes shining brilliantly.

"…", not saying anything, Kai kept his eyes on Rob as he felt for the handle on the door, finally finding it and getting out of the car. Closing the car door, Kai power walked up the stairs, tripping over his own feet, he couldn't have gotten out of there fast enough. Pulling his key out of his back pocket, Kai unlocked the door, and went in, closing the door behind him. Throwing his head back, Kai leaned up against the door, and let out a heavy sigh, the worst part about all this was that Rob had already figured out how to make his heart race. Deciding to put what just happened behind him, Kai made his way upstairs into his room, deciding he would just take a nap until Jinn came to get him.

Feeling a flick to his forehead, Kai opened his eyes to see Jinn sitting on his bedside, leaning over him. "Hey babe.", said Kai letting out a yawn.

"You have to remember to lock the door babe, and you didn't tell me that you got home. I texted and called you like a million times, were you that tired?", said Jinn, taking his hand and pushing his boyfriends hair back.

"I guess I was just tired from this morning Jinn, sorry.", Kai asked.

"Don't apologize, I just want to make sure you're safe, but where's your phone, I at least want to make sure you can hear it if it rings, you always keep it on silent.", said Jinn holding out his hand and Kai sat up, looking to his bedside to see that his phone wasn't there.

"Uhhh…", Kai said under his breath, getting up from the bed to check his hoody pocket, but there was nothing.

"What?", Jinn asked, seeing how confused his boyfriend looked.

"Uh, I…don't know where my phone is.", Kai chuckled nervously. He had, had it in his hand during all that commotion earlier, but what the hell happened to it after that? As Kai thought, his eyes suddenly went wide, he must have left it in Rob's car. "Shit!", Kai cursed under his breath, turning his back toward Jinn and looking through all his pockets one last time.

Standing up, Jinn began to help Kai look, digging through the blankets for the phone incase Kai missed it. "Do you think you left it at the doctors office or the bus stop? Your phone is linked to mine, right? Let me see if I can find its location.", said Jinn pulling his own phone out of his back pocket, but with his quick pigeon-toed feet, Kai skipped across the room wrapping his arms around Jinn, restricting his arms. Surprised, Jinn looked down at his boyfriend holding him tight.

"What are you doing?", Jinn chuckled.

"I just wanted to hug you, don't worry about the phone, it's not a big deal, I probably need a new one anyway.", said Kai removing his arms from Jinn's back, taking the phone from his hand and tossing it on the bed. With a smirk Jinn pulled Kai into a deep embrace, kissing him on the forehead.

"I gotta say that even though I want you to rest, I miss seeing you at work.", said Jinn as he held Kai.

"Really?", said Kai looking up, his chin placed on Jinn's chest and his brown eyes wide.

"Of course, babe, you're my little sun, I'd put you in my pocket if I could.", said Jinn with a wide smile, his dimples present per usual. Pushing himself up on his tippy toes Kai kissed Jinn before resting the side of his head on his chest.

"You're just too damn spoiled.", Kai chuckled, but his laugh was forced, he felt bad for not telling Jinn about what had happened and where his phone might be, but he also didn't feel it was necessary to give the man something to worry about either.

***

Later that evening, the two were at Jinn's apartment, Jinn going to shower while Kai sat on the bed with his legs crossed, wrecking his brain on what he should do about this phone situation. He very well could just get a new phone, but he was pretty damn adamant about not touching his savings for the future down payments on an apartment and a new car. "Ahh fuck it!", Kai cursed, deciding he couldn't just leave it be. Leaning over on the side of the bed, Kai picked up Jinn's laptop, searching the name of the bar that Rob bartended at, it was the place Saya had, had her get together and the place they had met at.

When Kai found the phone number, he wrote it down, closing the computer tab, getting up off of the bed, and making his way toward the living room to use Jinn's landline phone, the poor phone they rarely ever touched.

Taking a deep breath, Kai puffed out his cheeks, letting the air out slowly as he dialed the number. As the phone rang a few times, butterflies began to take over his stomach, maybe he should just let it be, but as he began to hang up, he heard a voice on the other end.

"Hello?...Hellllllloo?", the voice said and Kai placed the phone back to his ear.

"Uh Hi, is the bartender Rob working tonight?", Kai asked, his voice polite, yet nervous.

"He is, and he'll be here until closing.", the guy on the phone said, loud music and rowdy patrons in the background.

"Oh okay, is it possible that you could get him on the phone? If not, I understand."

"You're already on the phone with him, what can I do you for?", said the person and Kai almost bit his tongue. "What the hell?", Kai thought to himself, Rob did not sound like himself on the phone just now, but perhaps that was just his professional voice, but why in the hell was this man talking in third person?

Clearing his throat, Kai swallowed before speaking. "It's Kai, Rob.", he said, making his voice as firm as he could.

"Oh heya love! I thought your voice sounded familiar, I just wasn't sure.", Rob chuckled, his voice sounding back to normal. "What's up, you checking on me? Want to come and keep me company until I get off?", Rob asked, it almost sounding as if he was teasing.

Rolling his eyes closed momentarily, Kai let out a barely audible sigh, "Listen, I think that I may have left my phone in your car, could you check for me when you get the chance?", Kai asked politely.

"Yeah, I have it. You left it on the seat when you rushed out of the car.", Rob responded.

"You do? Why didn't you tell me?", Kai said, annoyance in his voice.

"Well, I would have, but then I wouldn't have a reason to see you again, now would I?", said Rob and you could hear the smirk in his voice.

Not saying anything at first, Kai hissed under his breath. "Just drop it off in the mailbox on your way home, the bar isn't that far from Saya's house."

"Nah, I won't get to see you if I put it in the mailbox love.", Rob paused to chuckle for a second. "I'll bring it to you tomorrow okay? You'll be home right? Because if not I'll just have to take it with me again."

Bringing his hands to his face, Kai covered his eyes for a second, "fine, fine.", he finally responded.

"Great, I'll see you tomorrow, don't forget! Goodnight love!", said Rob, excitement in his voice.

"Night.", said Kai, little enthusiasm in his voice as he hung up the phone, he had a feeling he was going to regret this.