On the Ice (Stick Side, #1)

by Amy Aislin

They fell into step on the sidewalk, the early evening air cooling Alex’s skin, overheated from the restaurant. Mitch shot him a cheeky grin. “So, when are we going on date number two?” Alex couldn’t help but laugh. “Excuse me? When was date number one?” Mitch jerked his head in the direction of the restaurant. “We just had it. You invited me, you paid. Ergo, we had a date.” Alex wasn’t sure about that logic, but he let the kid have his point. “So,” Mitch continued, “when’s date number two? Unless, um…” He scratched his head and paused on the sidewalk. “Do asexuals date? I’m afraid I’m embarrassingly ignorant about that.” “What makes you think I’m asexual?” Mitch regarded him with unsure eyes. “Um, you? You said you don’t jump into bed with people you don’t know, or even people you do.” “Well, I imagine all asexuals are different, but I’m not ace. I’m demi.” “Demi…” “Demisexual. It means—” “No, I know what it means. That one I’m familiar with.” Mitch looked away, but he didn’t appear to see the small bookstore on the other side of the street, or the students sitting on the small patio of the coffee shop, or the dog walker who maneuvered around them. Finally, he nodded. “My question stands. When’s date number two?” “Mitch—” “Demis only feel sexual attraction for someone they have an emotional connection to, right?” Alex nodded. “And you said we were friends.” Alex nodded again. Mitch’s eyes lit with triumph. “If we’re friends, it means you already have an emotional connecti...