Page 42 of New Year

“Happy to.”

“Say that again when you try to stand back up from that squat.”

Zack chuckled, and he wasn’t embarrassed to use the side of the desk for support. His knees did ache a bit, but he worked a high-stress, on-your-feet job, and he was in his forties. Things were starting to ache more than they used to.

“So back to tonight’s date,” Chase said, a mischievous sparkle returning to his eyes. “Where you are two kids going?”

“I considered trying to get a last-minute reservation at Lucinda’s, but I don’t want Nat to think I’m trying to buy his affection, or show off my connections with a fancy place.”

“Shame. Lucinda’s has amazing Brazilian cuisine.”

“I know. But I might take us to Rio Grille for tapas. Sharing plates and discussing the options makes great first-date dinner conversation.”

“Good plan. Mid-priced, without feeling like a fast casual chain.”

“Exactly.” Zack perched his butt on the edge of the desk. “But how do you end a first date when you both live in the same place?”

“A goodnight kiss at your bedroom door?”

“Unconventional, but workable. I’d love it if he’d sleep in my bed again, even if all we do is cuddle.”

“You always were a big cuddler, weren’t you—wait. Again? What’s this again business?”

Whoops. “I told you Nat was toasted when we got home last night, and he doesn’t remember much.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t say you slept together.”

“We didn’t sleep—okay, technically, yes. The sofa wasn’t turned down, so putting him in my bed made more sense. I slept on top of the covers, by the way.”

Chase’s sly grin was positively sinful. “And now you want under-the-covers snuggles?”

Zack would love a hell of a lot more than that, but he’d promised to go at Nat’s pace. Respond to Nat’s cues and requests. Not to push. “I want whatever Nat’s ready to share with me, and I will not be sharing any of the salacious, or even innocent details of our date with you. If Nat chooses to, he can, but I’m giving him as much privacy as possible.” From what little Nat had said this morning, Nat’s privacy had been disrespected for a long time.

“Fine, then I won’t needle you anymore about it. I’ll just say that I hope you two have a magnificent time. You both deserve it.”

“Thank you.” Zack’s cell chimed; he checked the text. “They need me downstairs. Coming?”

“In a little while. Walking up those stairs took a bit out of me. I’ll mess around on the computer and rest.”

“Just don’t download any porn.”

“Party pooper.”

On a chuff of laughter, Zack headed for the stairs, grateful to have Chase’s blessing, and stupidly eager for his date with Nathaniel Hawking.

CHAPTERNINE

Nat spent Saturday attempting to find his courage again by going to Neighborhood Shindig for lunch. He still sat under the pavilion with his back to a support beam while he ate, but he was out in public. Exposed. Watching the ebb and flow of customers in and out of what was essentially an open-air mall. He also listened to a local college band perform, while he ate his kebab combo tray from Stick It.

Being anonymous in a crowd of people was kind of fun.

Around two, Nat took the bus to his favorite thrift store, a few blocks north of the college campus. The shirt he’d worn to Tim’s last night was his only nice shirt, and he needed something else for tonight’s actual date with Zack. He grinned like a fool while he browsed the racks of men’s shirts in the store, savoring another bolt of excitement from the idea of dating someone like Zack.

Dating someone he knew, deep down, wouldn’t demand or coerce or force anything from Nat that Nat wasn’t willing to offer. Nat had only brushed the surface of all the shit in his past, but rather than the hints scaring Zack off, Zack wanted to know more. Nat wanted to tell him more. But talking about the things that gave him nightmares also terrified him. He’d tried telling Austin about his mother a few times, and he’d been supportive at first. Supportive long enough to reel Nat in, make Nat trust him. Make Nat fall in love with him. Then Austin had stopped caring and told Nat to shut up about it. To forget the past, stay in the present.

Nat had absorbed that so deeply that he wasn’t entirely sure Zackdidwant to hear about Nat’s traumatic past.

A shiny green shirt caught his eye. It had long sleeves, white buttons, and a smart collar with white embroidery on it. Not a pattern he recognized, but the shirt was gorgeous and stupidly affordable at six bucks. No stains or tears that he could see. Perfect for a date with a hot older man.

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