Page 11 of Nathan's Second Chance
We continue through the exhibits, stopping to read through the information. The place is furnished with furniture and decorations from the 1920s to match the original owner’s aesthetic. Colt stands so close behind me each time we stop to read that I hear his slow breaths. It takes all my self-control not to let my body sway back a little bit so I can feel his body against me. It’s a busy day here, but not so packed that he needs to be this close. He has to be doing this on purpose, right?
We stop at a screen set up to show a short video on the home’s construction. The seats are all taken, so we stand near the back. For once, Colt stands next to me instead of behind. I can’t tell if it’s disappointment or relief flowing through me. Then he leans his head on my shoulder, and my chest nearly explodes. I force myself to stare straight forward. In a perfect world, I wrap my arms around him and pull him close to me for the rest of the film. It’s an innocent move, but the way he presses himself against me sends my whole body into overdrive. It also makes my dick twitch.
Nope, I’m not thinking about that. Thinking about architecture and watching the movie. My dick doesn’t care. I stick my hands in my pockets and try to adjust myself discreetly. Colt’s gaze drops; I swear he knows what he’s doing to me.
Thankfully, the movie ends, and Colt looks up as everyone disbands to move on to the next exhibit. This outing was a terrible idea. It’s too hard to see him as only a friend. I wantmore. I’ve always wanted more. We’ve been out for a few hours, and I’m already falling for him. What will it be like after a week? Or months?
COLT
I’ve been tryingto find little ways to touch Nathan. A little physical touch is nice; hopefully, he’ll read it as a sign of interest. I don’t know if he still has romantic feelings for me, but I’m determined to find out. I’m pretty sure I saw a bulge in his pants when I was pressed up against him during the film. That’s a good sign, right?
In the next room, I head straight for the sign and bend over the railing to read it more easily. I might be getting to the reading glasses stage of my life. Nathan comes up behind me a few seconds later.
“Did you know about this?” I ask as he sidles up behind me. It’s an invitation if I’ve ever seen one. I lean back just enough that the fabric of our clothes rubs together. It’s pure torture being so close and yet not close enough.
“About what?” he whispers in my ear. Why is that so fucking hot?
“This place collapsed.” I crane my neck so I can see his face. He’s looking directly at me, not at the information panel. His eyes meet mine, and for a second, I think he might lean in and kiss me. I lick my lips, though my mouth is so dry I doubt it helps. Then he steps back. The move is so sudden I need to steady myself on the railing.
“Yeah, um, there was a big mudslide about fifteen years ago, and some of the foundation became unstable. A few of the walls caved in. Luckily, they could save the rest and rebuild what was destroyed.”
I try to recover, but my mind is still reeling from the almost kiss, if that’s even what it was.
“I’ve got two questions. First, does that mean this guy Webber fucked up the design?” A mother with two kids nearby shoots me a dirty look over my cursing. I can’t focus on keeping parents happy and playing it cool with Nathan simultaneously. Sorry, but Nathan’s going to win on this one.
“The answer depends on who you ask.”
“I’m asking you.” The phrase comes out flirtier than I expected, but it’s too late to take it back. He stares daggers into me, and I’m tempted to look away but manage to maintain eye contact.
“By the time he got to this project, Webber’d made a big name for himself. To him, that meant he only needed to do the work he deemed important. There were tons of junior people lined up to work for him, so they did a lot of the design and oversaw the construction. They were good, but they didn’t have the same eye for detail or experience. Ultimately, I think he paid for taking his eye off the ball.” Nathan smiles at me, which turns my insides to mush. “Though, I guess since he was long dead by the time it happened, he didn’t have to deal with any consequences.”
I hum my approval of the answer. “The second question is, are we safe now? If it fell once, shouldn’t we be concerned about it happening again?”
“That’s your second question? Shouldn’t that have been the first question?” Nathan takes a few steps back and laughs. It’s a whole-body laugh. Something I’m not sure I ever remember hearing from him. I like that he’s able to relax around me. I’d do anything to keep it that way.
“I wanted to let you nerd-out about the building before I suggested we get some food. For our safety, of course.”
“You’re plenty safe,” he says. I can’t help hearing that sentence be about more than the building we’re standing in. I need the courage to confess my feelings, but it never feels like the right moment. “But, food does sound nice. Come on, there’s a great bar near here with burgers and fries.”
Chapter Eight
NATHAN
I smileas I read Colt’s text. After our shopping excursion, a lingering awkwardness remained between the two of us. However, things between us became easy after our day at the Webber house. Not a day went by without us exchanging at least a few texts. In some ways, this was the same Colt I knew and loved growing up. In others, I was getting to know him for the first time.
“Do you have those quotes from the caterers?” I pull my focus back to the office. Zoning out and thinking about Colt all day did not run a non-profit. It’s infinitely more exciting, though.
“Yeah, I think I have them all in my email. Give me thirty minutes to pull them into a document, and I’ll email them to you.” Once again, it’s not my job to do this, but if it gets people to leave me alone so I can go back to staring at my phone, I’ll do it.
“Thanks, you’re a lifesaver.” I wave Victoria off.
My phone buzzes again, and I look at the texts. Colt wants to meet up tonight. I looked at the piles of work on my desk. Helping with the fundraiser might be the right thing, but it cameat the cost of some of my other work. Plus, my distraction over Colt didn’t help productivity.
Me
Can’t tonight :( Too much work. Friday?
I’d work all night if I had to. Tomorrow night is friend night, and Friday would be Colt. Warmth spread through me. A night alone with Colt. Sure, we’d been alone the night I rescued him, but that didn’t count.
