Chapter 8 Fletcher #2
Vince must hear something in my voice because he glances over at me, the corner of his lips hitched into a crooked smile.
It’s amazing to see this side of him. For over a year, all I’ve known is the stoic, quiet bouncer at the bar.
He’d barely spoken more than a dozen words to me.
Barely cracked a smile. But these last few weeks, as we’ve stayed up late talking, he’s let his guard down enough that I can see past the armor.
And I have to say, I really like it. Vince is far more beautiful than I ever realized.
I wish he’d let the world see it.
Vince picks up his empty wineglass and pushes off the couch. Bones instantly follows him.
He washes the glass in the sink and sets it on the drying rack, then offers to wash mine. I lean against the counter, trying not to watch the way his forearms flex under the water.
“Tell me about your day,” he says. “You got home earlier than I expected.”
I cross my arms and try to focus. “Yeah, we wrapped up the structural part of the Skyview Plaza project today, so I sent everyone home to refresh. Tomorrow we start the flooring, which… sucks. That’s everyone’s least favorite part. Oh, and Declan called.”
Vince’s brow lifts. “Yeah?”
“He’s going through with the bathroom remodel at the bar.”
Vince seems pleased. “I’m not surprised. He’s been talking about it for weeks. And he knows you’ll do a great job.”
His compliment warms me.
“It means I’ll be at the bar a lot more, since we’re starting next week.”
Vince’s shoulders tighten. “That soon?”
“Yeah.” I frown. “Is that a problem?”
“No, of course not. I just…” He hesitates before saying, “I haven’t told anyone I’m staying here yet, so if they see us talking, it might look weird.”
I hear what he’s really saying: he hasn’t told anyone why he’s staying here.
I shrug. “I figured. It’s fine.”
When he doesn’t relax, I circle the counter to touch his arm. “It’s not my truth to tell, Vince. When you want them to know about your illness, you’ll tell them. Until then, we’re just two guys getting to know each other.”
Vince steadies instantly.
Bones bumps into me. His attention drifts to the door and back, eyes pleading.
“Oh, you want a W-A-L-K, don’t you?” I say, scratching his side.
Vince chuckles. “Mind if I join you?”
I smile instantly. “Not at all.”
After clipping Bones’ harness on, we head outside. The dog walks ten paces ahead, steady and calm. The night air is cool and crisp, and carries the scent of pine from the trees at the back of the neighborhood.
Vince walks beside me, hands tucked into the pocket of his hoodie. His shoulders are loose, steps easy. “Feels good tonight.”
“Yeah. It’s nice to get out of the house after a day like this.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You mean a day where you played… what should we call it, ‘Emergency Extraction Specialist’?”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Oh my God, can you not—”
“You should put that on your résumé.”
“Thankfully, I own my own business and don’t need to worry about a résumé.”
“Grindr profile, then? Might get you some hot dates. You could put me down as a reference.”
I blush hard. “Sure you want that? You’d have to explain how you know I’m capable of such a… what even is it? A talent? Skill?”
He considers it. “I’m going to go with skill. And fair point. But I can provide an anonymous statement if needed.”
“Mm-hmm.” I bump his shoulder.
Bones trots ahead, sniffing everything within reach.
We talk about our days, and I’m surprised to hear Vince went to the apartment. Anxiety swells in my chest just thinking of him on those stairs again, but he seems proud of himself too. Like he accomplished something he didn’t think he could.
We make it almost around the block before Vince slows down. He tries to hide it, but I see the small wince with every step.
“You okay?” I ask quietly.
“Yeah. Didn’t think my feet would hurt this fast is all.”
“Need a break?”
“No, it’s good. I’m fine.”
I study him carefully, but we keep going. Vince tilts his head back and looks up at the faint stars between the clouds. “Honestly, Fletcher, I haven’t felt this… I don’t know—calm in a while.”
I smile over at him. “Couldn’t have anything to do with the orgasm, could it?”
He chuckles and bumps me.
I slide an arm around his back, and to my surprise, he doesn’t pull away. “Honestly, though? Me either.”
His eyes widen. “You always seem pretty chill.”
I shrug. “It takes a lot to stress me out, sure. But I was kind of… I don’t know the word. Stagnant, I guess? I’ve been pretty wrapped up with work since my divorce. Barely making time for anything except my job, my crew, and my daughter. So it’s nice to have something to break up the routine.”
He clearly doesn’t believe me, brows pinching into a firm line. “You seem to get out often.”
“Mm, no. You’re only saying that because of how frequently I go to Graham’s.
But honestly, I go because it’s part of the routine.
” I suck in a breath and turn to face him.
“The truth is, besides Sarah and Darren, Declan is my closest thing to a friend, which is really sad when you think about it. The most he knows about me is that I own my own company. But I don’t think he even knows Georgie’s name.
” I chew my lip before adding. “But that’s what I’m saying.
I didn’t realize I needed something to shake things up a bit until you and I talked more. So, it’s nice to have this.”
Vince blinks hard before pulling me in for a tight hug. I turn into him, holding tight. The night is quiet around us—the kind of quiet that seems to hold things instead of swallowing them.
We stand there a moment longer, then turn back toward home. My heart is light. Even though it was a short walk, only a couple of blocks, it’s still the best walk I’ve had in a long time.