Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Ethan
Ethan dropped off a second round of mimosas to a group of middle-aged women enjoying a bubbly liquid brunch.
He chuckled at their effusive gratitude, gathered up their empties, and set the glasses in the bussing tub behind the counter.
With a bright smile and a spring in his step, he hoisted the heavy tub onto his hip.
The glassware and silverware clinked together with every step as he backed through the swinging kitchen door.
He was still flying high from the sugary cherry danish he’d scarfed down for breakfast, as well as the afterglow from his night with Blake. Humming an upbeat tune, he loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
At the grill, Caleb poured pancake batter with one hand while he flipped sausage patties with the other. “You’re in a good mood today.”
Ethan pulled his lower lip between his teeth and shrugged. Getting some dick is better than Prozac. “I guess I just slept really well.”
He picked up the empty tub and hurried back to the counter.
Some of Blake’s friends had already arrived and were chatting in their usual booth, which meant Blake could arrive at any minute.
Ethan started up a fresh pot of coffee, bouncing on his heels and buzzing with anticipation.
When the bell over the door chimed, he looked up and smiled.
Blake stepped into the diner, wearing a hoodie and a rumpled T-shirt, the brim of his baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He must have overslept, and thrown on the first clothes he’d found before racing over. After zipping his hoodie, he slid into the booth with his friends, his head down.
With a contented sigh, Ethan thought back to waking up that morning with Blake’s strong arm draped around his waist. He’d rolled over and snuggled up against the firm, sculpted muscles of Blake’s chest, breathing in the lingering scent of sex.
It was hard to believe someone as gorgeous as Blake would be interested in a guy like him. He wasn’t Quasimodo by any means, but he was thoroughly average. A boy-next-door type.
For a moment, Ethan considered the possibility that Blake would lose interest now that they’d had sex. It wouldn’t be the first time someone got what they wanted and ghosted him.
Nope. He refused to spiral out of control.
Last night, Blake made it clear he was into him. They’d shared something special. They’d connected.
He hadn’t wanted to leave the warmth of Blake’s embrace, so he’d lingered in bed until the last possible minute. When staying longer would’ve made him late for work, he kissed Blake’s forehead, slipped out from under his arm, and left him sleeping peacefully.
Philip came behind the counter and wiped some whipped cream off his Heyday Diner T-shirt – the one where all the letters looked like they’d been cut out of newspapers.
Caleb explained that the design was on theme, to tie in with the diner’s newspaper decor.
But to Ethan it had always looked like a ransom note.
Philip nodded his chin toward the front booth. “Is he the one?”
A young man slid into the booth with Blake and his friends.
Ethan didn’t remember him from the week before, but as he studied the man’s profile, there was a glimmer of recognition.
Mickey. He sometimes had a young boy with him.
He’d definitely had a glow-up since the last time he’d been in.
His dark hair, which was usually an unruly mop that hung in his eyes, was now neatly trimmed and combed back off his forehead.
The tight jeans were new, too.
“So, is he?”
Ethan turned back to Philip. “Is who the what?”
Philip put his hands on his hips. “Don’t be coy. Caleb says you’re hooking up with one of the guys in that group. Is it the guy who just came in?”
“Can no gay man keep a secret?”
“You know what they say. There’s three ways to get the word out. Telephone, television, and tell-a-gay.” Philip gestured impatiently. “Spill it. Is it him?”
“No. It’s the one with the baseball cap.”
Philip’s manicured eyebrows lifted to his hairline. “Damn, gurl. He could be a model.”
“I’m aware he’s out of my league.”
“I didn’t say that.” Philip gave Blake a once-over and let out an appreciative grunt. “He has big dick energy. He’s big, isn’t he?”
Heat surged to Ethan’s cheeks. “He’s, um, yeah. He’s big.”
“Long enough to reach your second hole?”
“He hasn’t been in my first hole yet.”
“What are you waiting for? Stretch your booty hole and take that boy for a ride!”
“Oh my god,” Ethan muttered. He grabbed the coffeepot and pushed past Philip. “Excuse me, some of us have work to do.”
Philip called after him, “You better work it!”
When Ethan arrived at the front booth, Blake glanced up from beneath the brim of his cap and smiled. “Hey.”
Ethan fought the urge to flash a beaming grin in response. Plastering on a respectable, professional smile, he poured coffee and took the group’s orders.
As he backed away toward the next booth, he shot Blake a quick wink.
Throughout the rest of brunch, Ethan and Blake exchanged surreptitious waves and flirty winks. Ethan didn’t think Blake’s friends knew they were dating yet, and for now, he was fine with that. It was something just for them. A fun little secret.
Once Blake and his friends settled up and stepped outside to say their goodbyes, Ethan went over to bus their table and collect their charge receipts.
He normally didn’t give receipts more than a quick glance to make sure they’d been signed, but today he pulled Blake’s out of the pile, curious to see his signature.
He smiled at Blake’s loopy, meandering script. It fit him somehow. He set the receipt back on top of the pile, and that’s when he saw it.
In the upper right corner of the receipt, Blake had drawn a tiny heart.
Ethan looked to where Blake was standing outside and snuck his phone out of his apron pocket.
Blake
After brunch, Blake said a quick goodbye to his friends as they chatted outside the diner and headed up the street with his head down and his hands in his pockets.
When Blake had shown up late for brunch, Xander knew right away he’d had sex the night before.
Blake declined to say who he’d been with, and luckily the conversation moved on when Spencer introduced his new friend Mickey.
Although he was shy, Mickey seemed like a genuinely nice guy.
To officially welcome him as a sex god, they planned a night out at The Rumpus Room, a retro 80s bar.
The place had great music, so Blake was looking forward to dancing and getting to know Mickey better.
Throughout the rest of brunch though, Xander kept shooting glances his way, a knowing smirk on his lips. The guy was like a bloodhound – once he was on the scent, he was unlikely to stay away for long.
Blake was afraid he might jinx what was happening with Ethan if he talked about it too soon. He’d been out of the dating scene for so long, he wasn’t even sure where they stood. Were he and Ethan dating? Or were they just fooling around? When was it okay to ask?
Ethan’s fond glances during brunch were reassuring. It certainly didn’t feel like last night was a one-time thing.
His phone vibrated with a notification, and he couldn’t contain his smile when he read the text.
ETHAN
See you again soon, sexy
Blake was no stranger to being told he was sexy. Directors and scene partners showered him with hollow praise all the time. You’re so hot. You have the perfect body. Fuck, you’re sexy. But when Ethan said it, it felt different. More honest. It gave him a warm, fluttery sensation behind his ribs.
Blake pocketed his phone with a happy sigh.
“Blake!” Xander called out to him and ran to catch up. He wrapped his arm around Blake’s shoulders and patted his chest. “You’ve been dodging my questions.”
“No, I haven’t.”
Xander hummed, narrowing his eyes. “Then tell me about your hookup last night.”
Blake shook his head.
“Why not? Is it someone I’ve slept with before?”
Blake frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“Then why are you being so weird about it? Just tell me.”
“It was Ethan, okay?” Blake said too loudly. He lowered his voice. “I slept with Ethan.”
“Again?” Xander sounded genuinely surprised. “I thought you two hooked up on Tuesday.”
“Well, we went out again.”
“Tsk tsk.” Xander wagged his finger. “You broke rule two.”
“Whatever.”
“Hey, the rules are important. They’re what separates us sex gods from mere mortals,” Xander joked.
Blake had always honored Spencer and Xander’s sex god rules, but he saw them as something fun, not a creed to live by. “If I’ve already broken the rule, then it won’t be a problem if we go out again.”
“So you’re dating him now?”
“Yeah. Maybe. I––”
The all-too-familiar sensation of being watched caused Blake to glance across the street. A young man with purple streaks in his hair was ogling him.
“I’ve been spotted.” Blake pulled his cap lower and sped up, hoping to get to his car before the fan approached him. He was in no mood to sign autographs or take selfies today.
Xander hurried after him. “Wait up! Are we still on to work out this afternoon?”
Blake stopped short and winced. “Shit, I’m working. Sorry. I got called in to cover a shift for Chase. He’s still fucked up from a chemsex party.”
“Alright, you’re off the hook. For now. But I want to talk more about this thing with Ethan on our jog tomorrow.”
“Sure.” Blake nodded toward his car, parked a few feet ahead. “I’ve got to get to work.”
Xander hugged him goodbye, then walked back towards the diner, where Spencer and Mickey were still chatting with Quinn and his husband, Henry.
As Blake climbed into his car, he peeked over his shoulder. The guy who’d been checking him out was nowhere to be seen. Dodged a bullet, he thought to himself as he turned the key in the ignition.
Ethan