Page 35 of New Year

Zack had never been so nervous for a non-date in his adult life. He rarely got nervous anymore, because he had enough confidence and life experience to handle most situations. But this one was unique for all kinds of reasons, and they had everything to do with Nathaniel Hawking.

Ever since Wednesday night’s post-nightmare conversation, Zack’s main focus had been Nat. Nat’s past in Louisville and his present here in Reynolds, and the dangerous ex he refused to name. Zack respected Nat’s need for privacy, but he was also glad he had a gun and security system. One day, he hoped Nat would trust him enough to tell him more about this ex. And about his mother.

His burning need to know more about why Nat’s mother was in prison butted up against his need for Nat to trust him. Zack could probably figure out what Nat’s name used to be. Most states required public newspaper announcements of name changes. Nat had left Kentucky at eighteen, and Reynolds College would have scholarship records.

No. Not yet. Nat was finally opening up to Zack about important things, and Zack couldn’t blow that by allowing his curiosity to get the better of him. He’d be patient.

A patient nervous wreck.

On Friday, Chase was having an off day, so he chose not to attend dinner service, which sucked for Zack. He was having trouble concentrating on his tasks, because he’d agreed to make a twenty-minute appearance at Tim’s tonight with Nat. It was absolutely not a date. But it also felt like a date. With someone Zack hadvery muchwanted to kiss two nights ago.

Denying his attraction to Nat was idiotic. Not acting on it was difficult as fuck. But Nat had been through hell, and Zack wouldn’t be another person Nat had to survive. Zack was a patient man. As a Dom, he’d needed miles of patience, knowledge, and an observing eye. He’d needed to be intuitive with his subs, to anticipate their needs, but to also have a firm hand. Those last few years in Wilmington, he’d lost his way.

But he still possessed those skills, and he was using them to the best of his abilities with Nat. Giving him space while still being present. Gently asking questions without prying. And giving him his privacy.

“Mr. Matteson, sir?”

Zack snapped his head up from the wholesale receipt he was staring at and crashed back into his surroundings. His office at River Bistro II, where he’d retreated during a brief lull in reservations—a bit unusual for a Friday night, but not alarming, as long as it didn’t become a trend—so he could avoid embarrassing himself in front of his staff. He hadn’t dropped any plates or forgotten a regular guest’s name, but he was not on his game.

“Yes, what is it, Phoebe?” Zack asked.

“The guest at table seven has asked to speak to the owner. He’s asked for his steak to be re-fired a third time, because he says the temperature isn’t right.”

Zack swallowed a growl. These were some of the most common customers, insisting their steak is never prepared correctly, so they can demand the meal be comped. Santos was on the meat station tonight, and he could cook a perfect medium-rare filet with his eyes closed. “I’ll be right there.”

“Thank you, sir.”

At least the picky guest would give Zack a simple problem to solve—and solve it he did, in less than thirty seconds, when Phoebe delivered the medium strip steak to the guest. Zack had a meat thermometer and a copy of the standard cook temps for New York strip steaks ready on his phone.

The steak was perfect. Zack took twenty-five-percent off the bill for the inconvenience.

Nothing remotely as interesting happened for the rest of the evening. Normally, Zack found great joy in the simplicity of a well-run dinner service with few issues. Tonight, he was anticipatinggoing somewhereafter work, which made the hours drag on like a turtle stuck in mud.

Their last table of the evening finally left, and close-down began. Anticipation coiled tight in Zack’s belly with each lock he turned, with each step he took toward his car. Each mile closer to home. And his non-date with Nat. The non-date he was stupidly nervous about. He parked in the driveway next to Chase’s car, then dashed inside.

Nat was lounging on the sofa reading a book, and he looked up, smiling brightly at Zack. “You’re home. How was work?”

“Pretty standard for a Friday night, thanks for asking.” It was a new, endearing habit of Nat’s, to ask how Zack’s day had been. “How did things go today with you and Chase?”

“Nothing unusual. He wanted to see an afternoon matinee, so we went to that new alien invasion film.Surviving Neptune, I think?”

Zack shrugged out of his suit jacket and loosened his tie as he moved deeper into the apartment. He wasn’t wearing his formal work clothes to a pub reopening. “I’ve heard of that. Isn’t it the debut acting gig of someone in a famous music duet? I think Chase mentioned they played at Neighborhood Shindig last year for a fundraiser.”

“That sounds right.” Nat traded his book for his phone.

While he tapped away, Zack went into his room to change his shoes and shirt, trading his work clothes for a simple royal blue polo and loafers. He also added a fresh dab of cologne, since he didn’t really have time for a proper shower, and the varied scents of the restaurant clung lightly to his skin.

“Found the trivia,” Nat announced when Zack returned to the living room. Nat was standing now, and it showed off his outfit of loose-fitting jeans, an untucked button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the first few front buttons undone to show off a black undershirt. It was both casual and sexy as hell.

“What trivia?” Zack asked, thrown off by how incredibly appealing his roommate was in that outfit.

“The movie. The acting debut? It wasn’t one person, it was the group Off Beat. Dominic Bounds and Trey Cooper? You know, the guy who plays violin with his boyfriend, the singing keyboard player?”

Two faces flashed in his mind, and Zack chuckled. “Oh, yes. Very handsome young couple, as I recall. They’re into acting now?”

“I guess. According to IMDB trivia, a producer on the movie was a huge fan and tapped them to write a song for the closing credits. Then he gave them both small roles as a gay couple in a few scenes. They were actually really good. Especially Dominic. He had to cry in a scene, and he really pulled that emotion from somewhere.”

“Yeah. Acting isn’t a job I’d want.”

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