Page 14 of Rocking Cedarwood

“Nah. I’ve got plenty. Just show up.” Michael stood tall and tugged his phone from his breast pocket. He didn’t say anything but waggled the device in his hand.

Niall nodded. He didn’t need words to get the message. He waited for Michael to leave then checked his phone. Sure enough, Michael had texted.

See you soon, hunk.

Niall plopped down hard on his chair. Hunk! He wouldn’t be able to get finished fast enough. Michael had never talked to him like that before and he wanted to hear more kind words.

He stuffed paperwork into his bag then locked the cabinet containing his computer parts. Instead of racing out of the door, he hesitated. A vision of Michael formed in his mind. He laced his fingers together on his belly and leaned back in his chair. He closed his eyes.

In his mind, Michael grinned. His icy blue eyes sparkled. The muscle in his arms and legs rippled. Niall wondered if Michael was just as muscled everywhere else. Was he hairy or smooth? What would it feel like to be snagged up in those arms? He sighed. Probably heaven.

Niall snorted. He’d never know if he didn’t get moving. He opened his eyes and grabbed his bag. He pulled his keys from his pocket. Michael hadn’t given him a specific time, but if he remembered right, the basketball game wasn’t on until after nine.

Would he be sticking around that long?

Niall locked his classroom door and strolled out to his car. Once behind the wheel, he pulled the mirror down and stared at his reflection. He wanted to overthink the date but stopped short. Just because he didn’t see much in his looks didn’t mean Michael saw him the same way. It also didn’t mean Michael was interested in something longer than a couple of nights. Yes, they had worked across the hall from each other, but other than seeing each other at meetings in the morning or running into each other after school, they weren’t stuck together.

He drove across town to the Windmill development. He’d looked at the houses in the allotment but hadn’t purchased. At the time, he’d wanted something bigger than a two-bedroom place. He’d settled on a fixer-upper home just off the main drag. Replacing the gingerbread along the roofline and switching out the old windows had been more expensive than he’d wanted, but he liked the way the house looked in the end.

He pulled into the driveway of 892 and parked. He’d been to the house once before, but it’d been in the dark. Now that he saw the house in the light, he liked the place.

Michael strode out of the door and stood on the tiny porch. He’d ditched the thick-soled dress shoes and his socks. He wiggled his toes and gripped the lone railing. He’d switched his dress shirt for a tight T-shirt and the cotton showcased the muscle in his upper body. The fabric clung to him like a second skin. He padded across the rangy grass to the driveway.

Niall hesitated a moment. He wasn’t sure how he’d landed an evening, instead of a run, with the handsome man, but he seriously wondered what the hell Michael saw in him.

“Are you coming in? Or are you going to sit out here?” Michael rested his hands on the roof of Niall’s car. “Niall?”

“I’m coming.” He hesitated.

“I’m—I’m nervous.” He closed his mouth. If he didn’t shut up, he’d babble and say something silly.

“Well, don’t be. I don’t bite.” Michael didn’t move. “But seriously, there’s nothing to worry about. Two guys hanging out.” He bobbed his eyebrows. “You know?”

Ah, that’s what he thinks.Niall had read too much into what was going on. He nodded and stuffed his phone and keys into his pockets.

“Oh, grab your wallet and anything valuable. We’ve had a rash of thefts out here.” Michael half shrugged. “It used to be a good neighborhood.”

“No sweat.” Niall rolled his window up. With his wallet already in his messenger bag, he slung the strap across his shoulder then hit the lock on the car. “Ready.”

“Cool.” Michael strode ahead and opened the door to the house. “Make yourself at home.”

Niall sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. The living room smelled of Michael’s cologne. The scent comforted him and scared him to death. This was happening. He was at the home of his crush.Holy shit!He kicked out of his shoes and left them by the door.

“Put your stuff on the table. I only use it for the computer anyway,” Michael said. He opened a pizza box. “I went ahead and picked up a pie on the way home. I remembered you like the pepperoni ones at school. This one’s much better.”

“Smells good.” He dropped his things off on the table but didn’t venture any closer to Michael. The nervousness came back in a tidal wave.

Michael handed him a piece of pizza on a paper plate. “Talk to me. You’re practically shaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this scared.”

“It’s nothing.” He accepted the pizza and retreated to the living room. He was twenty-eight years old and acting like a scared, horny kid.

“You don’t have to run away from me.” Michael sat on the couch with Niall. “I showered when I got home. Even put on cologne.” He smiled and rested his plate on his lap. “What are you worried about?”

He debated what to say.Be honest and screw things up now? Or just keep my mouth shut?

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll pester it out of you.” Michael munched on his slice of pizza. “Is it a kid? One of the other teachers? Me?”

Oh boy…“I’m not afraid of being alone. I get I’m a geeky guy who talks football and stats. I like my comic books and superhero movies. I know my limits and I’m not the kind of guy who hooks the hot man. We’ve had lots of fun running and getting to know each other. In all that time, you never said you were gay or even attracted to me. I don’t understand why you’re interested in me.”There.He’d been honest. “I’m not sure what you expect. If you want a quickie or a one-night, I’m not sure it’ll work. Let me know now so I can deal accordingly.” He gripped the plate so tight the edge ripped.

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