Chapter Fourteen
Brogan
Brogan showered and changed into a pair of dress slacks and a clean shirt and tie.
He had been nervous all day. Not the bad kind of nervousness, but the fluttery, restless kind that made his stomach twist in anticipation.
He’d planned this date carefully—a nice restaurant, a view of the lake, just the two of them without any distractions.
And now, as he stood in the living room, watching Archie sitting on the couch, he wiped his palms on his slacks and took a deep breath.
Archie was grinning like he already knew how much Brogan’s heart was racing. “Hey,” Archie said, leaning back against the couch. “You look nice.”
Brogan swallowed. Archie’s hair was slightly tousled, like he’d run his hands through it a few times. “You too,” Brogan managed. “Ready to go?”
“Absolutely.” Archie followed Brogan out to the van. Brogan held the door open for him.
When Brogan got into the van, he leaned over and kissed Archie. “I’ve wanted to do that all day, especially this morning.
“Damn, you’re so hot. I wanted you to come to my room this morning.”
“I wanted to but was afraid of disturbing you.”
The restaurant wasn’t far—just a short drive to the edge of town where the lake stretched out, calm and glittering under the evening sun.
The place was called The Willow’s Edge, a cozy spot with wide windows overlooking the water and warm lighting that made everything feel intimate.
The server led them to a corner table right by the window, where the view was unobstructed, the water blending into the horizon.
Archie let out a low whistle as he sat down. “You picked a good spot.”
Brogan smiled, relaxing a little. “Figured you’d like the view.”
“I do.” Archie’s gaze lingered on him, and Brogan felt his face heat up.
They ordered a mixed drink for Archie and a beer for Brogan, and when the server left, Archie leaned forward, elbows on the table. “So,” he said, “first date. You nervous?”
Brogan huffed a laugh. “Is it that obvious?”
“A little.” Archie grinned. “But it’s cute.”
Brogan rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t fight the smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, well. I wanted this to be good.”
“It already is.” Archie reached across the table, his fingers brushing Brogan’s wrist. Just that small touch sent a jolt through him. “I’ve been thinking about tonight all day, you know.”
“Yeah?” Brogan turned his hand, letting their fingers tangle together. “Me too.”
Archie’s thumb traced slow circles over Brogan’s knuckles, then kissed Brogan’s hand.
Brogan shook his head, laughing. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you’re blushing.”
The food arrived then, plates of grilled fish and roasted vegetables, the scent rich and savory between them.
They nibbled, talking between bites—about work, about stupid things their friends had done, about anything and everything that didn’t matter but felt important because they were sharing it. They agreed to share the dessert.
Brogan finally relaxed when decadent chocolate cake appeared on their table. His nervous energy had melted into something warm and steady, the kind of comfort that came with knowing the person across from you was really seeing you.
Brogan took a bite of the cake, humming in approval. “Okay, this is amazing.” He held out the fork to Archie. “Try it.”
Archie leaned in, letting Brogan feed him the bite. Then Archie fed Brogan with his fork. The chocolate was rich, just sweet enough, but all he could focus on was the way Archie’s eyes darkened as he watched him.
“You’ve got a little…” Archie reached out, swiping his thumb over the corner of Brogan’s mouth.
Brogan caught his wrist before he could pull away. “You just wanted an excuse to touch me.”
“Maybe.” Archie teased.
Brogan turned Archie’s hand, pressing a kiss to his palm. “You don’t need an excuse.”
The server came with the bill for the meal. Brogan handed him the card. Later, he returned for him to sign the receipt.
“Thanks for dinner and our first date.
“It’s not over. Come outside with me.”
The air by the lake was cool, the sky streaked with orange and pink as the sun dipped lower. They walked to the edge of the dock, the water lapping gently against the wood beneath them.
Archie stopped, turning to face Brogan. “You’re really something, you know that?” Archie muttered.
Brogan stepped closer, their chests almost touching. “So are you.”
Archie’s hands settled on Brogan’s waist, warm even through his shirt. “Can I kiss you?”
Brogan didn’t answer with words. He closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to Archie’s in a slow, lingering kiss. Archie made a soft sound against his mouth, fingers tightening on his hips, pulling him closer.
When they finally broke apart, Archie rested his forehead against Brogan’s, breathing uneven. “Yeah,” he whispered. “That was worth waiting for.”
Brogan smiled, brushing his nose against Archie’s. “Just the first one.”
Archie laughed, stealing another kiss, and Brogan knew—this was just the beginning.
“Do you know how to roller skate?”
“Of course, I do. I love skating, roller and ice skating.”
Brogan took Archie’s hand and walked to the van, opened the door, then went to the driver’s seat. Once they arrived at the roller rink, Brogan parked and opened Archie’s door. They went inside, and Brogan rented their skates.
“This is such a fun idea,” Archie said.
“No problem. I thought it’d be fun to do something different. You up for a bit of a challenge?” He winked, earning a laugh from Archie.
As they stepped inside, the sound of cheesy 80s music and the hum of voices enveloped them.
The rink was a blast from the past, with its fluorescent lights and retro decor.
Brogan could feel the nostalgia hitting him hard.
Back in Dublin, the smell of hotdogs from the nearby stand mixed with the sounds of skates on the smooth pavement as he and his friends spent their weekends roller skating.
He missed the innocent days of his youth.
Archie looked around, taking in the sight of kids and adults alike lacing up their skates. “I haven’t been roller skating since I was in high school,” he admitted, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
Brogan grinned, already feeling the excitement building. “Perfect. Time to relive those days, then.” He led Archie to a bench where they sat down to put on their skates. “So, you any good at this?” Brogan asked, tying his laces tightly.
Archie shrugged, a playful smirk on his face. “I was pretty decent back in the day. But that was four years ago.” He stood up, wobbling slightly as he found his balance. “Let’s see if I still got it.”
Brogan stood beside him, offering his hand. “Come on, let’s hit the rink, speed racer.” As they stepped onto the smooth wooden floor, Brogan could feel the adrenaline kicking in. He skated a few circles around Archie, showing off his skills. “Not bad for an old man, huh?” he teased.
Archie laughed, trying to keep up but ending up wobbling and nearly falling. Brogan caught him, their bodies pressing briefly against each other’s. “Easy there,” Brogan said, his voice low and steady. “No rush. Let’s take it slow.”
They skated together, Brogan keeping a close eye on Archie to make sure he didn’t fall.
The music pulsed around them, and the other skaters blurred into the background as Brogan focused on Archie’s laughter and the way his eyes lit up with each new attempt around the rink without falling.
He’s so fucking adorable when he’s trying his best .
Brogan felt a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the exertion of skating.
As the night wore on, they grew more comfortable on their skates, their movements becoming more fluid and confident. Brogan enjoyed the simple pleasure of Archie’s company, the easy banter, and the shared laughter. It was a far cry from the usual dates he went on, and he realized he loved it.
Eventually, they took a break, collapsing onto a bench to catch their breath. Archie’s cheeks were flushed, and his eyes sparkled with happiness. “That was amazing,” he said, grinning at Brogan. “I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.”
“Glad you think so,” he replied, nudging Archie gently with his elbow. “You know, I was a bit nervous about asking you out. But this…this is perfect.”
Archie’s expression softened, and he looked at Brogan with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. “I’m glad you did,” Archie whispered. “I’m having a great time, Brogan. Really.”
Brogan felt a moment of pure contentment.
This was what it was all about, looking into Archie’s eyes.
Just being happy and enjoying the company of someone who makes your world a brighter place.
He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Archie’s lips, feeling a spark of connection that promised so much more.
A few dirty looks shot their way, but Brogan ignored them.
As they pulled away, Archie’s smile was brighter than ever, and Brogan knew that this date was just the beginning of something special.
Roller skating with Archie spread a wide grin across his face.
Who would’ve thought? But as he looked at the man beside him, he knew that sometimes the most unexpected things could turn out to be the best.