Lux was gifted with the ability to recall everything that occurred when he was drunk. There was no such thing as a "black out" for him. Which meant that he couldn't feign ignorance regarding the date.

That he isn't entirely sure is actually a date given Rhys throwing the curve ball of Lux showing him around like a tour guide.

Had he not thrown that disclaimer out, would Lux have agreed to go out with him?

Yes.

Yup.

Absolutely.

And that was the only reason Lux was sitting amongst a mountain of clothing, sending a text to Kerin. When his phone immediately rang, he answered politely, "Hi Key."

"Don't you 'Hi Key' me like you didn't just text me to ask, 'What does one wear to an outing that isn't a date, but they wouldn't mind if it turned out to be a date'. What do you mean?! "

Lux held up an oversized cardigan, examining it carefully before finding a pair of jeans. "I mean exactly what I asked. What should I wear?"

"How are you being casual about this?! You're going on a date? "

"Not a date," Lux mumbled, softly correcting Kerin. He tossed the cardigan to the side, but held onto the jeans, rifling through the pile and pulling out a black button down.

Kerin groaned. "Fine. It's not a date. But you want it to be a date? Who asked you out?!"

Lux brushed his hair out of his face before pulling another pair of jeans and a pastel pink, quarter sleeve button down from the pile. He purposely kept his voice light, his tone airy, as he replied, "Rhys. What do you think about dark blue jeans and the pastel pink shirt you got me two years ago? I'm thinking–,"

"I'm sorry," Kerin interrupted, "it sounded as if you said you were going on a 'not date', that you hope will turn into a date, with your editor?! "

Lux rolled his eyes and huffed a small breath through his nostrils. "Yes, I did. Rhys asked me to show him around—" he hedged. There was something that was bothering Lux and he really didn't want to discuss it because he knew that Kerin would make a big deal about it, however against his better judgment he continued, "after he asked what I would want to do on a first date. Wh–what does that mean?"

Kerin's gasp was exaggerated. "You like him?"

"No!" Lux snapped. "I don't know him. It's confusing, is all," he muttered. Heat crept into his cheeks, his stomach lightly fluttering as he attempted to further explain. "I don't know what to expect. Why would he ask what I would want to do for a first date, offer to do those things with me, and then essentially say I'm a tour guide?"

"The better question, my dear friend, is why do you care? And don't try to bullshit me, Lux Broussard. I know you better than you think!"

"I don't...hate him," Lux honestly admitted. "He's not bad, he's just too...sunshiney."

"Why is that an issue?"

"Have you met me?"

"Yes, and I love you anyway," Kerin teased. "Does he know this is technically your second date?"

Lux knew Kerin was anticipating him saying no and man, did he wish he was able to see the look on Kerin's face when he answered. "Yes. I think that's also the reason he asked. What if he pities me?"

"Pause!" Kerin exclaimed. "We're not going to breeze past the fact that you told someone that you've only gone on one date. I need all of the details."

"Help me pick out an outfit and I'll tell you all of the details after tonight?"

"Bet. I'm video calling."

An hour later, Lux finally had an outfit picked out. It only took him having to hang up on Kerin three times in order for the rapid-fire questioning to end. Between the two of them, Kerin always had the better fashion sense and Lux had to spend several minutes stroking his ego–after the third time he hung up–before an outfit was finally decided upon.

Lux did his best to soothe his nerves as he readied himself for the night out. He didn't have much experience dating. To be quite honest, he would go as far as to say he doesn't have any dating experience, seeing as how his first one ended early and was regrettably awful. He didn't know what to expect this time around and each time he had that brief thought, he immediately reminded himself this wasn't a date, so therefore he didn't need to hold any expectations. He believed stating the truth would help to calm him more than anything else, but by the fifth time he repeated the same phrase, he had grown more restless, more agitated with himself because he wanted it to be a date.

Lux was honest with himself, and Kerin, about his desire. He didn't truly understand where it stemmed from, and after having raised that concern, Kerin asked him about the events leading up to the offer of a night out. Halfway through explaining, the puzzle pieces snapped into place. When Kerin pointed out the obvious truth, Lux's thumb just so happened to slip, and unfortunately, his best friend wasn't able to finish his sentence.

Lux might have a tiny bit of a crush.

Of course he was no stranger to what that felt like, it just never progressed into anything else. Partially because he didn't know how to do so, but more so because he didn't feel the want to do so. But with Rhys?

Lux was beginning to feel the want.

***

Rhys was incredibly nervous, despite telling Lux this wasn't a date. He wanted to kick himself in the ass for making that distinction. Who knows what could happen had he not been so quick to ask Lux to be his tour guide.

Rhys groaned softly, regretting his choice of words. On the drive over to Lux's home, he couldn't help but play out the same scenario in a tortuous loop. He envisioned himself telling Lux it was a date, only to be rejected before they even left the property. Too bad his mind couldn't work with him and allow him to emerge victorious in his mental battles.

He spent a few minutes sitting in his car, calming his nerves before exiting and walking up the porch to knock on the door. He felt much more confident, more at ease, until Lux opened the door. Rhys' mind went blank almost immediately and all he thought to say was a barely audible,

"Wow."

The flush in Lux's cheek was swift. "I don't know if I should be offended..." he trailed off, seemingly waiting for Rhys to get whatever punchline was left unsaid. When he didn't, Lux stammered over his words. "I-I haven't gone out in a while, so I didn't know–,"

Rhys' brain thankfully came back online, and he was able to add to his simple sentence, "You look gorgeous. Is that okay to say? I know some guys don't like–,"

Lux interrupted softly, so softly that Rhys almost didn't catch it, "I don't mind."

He was thankful for that, because it was the absolute truth. Lux looked absolutely stunning in black denim so tight, it appeared as if it were painted on his lithe legs. The pastel yellow shirt complemented his skin tone well, making his gray eyes stand out and shine brightly. His hair was parted down the middle, his normal curls tamed into two French braids. Rhys never noticed before, but Lux had a constellation of piercings in each ear; the porch light caught the different colored studs causing the small gems to glitter softly.

"Good, because it's the truth."

Lux locked the door and turned back around to face Rhys. His gaze slid the length of Rhys' body and back up. When they made eye contact, Lux's face was a deeper shade of red, the color creeping into the tips of ears. "You, uh, look really nice too."

Rhys couldn't help the wide grin that brightened his face. He put effort into his outfit—with Nyx's help—and was glad that it paid off.

"You look great in gold and yellow. And apparently navy blue," Lux complimented him as they walked to the black sedan waiting at the curb.

Conversation flowed easily on the ride to the bar. Rhys learned that Lux was from the PNW and moved to New Orleans at Kerin's insistence. He was in the middle of sharing about his siblings when the car pulled up. Rhys exited first and circled the vehicle, opening Lux's car door for him.

"I would love to hear more about your siblings later."

Lux's upper lip curled subtly, the bridge of his nose scrunching. He lightly shook his head and discouraged Rhys. "Outside of one sibling I genuinely enjoy, you don't want to hear about the others."

Their conversation gradually died out as they entered the bar, the live music drowning out their speech. Rhys watched as Lux greeted several people that were tending bar, his face lighting up as he caught up with a select few. He didn't know if it was a perk of Lux being (surprisingly) friendly, but they were shown to a table that was marked as "reserved".

"I'm impressed," Rhys said as they were seated.

"Don't be. My friends are extra, to say the least."

"I didn't know you had friends aside from Kerin."

Lux rolled his eyes, laughing softly. "I'm not that bad. I just... get into these moods sometimes. And it doesn't help that I have a fan that likes to pop up at the most random times. So, I don't go out as often. Which means when I do come out, they" —Lux pointed his thumb over his shoulder towards the bar— "like to make a big deal about it."

Rhys' eyes narrowed, his pulse speeding up slightly. The mention of a stalker was glossed over and minimized so effortlessly that it made him second guess whether or not to bring that up as an issue. Before Rhys was able to decide either way, the house lights were dimmed.

A singer took center stage, a drummer behind them, bassist to the left, and a saxophonist to the right. The high hats were rhythmically tapped, signaling the beginning of a song that Rhys was unfamiliar with. Lux, on the other hand, wasted no time hopping to his feet and extending an open hand to Rhys. This change in his demeanor was startling; Lux was easy going, engaging, and warm.

"This is starting to become awkward..." Lux trailed off, his tone teasing.

Rhys took Lux's hand, apologizing softly as they moved to the dance floor. "I-honestly, I'm shocked. I didn't expect you to be so—"

"If you want to have a nice evening, I strongly encourage you to not finish that sentence," Lux interrupted with a smile.

Other couples filtered onto the dance floor, the crowd pushing Rhys and Lux closer. Rhys didn't know what to anticipate from Lux in a setting like this. He believed that Lux would be shy, perhaps wanting to dance but in his seat or by the table. Rhys didn't expect that he would let go in the way he did, fully giving himself over to the music. The way he moved was spellbinding and Rhys found himself unable to break the hold he was under. Lux grew infinitely more confident as he danced, his hips swaying sensually from side to side.

Over the music, Rhys could make out Lux singing along, his voice husky. He reached for Rhys, encouraging him to move in time with the music, pulling him in closer.

Rhys had all night to be mesmerized by the way Lux was breaking out of his shell, but for now, he followed suit, moving in sync. Neither of their steps faltered as the music shifted into something upbeat.

Lux moved in closer, their bodies practically flush, to loudly exclaim, "I love this band! They've been on a tour, but whenever they're back home, they only play here."

After a few more up-tempo songs, the band took a break. Lux led them back to the table, sitting down with a contented sigh.

"Thank you, Rhysend."

Rhys didn't know what he was being thanked for and to be quite honest, he felt that he was the one that needed to to express his gratefulness to Lux. He was treating Rhys like they were friends and given the rocky start to their relationship, he wasn't entirely confident they would ever be able to be more than colleagues. Rhys knew that train of thought didn't make much sense, especially not after the other night, but there was something about Lux that made him constantly second guess himself. When he mentioned this to Nyx, he looked at Rhys with a knowing glance, but said nothing.

Rhys finally replied, asking, "For?"

"Asking me to be your tour guide. Although so far, I've only shown you the inside of this bar." Lux turned around in his seat, the corners of his mouth pulling down when he turned back to face Rhys. "And I did a poor job of that." Lux pointed to the left of the stage to a wall that was lined with photos. "A lot of up-and-coming musicians play here. They have a tendency to come back once they get their big break. There's kind of a superstition with this bar, but is it really a superstition if it's true 99% of the time?" He leaned in close, his arm brushing against Rhys' as he pointed across his chest. "Those stairs go up to a second floor that used to be a recording studio, but it's been converted into an apartment of sorts."

Lux stayed pressed into Rhys' side as he shared different facts about the bar. He did his best to pay attention, but Lux's body heat warming his arm made it difficult for Rhys to do so. With every inhale, he breathed in the bright scent of peaches with a hint of warm vanilla, and he wasn't sure if it was Lux's shampoo or cologne, but he was certain that by the end of the night, whatever it was would be his new favorite fragrance.

The band came back to the stage, this time, opening with a slow song. Lux stiffened before gradually moving back over and settling into his seat. Whatever confidence he felt earlier had become shaky.

It was endearing to Rhys, the way Lux's demeanor resembled that of an adolescent boy at his first school dance. He didn't think twice as he leaned over to whisper, "Dance with me?"