Chapter Thirteen
Noah
“Okay, where do we want to start?” Oliver asked as we all crowded through the entrance to the Castle grounds, each of us with our hands stamped with a little pumpkin for the Fright Night event.
The grounds of the stately home were packed with families and groups of friends while the Castle itself, which was just an enormous, Gothic house, loomed over us, adding some suitably spooky vibes to the atmosphere despite the clear skies and sunshine.
Everyone had decided to come along, and I tried very hard not to imagine what it would have been like with just Spencer and me instead of ten of us. If I did, I’d probably end up having a childish strop, at least in my head, because I’d just wanted one day alone with Spencer.
Spencer had admitted that he’d mentioned potentially coming to the Castle to Will when he’d asked about his plans for the weekend, but when Oliver had mentioned coming, it had all spiralled out of his control.
Spencer had awkwardly said he hadn’t mentioned that it was meant to be a date because he didn’t want anyone else sticking their noses in, at least to start with, and I had to agree.
I loved my friends more than anything, but most of them tended to get overinvolved, and I wanted us to figure this out together without any of them breathing down our necks.
Especially because this was so new to Spencer.
I wanted him to have space to work through any fears, doubts, worries, or concerns in private.
If he chose to reach out to people individually for advice, that was one thing. It was another to have all our friends trying to offer their opinions at once.
“Looks like they’ve got a food market over there,” Bastian said, pointing at a collection of stalls on one end of the grounds, where the sizzle and hiss of frying could be heard. The smells wafting from that direction were delicious.
“That sounds good,” I said. “We can start there, and if we end up splitting up, it’s a good place to regroup as well.
” I hoped it didn’t sound like I wanted to ditch everyone, but I’d also been on enough group outings to know that large parties inevitably split up to go in various directions because everyone wanted to do different things.
“Let’s go, then!” Alex waved his hand and began ushering us forward. Even on a blustery autumnal day where the wind nipped at our skin and the sun was bright but distant, he still looked like the epitome of a rock-and-roll icon in his black leather shearling jacket and sunglasses.
Spencer and I followed the group, hoping for a few moments alone, but as soon as Alex realised, he dropped back to walk with us. “I can’t believe you two were going to come without me.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d be interested,” I said, trying to downplay the fact that had been my intention. “And I know you’ve had a busy week. I didn’t want to drag you around on your day off.”
Alex shrugged. “Yeah, but you know I fucking love Halloween. Do you want to do our usual movie marathon next weekend? I know Halloween’s your first Monday back after half-term, so I’m guessing you’d rather just chill than stay up all night.”
Alex and I had developed a tradition over the years of binge watching all the Underworld movies around Halloween. I wasn’t particularly into horror, but those films were more pulp fantasy action-horror than anything else, and they were so ridiculous I couldn’t help but love them.
“Maybe we can watch most of them next weekend and save one for Halloween?”
“Okay, but which one?”
I thought for a second. “Rise of the Lycans? Just because it’s before the main timeline and easiest to watch out of order.”
Alex grinned at me. “Is that just because you want to see Michael Sheen shirtless as your reward for going back to work?”
“Maybe,” I said, although Alex and I both knew it was the truth. I turned to Spencer on the other side of us, not wanting him to feel left out. “Do you have a favourite of the Underworld films?”
He frowned, an expression that always looked so cute on him. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I’ve seen them.”
“You have,” Alex said. “It’s the one with the vampires and werewolves trying to kill each other. You know, the one with Kate Beckinsale in the giant boots and leather trench coat. It’s got the pure early noughties gothic aesthetic.”
“Oh, yeah, I remember,” Spencer said brightly. “I’ve not seen it in ages, though.”
“You should come watch them with us,” I said. “It’ll be fun. We usually get pizza and make popcorn and just binge.”
I glanced at Alex, realising I’d just invited his brother to our sacred Halloween movie night without actually asking him.
He raised an eyebrow above the top of his sunglasses, and I saw his lips pinch, which meant he was surprised and maybe annoyed, but he wasn’t going to say anything.
Not until we got home at least, then he’d probably grumble for a bit, but ultimately, he’d be fine with it.
Alex was surprisingly chill under his prickly exterior.
“Sounds fun,” Spencer said. “I’ll have to check the work schedule, though. If not, maybe you can come round to mine some time and we can watch them? If you don’t mind watching them twice in a couple of weeks.”
“That sounds great. I’d love that.”
I glanced at Alex again, who frowned at me but again didn’t say anything.
Alex was smart, though, and good at knowing what made people tick.
He’d probably have everything figured out by the time we got home.
If I didn’t get cornered and asked twenty questions over the next few days, I’d be very surprised.
We’d reached the small selection of food stands by that point.
They were all arranged in a square around a seating area that had a large, open-sided tent covering it, protecting the tables from any rain.
There were enough people there and enough stalls that made it easy enough to split off from the others.
Spencer and I had started to wander over to a place selling the most delicious-smelling sausages and burgers, with Alex still in tow, when Laurie had swooped in, looking rather like he’d just stepped out of an Underworld movie himself, and politely dragged Alex away to where Theo was waiting.
I raised an eyebrow, suddenly wondering if the pair of them knew something I didn’t, but either way, I was grateful for their interruption.
“I’m sorry,” Spencer said once we were alone. “I kind of ruined our date.”
“Honestly, it’s not your fault. They’d probably have found out one way or another.
” I glanced over to where Theo and Laurie had dragged Alex.
“It almost feels like we’re going to have to Mission Impossible our dates, otherwise Alex is going to get suspicious.
And if it’s not him, then someone else will find us. ”
“You said dates,” Spencer said, and when I looked up at him, I saw a new blush spreading across his cheeks that had nothing to do with the cold air. “Does that mean you want another one?”
“I’m not sure if this one really counts,” I teased. “But yes, I would. I really like you, Spencer… I, er, I have for a while.”
“Really?” He sounded surprised. I wasn’t sure I’d ever been that subtle in my pining, but either I was better than I thought, or Spencer was really oblivious.
“Yeah. We won’t talk about how long, though, because that’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Nope. Now I wanna know. You’ve gotta tell me.”
“Since I was like thirteen… You’d have been seventeen.” Spencer’s eyes widened. “Sorry,” I continued. “That probably makes me sound really sad and creepy.”
“No, it’s cute.” He smiled at me, and my chest clenched. “I wish I’d known earlier.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” He sidestepped a large family and moved out of their way so he could read the large chalkboard on one side of the stand. “I might only be realising how I feel about guys, but I think it’s been there for a while. I just… thought it was normal.”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean, like… I always thought things like checking out guys at the gym was a thing everyone did. I told myself I was just looking at their form, even when they were just like stretching or cooling down. And I think I had the same reaction in the cinema as most of the women when Chris Evans stepped out of that machine in Captain America—you know, when he first gets the serum and he’s all pumped up.
” He coughed, his cheeks still pink as he tucked a stray strand of hair under the edge of his beanie. “Stuff like that.”
“If it helps, it is normal,” I said. “And I thought Chris Evans was fit too. I rewatched that scene so many times.”
“Right? He’s so fit and so sweet,” Spencer said. “He reminds me of you.”
I snorted. “I’m not exactly a ripped superhero.”
“I mean, he just seems like such a nice person. Really funny, and sweet, and kind.” Spencer turned his head, and I felt his eyes roam over me. A shiver ran across my skin. “Also, I think you’re gorgeous, Noah. I can’t take my eyes off you.”
“But I… I’m… I’m not exactly you.” I gestured to him, allowing myself to look at his well-muscled thighs, toned stomach, and strong shoulders. “I can’t even remember the last time I set foot in an actual gym.”
“So?” Spencer seemed confused by my reaction like he couldn’t understand my train of thought.
“I’m not like the sort of man you’ve been checking out. I’m fat.”
“And you’re sexy,” Spencer said. “I like your body. A lot. And I… I’m hoping one day that I… that we…” He trailed off as a group of small children ran past us with painted faces, each clutching a large bag of candy floss.
It took me a moment to process what Spencer was trying to say, then I felt a grin pull at the corner of my mouth. I stepped closer to him, pretending to be avoiding the frazzled-looking parents following their hopped-up-on-sugar charges.
“Spencer,” I said, lowering my voice, “do you want to have sex with me? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
It felt quite forward of me, especially considering this was our first date and Spencer’s first time dating a man, but the way he bit his lip and looked at me shyly told me I hadn’t missed the mark.
“Yeah, I think so. I’ve never done anything with a guy before, but I want to… as long as it’s with you.”
Heat bubbled and twisted in my stomach, and I cursed all the powers above and below that we weren’t there alone, and I couldn’t just say fuck the rest of the afternoon and take him home to slowly start exploring. But if we left now, someone—Alex most likely—was bound to notice.
“I’d like that too.” I prayed that Spencer heard the note of want in my voice.
My cock throbbed in my jeans as my mind began to casually remind me of my fantasies from earlier in the week.
I pushed the thoughts away, promising to revisit them later when I was at home in bed with the door locked.
“And I promise we can just go at your pace. I’ll take care of you. ”
Spencer’s smile had a slightly wicked edge that made my body tense in anticipation. “I know. I want to make it good for you too. I want everything.”
I swallowed. This really wasn’t the place to be having this conversation, but I didn’t want to stop.
I wanted to know what everything meant.