22. Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Chuck
Chuck bit his comment back. He brought it up again .
Luckily, Robinson stood up and stretched. “Are there bathrooms anywhere close?”
Chuck directed him, and once he was alone, he leaned as far back on the bench as he could without toppling over or wrenching something. He wasn’t as young as he used to be, so it wasn’t far, but it was enough to stare up into the sky and stretch out some of the tension.
Aside from not really going anywhere or doing anything, Chuck specifically hadn’t gone here since Andrew died. Not even driving past to look or stopping to get a coffee or pick up some kettle corn like he used to. This was their place…and now he’d brought some other guy here.
Some guy who’s really stuck on his past mistakes .
Chuck leaned back forward and grabbed a couple more fries from the basket. Then, once he made certain no one else was around, he whispered, “Babe. I know you’d never be mad at me about anything like this. But he and I really click right now, and I could just use something.” His chest tightened, even though he knew Andrew was gone. Even though he knew he was talking to himself. And maybe a touch drunk. He’d kept pace with Robinson on the beers, after all. “I’m no fool. I know this isn’t going anywhere…but I still hope you’d approve. Even though I did it all backwards. Invited him over from another state, introduced him to the kids, and then took him out for coffee after he’d already been in the bedroom.”
Chuck shook his head at nothing and no one. “It’s the first time I’ve felt anything for anyone since you died. Even just attracted. He’s a cutie. You’d have liked him. Or maybe not.” Chuck sighed. “I like him, though.”
Somehow that was the hardest part of the whole thing to say to his dead husband. It fell heavily from his tongue, like a lead weight anchoring him in place. But he said it again. “I like him. I like him, and that’s okay.” Once again, he looked up.
Just in time to see Robinson stumbling his way back toward the table and plopping down on the bench on the opposite side. He grinned, all red cheeks and teeth and bright, sparkly blue eyes. “I think you may have plied me with liquor, sir.”
“I think you may be a lightweight.”
Robinson sucked in his cheeks. “So you’re saying I’m skinny.”
“Yes. You’re a very drunk twink.” Part of Chuck thought it was stupid to go out with someone and get drunk like that. He wasn’t twenty anymore. But the other part reminded him that he also wasn’t dead, and he was only, what, ten years older then Robinson?
It was a little bit of fun before he got a new house and Robinson disappeared into the night. And there was nothing wrong with that.
There was, however, something wrong with letting him be quite so drunk in public. Folks certainly got more than a little tipsy around there, but Robinson seemed suddenly well on his way to being drunk-drunk.
So Chuck finished off the last of his own third beer, then pulled out his phone. “I’m going to get us a ride back to your hotel and my house.”
Robinson’s brow furrowed. “Didn’t you drive here?”
“Yeah, but I’m in no better shape to drive than you are.” Chuck was actually pretty sure he’d be just fine driving, but he wouldn’t admit that out loud, and he wouldn’t take that risk. He had three boys back home now. “I can come fetch it in the morning. I’ve left it parked here before.” Not in a while, obviously, but he had.
Chuck set up the ride, then sighed. “Should only be about five minutes. You have enough legs to walk or should I hire a sherpa.”
“I’m good.” He rose and seemed quite unsteady, but he didn’t technically fall. He did laugh, though. “I swear, I used to be able to hold my liquor better than this. You should have seen me in my heyday.”
“Hey, you’re not supposed to talk like an old-timer. That’s my job.” Chuck looped an arm around Robinson and started a slow amble toward the parking lot. “If you start giving off old man vibes, that ruins the whole thing. You’re supposed to inexplicably be attracted to my middle-aged ass.”
“It’s a decent ass, middle-aged or not.” Robinson leaned against Chuck’s side. “Not that I’ve stared that much. But I stared a little.”
It shouldn’t have been that big of a thing to hear, but Chuck caught himself standing up a little straighter and smiling all the same. “Been a long time since anyone’s paid me a compliment like that. Andrew was not an ass man.”
“Oh, I bet he liked your chest.” Robinson patted Chuck right at his breastbone. “I noticed that too. You fill out a shirt really well. Bet you’re strong.” He sighed. “Bet you could carry me back if I was too drunk to walk.”
“Well, you do weigh all of eleven pounds. Not exactly a feat.” Chuck was pretty certain it would be a struggle, actually, and suddenly he felt a strong desire to get up early and use the campus gym. I’ve got access. I could just head to work a little early.
“Did I tell you I dreamed about you in the pool?” Robinson snorted a laugh. “Stop me if it’s too much, but you looked good in a pair of swim trunks, all wet and nice. We should go to a beach or something.”
Chuck’s cock twitched. He’s dreaming about me? He swallowed hard and, when he went to inhale, he caught some sort of spicy, woodsy cologne wafting over from Robinson that he hadn’t noticed until then. “You really are a lightweight. Better make sure you don’t say anything you’ll regret.”
After a few more seconds, they hit the edge of the parking lot. Chuck double-checked his car, tapping the lock button a few times and listening for the honk.
“I don’t think I’d regret anything. You are an attractive man.” Robinson sighed and looked up into the starry sky, the streetlights in the parking lot reflecting in his eyes. “And if we weren’t both drunk, I’d invite you back to my hotel room.”
Another twitch through Chuck’s cock, followed by a short burst of guilt. It wasn’t like he hadn’t gotten a hard-on at all since Andrew died…but never over someone actually standing in front of him. From dreams, from porn, even from actors on TV.
I don’t need to feel guilty for thinking Robinson is hot . Someone inviting him up to their place at the end of a date—even hypothetically—was a perfectly valid reason for the blood to start flowing south.
The Mazda pulled up in front of them and Chuck led Robinson into the back seat. He caught his hand lingering just a bit longer than necessary between Robinson’s shoulders.
I don’t think he’s going to be the only one having dreams tonight .