Chapter 16
Nick
Isettled into my cubicle, careful not to spill my coffee on Henry’s tie. How had I forgotten mine? Henry’s silk tie probably cost half my take home pay for the week. Not that he’d be upset if something happened. To him it was just a tie, but I couldn’t change who I was so easily.
The real reason I didn’t want to ruin his things is how wonderful he’d been to me since we met.
He was the kindest, sweetest person I’d ever dated.
My request to just sleep together didn’t upset him, or if it did, it didn’t show.
He held me all night, and I couldn’t remember a better night’s sleep.
Waking up with him made Monday morning almost welcome.
Okay, Mondays still sucked, but I didn’t seem to mind getting ready for work when I did it with Henry. If this was a snapshot into how our life would be, sign me up, pick out the rings, and set a date.
Shaking my head, I realized I was getting way too ahead of things.
It hadn’t been a week, but Henry was different.
I didn’t know why, but I was sure he planned to stick around.
The way he’d held me in bed, his warm breath on my neck, and the soft whispers that he was so glad I was there, felt right in a way nothing else ever had.
Probably wishful thinking, but I’d never had this calm feeling of surety as I did with him.
I logged in, read my emails, and then moved on to my current projects.
I expected to be distracted, but breezed through my tasks.
Every time I finished one job, I took a moment to think of Henry.
The way he smiled as we made breakfast side by side, the gentle kiss before we left his condo, and the promise of more of the same in the days ahead.
“Earth to Nick!” Brenda’s voice cut through my latest reverie, startling me back to reality. She was leaning against the edge of my cubicle, an amused smirk on her face.
I checked the time, and was stunned it was already 10:30. She must’ve been busy to not show up first thing to ask about my date.
“Hey Brenda,” I said, not feeling even the slightest bit embarrassed. “You’re late. I expected you’d be stalking me before I came in to get the deets.”
“This is a new attitude,” Brenda said, entering without an invite to use my other chair. “Should I take it you had a good trip?”
It was rare I caught her off guard, so I went with it. “Yes, no, and yes.”
“Who are you and where is my Nicky?” She leaned forward to touch me and nearly knocked over my coffee.
Flicking Henry’s tie over my shoulder, I glared at her. “Watch it.”
“Why so defensive about your tie?” She flipped it back and turned to see the label. “Wow! When did you buy…. Oh my god! This is his!”
I waved my hands at her and checked to see if anyone was listening. “As much as I love you, and don’t mind sharing with you, I don’t need the entire floor to hear.”
“Sorry,” she said, not sounding contrite. “You spent the whole weekend together?”
She’d found the one negative in the weekend. “Not really.”
I explained the weekend, and she seemed oddly sympathetic when I talked about Saturday night. By the end she was all smiles.
“That’s great.” She leaned in for a hug. “See? You totally are in his league. Auntie B’s world famous advice was spot on.”
For once I had to admit she was right. “He’s amazing, Auntie. I feel so free from doubts when I’m with him.”
“I’m happy for you, Nick. You deserve someone special.” Her expression changed and I braced myself. “When did you start working out that you can crush wine goblets in your bare hands?”
The ribbing was mild compared to what I’d normally experienced, but it reminded me how weird the incident had been. “I didn’t. It was the strangest thing. I was mind-fucking the situation like I always do, the lights flickered, I got startled, and the glass shattered.”
“That’s bizarre,” she said, her eyebrows furrowed. “The lights blinked at my place last night. I didn’t turn into the Incredible Hulk, like you, but I kinda expected Freddy Kruger to kick open my door.”
Leave it to her to go way out there. “You’re so weird. Freddy Kruger? Because a few lights flickered? Besides, I’m sure he doesn’t kill the gay guy’s best straight girl.”
“Okay, now I know you’ve got it bad,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But I’ll take best straight gal pal over that awful word. I’m too young and pretty to be an old crone.”
I almost agreed, but then she’d start picking wedding venues for me. “Yes, Maleficent.”
“So much for sweet and nice, Nick.” Despite her words, she smiled. “Oh, before I forget! I’m having a party at my brother Zeke’s house this Saturday. You remember Zeke and Orion, right?”
It was impossible to forget those two. What they had together was how I dreamed my life would be. “Of course. Zeke gave me a tour of his cool, old house. But Henry and I have tentative plans.”
“Hello.” She pretended to knock on my forehead. “The invite was for both of you. It’ll be fun. Lots of food and drinks. Think of it this way, it’ll be like you took him out for dinner and drinks, but it didn’t cost you anything.”
Put that way, it would be me taking him out in a way I could afford.
And if the party was anything like the last one I went to at Zeke’s, it would be better than I could afford to do for Henry.
Plus, he’d already met Brenda, and she didn’t scare him.
“Let me check with Henry. If he’s cool with it, I’m definitely down for a Brenda Masterson party. ”
“Awesome,” she said. “I’m going to put you down as a yes, because how could your man resist all this?” She ran her hand up and down in front of her.
I laughed so loud, a couple of people peeked over their cubicles to see us. One look from Brenda and they disappeared behind their walls. “Other than he’s gay, I can’t see how any man wouldn’t be impressed.”
“You really have changed.” She watched me with an odd expression. “Not even a whiff of snark in your voice.”
Not having a pity party of one meant I didn’t have to hide behind feeling sorry for myself. “That’s because there isn’t any. You really are an amazing person.”
“Oh no,” she said waving a finger in my face. “Do not go soft on me. You’re my snark brother. I need a good foil or else I’ll take it out on those who can’t handle me.”
Laughing, I leaned in and hugged her. “Anything for my best….” I mouthed the last word against her ear. I didn’t say it, but she knew what I’d mouthed.
“Urgh.” She slapped the back of my head lightly, stood, and ruffled my hair.
“I asked for that, but next time don’t be so good following instructions.
Now get back to work before I tell your amazingly wonderful and talented boss.
Oh, and invite that hottie of a roommate of yours.
Zeke and Orion have a few friends Trevor should meet. ”
Brenda left me in a great mood. Even the bit about trying to fix Trevor up. I’d be sure to warn him before he agreed to go to the party.
I turned back to my screen and realized I’d already finished enough cases for the entire morning. Opening the next case, I did the numbers in my head at lightning speed. It was as if being happy made me hyper efficient.
I wasn’t going to complain, so I got up to take a break. Once I’d made it outside, I called Henry. Brenda would want an answer after lunch, so best do it now.
Henry answered on the second ring. “Hi, Nick. Miss me already.”
More than he knew, but the way he asked, he felt the same. “Yes. I could get used to mornings like today.”
“Nice, because I was thinking the same thing all the way to work.”
Score one for Nick’s intuition. “Guess we’ll need to figure out a way to do it more often, only next time I won’t forget to bring a tie.”
“You can have that one as your backup in case you ever forget.”
He meant it from a good place, but it cost more than all my ties combined. “Hopefully I won’t need to take you up on the offer. Anyway….”
Henry laughed. “Fine, change the subject. Anything new and exciting happen in the last three hours?”
The subtle reminder might have deterred me, but he’d started the conversation expressing he’d missed me already.
“Let’s see, got to the office on time, I finished my morning work by 10:30, and Brenda invited us to a party on Saturday.
I know we said we’d make plans, but I thought maybe we could make it part of our weekend. Only if you want to, of course.”
He paused and I worried it was too much too fast. “That sounds like fun.”
Relief washed over me and I let out my breath. “Great. I’ll let her know.”
“Speaking of plans,” Henry said. “If you’re not busy after work today, would you like to go for a run?”
My mood improved even more. It was like I’d hit the lottery dating a hot guy who wanted to go running with me. “That’d be dope. I mean great.”
Henry laughed. “I know I said I had three years on you, but I know what dope means. And then I’d like to take you and Trevor to dinner. To thank him for cooking last week.”
We might be almost the same age, but Henry seemed so much more mature than I felt. “Cool. I’ll check with Trevor about dinner, but unless he’s crazy, he’ll say yes.”
“Trev’s done some stupid things in his time, but he doesn’t turn down free meals.”
I huffed out a laugh. They might be distant play cousins or something, but Henry knew Trevor. “Awesome. Where should we meet?”
“Your place makes the most sense,” he said. “And unless it’s a problem, I’ll shower there and then we can go to dinner.”
Showering at my place planted the image of the two of us, in the shower together. I’d do it in a heartbeat at his place, but I’d die of embarrassment if Trevor caught us. “Um… sure. I’ll let Trevor know.”
We said our goodbyes, and I was so amped for the day to end. I wondered if it would be like this forever. It wasn’t likely, but I was going to ride this high as long as it lasted.
The elevator was empty on the ride back to my floor. Stepping off, the lights seemed to twinkle slightly, as if in unison with my heartbeat. I watched them, trying to feel my pulse, but the sensation passed. I shook my head, chalking it up to my excitement for my after work plans.
I sent Trevor a text and went back to my cubicle. If I kept up the morning’s pace, I might get a bonus at the end of the quarter. Nothing big or life changing, but it would be welcome now that I needed to take Henry out now and then.