Page 11 of Twice Shy

“Would you and Ollie be able to run the car wash together?” She offered an ingratiating smile to the rest of the group. “Now we’ve got a couple of young men, we might as well use them.”

Ollie threw Joel a startled look and Joel had to work hard to keep an unexpected bark of laughter behind his teeth. “I guess it depends on the date, but I’m pretty free at weekends.” As in, always free at weekends.

“I’ll definitely be there,” Ollie said.

“Marvelous.” Jackie clapped her hands. “Now, next up is the October Fun Run…”

By the end of the meeting, the committee of the New Milton Elementary School Parent Teacher Association had polished off six bottles of wine between them. Jackie, Alyssa, and several others looked like they were settling in for the night, but Ollie reached for his jacket and slid out of the booth as soon as the last agenda item was covered off. “I need to go,” he said, “but I’ll get onto the Majestic and let you know how it goes.”

“Mwah!” Jackie blew him a kiss from the far side of the booth, eyelashes fluttering. “You’re a darling!”

Honestly, Joel thought as he stood up,she’s old enough to be his mother. He caught Alyssa’s eyeroll and had to look away before he cracked a grin. Ollie was checking his phone, but there was a self-conscious tinge of pink beneath his clear skin.

“Everything okay?” Joel asked as they headed out of the bar together.

“No messages.” Ollie gave a small tense laugh. “I know it’s stupid to be so worried. It’s just that I haven’t left Rory with a stranger before and sometimes he gets anxious.”

“Sure.” Joel pushed open the door, holding it for Ollie. “That’s natural.”

Ollie nodded, took a deep breath of cool evening air, and pocketed his phone. “I’m probably more worried than he is.”

“No doubt.”

He smiled more broadly and said, “So you think Jackie really doesn’t realize I’m gay or…?”

“Honestly? I think she’s totally oblivious.”

“Is it gonna be a problem?”

“With Jackie? No. And if it was, Alyssa would set her right.” He sighed. “Can’t speak for all the parents at the school, mind you. Some people still have dumb ideas.” He threw Ollie a look. “Which I’m sure you know.”

“Yeah.” The heaviness in his voice sounded wrong coming from someone so young. “’Single gay dad’ crosses a lot of red lines for people.”

Joel’s curiosity rose again, but there were professional boundaries to maintain. He glanced at his watch—eight thirty. If he left now, he could still get to the hardware store before it closed. “So, you’ll let me know what they say up at the Majestic? Looks like you and I are running this shindig.”

“Sure. Shall I—? Should we exchange numbers, or should I contact you via the school or…?”

Joel hesitated, then realized he was being stupid. This was nothing more than school business. It’s not like Ollie was hitting on him. No way would a cute young guy like him be interested. Which was good, because Joel wasn’t interested either. He reached for his phone. “Let’s exchange numbers. Quicker that way.”

Once that was done, they fell into an awkward silence, standing in the parking lot watching each other. Music drifted from the Rock House, getting louder as someone entered and then muting when the door banged shut behind them. “Well,” Ollie said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He was wearing gray and white sneakers, the plastic on one of the toes peeling away and the fabric beneath fraying. “I should get back. But I’m glad I came.” He pulled a comical face. “I think.”

Joel huffed a laugh. “Yeah, no escaping now.”

“I figured.”

Joel reached out as if to shake hands, but that felt too formal so at the last moment he diverted his hand and ended up giving Ollie an awkward, avuncular pat on the arm. Which was way worse. “You’re in the PTA for good now, Mr. Snow.”Oh God. Really?

But Ollie just laughed and ran a hand through his curls. “I guess I am, Mr. Morgan.”

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