Page 36 of New Year

Zack nearly argued that Nat put on a performance every time he’d been with a john, or whenever he’d pretended to be happy with his awful ex. But tonight wasn’t about bringing up the past. Tonight was going out to celebrate a new beginning. “It’s not a job I’d want, either. Ready to go?”

Nat scratched the back of his neck. “I’m ready, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous.”

“About running into your ex?”

“Yeah.”

“If you do see him, Nat, promise you’ll point him out? Not so I can go over and deck him, but so that I know who our enemy is.”

Nat’s wary squint shifted into a smile. “I promise.”

When they got to Zack’s car, Zack pulled back hard on the urge to open Nat’s door for him. This wasn’t a date, no matter what his developing feelings wanted it to be. He’d never driven to Tim’s from home, but Nat knew a shortcut, and they drove past the location a little before midnight. Street parking was almost impossible, so Nat directed him to a public parking lot a few blocks away.

Good sign for the grand reopening of a location locals loved.

Humidity clung to Zack’s skin, and he’d worked up a slight sweat by the time they reached the pub’s front door. According to both Chase and Nat, the entrance had never been flashy, never tried to draw in folks who didn’t already know it existed.

Zack had seen photos of the explosion aftermath online, and his imagination still insisted he’d see blackened wood and smell smoke. But as soon as Nat opened the door, Zack was assaulted by the scents of alcohol and food, the noise of music and conversation, and the warmth of dozens of bodies crammed into a long, narrow space.

Nat hesitated just inside the door. Zack hovered close by, his left hand poised and ready to give Nat a gentle touch of encouragement if he needed it. With all the swarming, chattering people, Zack felt more like a bodyguard than a companion, and he kept his eyes open for anyone Nat flinched away from.

The first person to notice them was Peggy Maher, one of the owners. The Mahers had named the bar after their only child was killed in a gay bashing. They’d renovated an old antique store—that had also previously been a soda fountain back in the fifties—into a safe, inclusive place for everyone to gather and enjoy themselves. They’d provided that to the community for over a decade.

She hugged Nat close and then kissed his cheek. “Oh, lordy, Nathaniel, it’s so good to see you with my own two eyes. You look amazing!”

“Thank you, Peggy,” Nat replied, “I’m doing great. The bar looks fantastic! Did you have Angelo help with the remodel?”

“Of course, we did. His touch is all over the place again. It’s almost like the fire never happened.”

She didn’t seem to notice, but Zack was watching Nat carefully, and he saw the way Nat’s shoulders tightened. “It does, yeah.”

“We’d love to have you back, son, but I also understand that you’ve found something new?” She finally noticed Zack and squinted. “We’ve met, haven’t we?”

“Yes, ma’am, we met back in May, I believe. You and your husband were kind enough to be our guests at River Bistro one evening. Zack Matteson.”

“Yes, of course, Mr. Matteson. My apologies for forgetting, there’s been so much going on. Thank you for coming to our reopening. It’s wonderful to receive support from someone so new to the community.”

Zack held a polite smile, aware she meant new to the Reynolds restaurant community, and not to the business itself. “It’s important to support each other. Congratulations.”

“Thank you so much.” Peggy moved into the churning crowd. He had no idea what the restaurant capacity was, but it had to be damn close to the limit.

“Buy you a drink?” Zack asked Nat.

“Absolutely.” Nat angled around to toss him a bright, almost flirty smile. “Think you can handle the house special?”

Intrigued, Zack nodded. He limited his alcohol intake to special events only, so it was fine to indulge in a single drink. “Since I’m driving, I can only have one of whatever, but I’m game for this special.”

“Excellent.” Nat boldly took Zack’s hand and pulled him toward the bar.

Tim’s was a long, narrow space with the bar on the right wall, booths on the left, and round tables with chairs down the middle. The small kitchen was tucked into the back corner where the bar top ended. Every space seemed to be filled with a human body of every age, weight, gender expression, and skin color, all bopping around together to modern pop music. Truly a place for everyone—except homophobes and bigots.

Nat squeezed them up to the bar near a station worked by a tall, muscular woman who moved fluidly while making her drinks. Nat was bouncing on his toes, and when the bartender noticed them, she squealed. “Natty Dog!” She was tall enough that she could actually lean over the bar to give him a quick hug.

“Hey, Sasha,” Nat practically yelled. “I’m so happy seeing you back there again.”

“Me too, sugar! Only thing better would be you handing me drink tickets and delivering nachos to tables.”

“Maybe, but I like where I am. Hey, this is my roommate, Zack. Zack, this is Sasha.”

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