Chapter Fifty-Nine
“What’s wrong with you?” Joesph asked as he poured himself another glass of iced tea. “You look like someone has just pissed on your Cheerios.”
“Mike asked me to go to his place for dinner.” Jamie looked up at Joesph. “He’s cooking.”
“Wow.” Joesph sat down. He had on purple silk pyjamas tonight. “That’s a gutsy move. Cooking for you.”
“I know.” Jamie rubbed his eyes. “Does this mean he’s serious?”
Joesph pondered this for a moment. “Yes, I would say it does.”
“Okay, so what do I do?”
“What do you mean do? You go to dinner.”
“Then what?” Jamie closed his eyes. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
“Ready for what? Jamie, look at me.” When Jamie opened his eyes, Joesph said, “This is just a dinner date. It can go however you want. Just see what happens. Do not go in there with any expectations. None.”
Jamie nodded. “Right. I should take something.”
“Normally I’d say cook or bake something, but that doesn’t seem very realistic at the moment.” Joesph looked behind himself into the kitchen. “By the way, that oven doesn’t work.”
“Well... crap.”
“I would stay away from flowers. That’s just a bit... too woosie, I think.”
“Wine?” Jamie asked, standing and started to pace the living room area.
“Wine can be safe or... not.” Joesph sat there thinking. “How about champagne? Everyone likes bubbles.”
Jamie looked at his friend. “Do you really think Mike is the champagne kind of guy?”
“He’s spent time in France, and in France there is champagne!”
“Okay. You make a valid point.” Jamie thought for a moment. “Right, I’ll do that. I’ll go over to that big liquor store. They had a nice wine section. Surely, they’d have a decent bottle of champagne.”
“Good boy.” Joesph clasps his hands together. “Now,” he stood, “I’m going to say ‘night and go to bed. I suggest you do the same. You have a very big day tomorrow.”
“Okay. Good night.” Jamie walked over and hugged Joesph. “Thank you for everything you do.”
Joesph hugged his friend back. “I think I should be thanking you.”
Jamie stood back to look at Joesph. “We can thank each other then,” he replied, smiling.
“I can live with that. Now, please let me go to bed.”
“’Night.”
“Jamie, please do not overthink this,” Joesph said from his doorway.
“I’ll try not to.” Jamie tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.
Once Joesph closed his door, Jamie stood up, got himself some more cold water before heading into his bedroom.
What am I going to wear? He rummaged around in his closet.
He pulled one of the new polo-style shirts he’d recently gotten.
He hadn’t even worn it yet. He hung it on the doorknob.
That and a pair of the new jeans. These Levi’s should work. Okay, that’s sorted.
Stripping off his T-shirt and jeans, in only his boxer briefs, he went to brush his teeth. He did his best not to look at the cracked tile that seemed to be haunting him recently. He looked hard at his reflection in the mirror over the sink and ran his hands through his hair. “I need a barber.”
“No, you need a stylist, darling.”
Jamie laughed. “Shut up. Go to sleep.” He heard Joesph laugh.
Lying in bed, Jamie tried to think of all the work he would be doing the following day with all the new equipment arriving, but his thoughts continuously went to Mike and him cooking dinner for him.
I have no idea what to expect. What is he planning on cooking?
Jamie had to smile. He tried to imagine Mike cooking.
What surprised him was that he suddenly had the vision of Mike cooking in only a bib apron, his big, muscled thighs and butt on full show.
Now that’s the kind of dinner I could get behind. He snickered at his own pun.
* * * * *
Mike lay in bed with only the sheet covering him.
“I need to double-check my shopping list first thing in the morning,” He said to himself.
Should I think about wine? Beer? Jamie’s not that big a drinker, and I have no idea if he even likes wine.
I’ll pick up some beer... and a bottle of wine, just in case.
He rolled over onto his side, plumping the pillow.
Mike was having a difficult time seeing how the following evening would play out.
Of course, they’d have dinner first and then.
.. what? Sit on that love seat together?
Would it be odd doing that when his big recliner was right there?
Jamie might think he was putting the moves on him.
“And you would be, you big dummy.” I very much want to make the moves on him.
I hope Joesph knows what he’s talking about.
If Jamie and I have sex and it’s not good, then what?
Mike turned over to look at the ceiling. “Ugh. I need sleep.”
* * * * *
Jamie tossed and turned. He couldn’t get comfortable. At least there was a decent breeze tonight. The vision of Mike cooking in nothing but an apron invaded his dreams.
* * * * *
“You kinda look like shit,” Joesph said as he stood to get Jamie a cup of coffee.
“Thanks. I feel like that too.”
Joesph set the coffee in front of Jamie. “Didn’t sleep?”
“I tossed and turned all night.” Jamie blew over the top of the coffee, then took a sip. “Had weird dreams.”
“Oh? What kind of dreams?”
“Just... weird.”
Joesph shrugged and went back to reading the news on his computer.
“Anything of interest?” Jamie asked as he opened up his own laptop.
“Meh. Same ol’. The world is crap. The country is driving itself over a cliff. Same as yesterday.”
“Hey, can... may I get a cup of coffee?” Salzy asked from the other side of the screen door.
Joesph smiled and stood. “Yes, you may have a cup of coffee.”
“Good morning, boss.” Salzy lightly slapped Jamie on the shoulder before sitting at the table. “How are things? Thanks,” he said, accepting the coffee.
“This one didn’t sleep,” Joesph commented as he retook his seat.
Salzy looked at Jamie. “You look like hell.”
Jamie looked at Salzy. “Thank you for that.”
“Grump much?” Salzy mumbled.
Joesph, with a mug in hand, gestured towards Jamie. “This one has a date tonight.”
“Oh?” Salzy turned his focus once again to Jamie. “I bet I can guess with who, too.”
“You can both shut the hell up anytime now,” Jamie said curtly as he opened his email.
“Do me a favour, will ya?” Joesph asked Salzy. “Don’t let him hurt himself today. Remember, we need apple pie.”
Salzy laughed. “I’ll do my best.”
Jamie looked at Joesph, a severe scowl on his face. “You only love me for my ability to feed you.”
“No... you do have other fine qualities.”
“Do I even want to know?” Salzy asked.
Joesph giggled behind his other hand. “It might be better not to know everything. By the way, Terry is coming over this afternoon.”
“What?” Salzy nearly choked on his coffee. “Why?”
“I’m going to show her the design I’ve done for this apartment. She’s supposed to see about finding me someone to do the job. I really like that girl.”
“What time do you think we’ll be done today?” Salzy asked Jamie.
Jamie only shrugged, not looking at Salzy.
“Think I’ll have time to take a shower before she gets here?” He looked at Joesph. “What time is she coming?”
Joesph smiled at Salzy. “She said around four this afternoon. And really, I do not think she’d mind a hard-working young stud like yourself being a little dirty. I wouldn’t worry about trying to look pretty for her. One of her more endearing qualities, I think.”
Salzy smiled, squaring his shoulders. “You think I’m a stud?”
“I do,” Joesph answered, then nodded towards Jamie. “Don’t forget, he kissed you. He never would do that if you weren’t a stud muffin.”
Jamie gave Joesph the evil eye. “What part of shut the hell up don’t you understand?”
Joesph rolled his eyes. “Anyway, I’ve arranged for dinner to be delivered here around six. I’ll text Terry and see if she won’t join us. It’ll be just the three of us.”
“Thank you.” Salzy grinned, lifting his cup of coffee. “That’s really nice of you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Joesph looked towards Jamie. “You might want to go and put some clothes on, unless you plan on receiving your deliveries in your underwear.”
Jamie glowered at Joesph as he stood up. He pushed his coffee cup towards Joesph. “I need more coffee.”
“Was there a please in that sentence?” Joesph tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow.
“Please?” Jamie’s expression didn’t change, though.
Joesph smiled and stood the get the coffee. “Should I make it Irish? Oh, I don’t think we have whiskey.” He poured the coffee. “We do have tequila.” He handed Jamie the full mug.
Jamie shook his head. “Thank you. I’m going to get dressed now.”
After Jamie shut his bedroom door, Salzy looked at Joesph. “Wow. I’ve never seen him so grumpy.”
“Jamie isn’t a pleasant person when he doesn’t sleep.” Joesph winked at Salzy. “And I think he’s rather nervous about his date tonight with Mike. Oh! I didn’t tell you, but Mike is cooking for Jamie.”
“Holy cow.” Salzy sat there stunned. “Who in their right mind would cook for a chef, much less Jamie?”
Joesph shrugged. “I have a feeling that our friend Mike has a plan.”