Chapter 5
CHAPTER
FIVE
Francis
I floated back to my house after we said good night, with beard burn and a fresh perspective on my new neighbor.
He was so much more than a fire boy in questionable cargo shorts.
I was thoroughly intrigued by his passion for his reptiles.
What he had wasn’t merely a collection or a hobby.
He had a mission, and I could appreciate that even if they intimidated me. I had a mission, too.
And the way he beamed when he talked about his friend Kimo’s metalwork had me wondering even more.
I was so happy I’d asked him what he wanted.
I recognized his expression as soon as I asked.
I’d wager he wasn’t asked what he wanted very often.
I knew that a man like him, with so much heart, who was so willing to give to others, was a rare treasure.
To win the affections of such a man would be a major victory.
With the exception of two semi-serious boyfriends I’d had in college and grad school, I’d mostly been on my own.
At thirty-one years old, I’d spent the past six years focused on work, with only a string of disappointing dates to show for my time in Silicon Valley.
And after what happened at my old job, I’d wondered if I’d ever feel comfortable with a physical relationship again.
I’d lost more than a good job. I no longer trusted my ability to read situations with men.
But Kendall had been different, and when we danced together, I’d felt completely at ease.
It helped that Derek knew him. He wasn’t a complete unknown, and any guy who got lovey-dovey with a giant dinosaur named John Wayne had to have a big heart.
It would take a person like him to make me feel safe enough to be intimate with.
Before we’d said good night, after long, luxurious kisses in the moonlight that I never wanted to end, we’d agreed to meet in three nights. Once I got back to the house, though, my mind started its nightly spiral of inquiries that I knew would keep me up if I didn’t have answers to a few things.
I decided it wouldn’t hurt to text and ask what he’d like me to cook.
Saucy Neighbor: What’s your favorite meal?
Reptile Wrangler: I’m a pretty boring guy.
Saucy Neighbor: Did you like the fried rice?
Reptile Wrangler: Best I’ve ever had.
Saucy Neighbor: And you’d had it before?
Reptile Wrangler: Yes, Saucy Neighbor, I’m not that boring.
Saucy Neighbor: Are you “black pepper is spicy” boring?
Reptile Wrangler: How did you know?
Saucy Neighbor: I can work around that. Break you in easy, white boy.
Reptile Wrangler: Oh, don’t go easy on me. Break me in.
The texts got increasingly flirty until Kendall finally admitted he was down to one eye open.
Before heading up to bed, I worked on my list for the next day.
It was a practice I’d done for years to keep myself from obsessing all night.
I jotted down the groceries we’d need for dinner.
I looked at appointments and my weekly tasks list, adding a few to tomorrow’s schedule.
Then I sat on the floor and stared at the wall.
It was an interesting wall. It led between the foyer and the small sitting area/workspace where I planned to build a library, under the second-floor gallery, and into the kitchen area.
I had an idea to paint a mural, knowing full well that if it sucked, I could paint over it, but I needed some inspiration.
I spent the next hour staring and sketching ideas.
The only thing missing was music, which I’d have the next day.
I rarely sat in the quiet. I needed music twenty-four seven, but it was different out here.
No road noise, no loud neighbors, only the scratch of my pencils on paper.
I felt my heart and my brain settling down. Is this what relaxing felt like?
I worked until two in the morning. Time flies when you’re living the dream.
When the next afternoon rolled around, the TVs were up in the various rooms with speakers connected to an app that would control sound throughout the property.
I could blast my music inside or out, in one of the areas or all of them.
It was my teenage dream come true. All the TVs were equipped to stream as well.
I was just testing the one in the great room when Derek did his trademark triple knock, and he came strolling in carrying pizza boxes.
“Man, this place is cool. I’m so glad I sold it to you.
” He chuckled and did a little spin in the middle of the room.
He set down the boxes on the coffee table in front of me and looked around at all the changes with a dazzled expression.
“Just think of the parties we could have thrown in this place when we were young.” He frowned and planted his hands on his hips.
“Except we were too busy studying to be wild.”
“We can throw them now. I was thinking the first dance social would be like a housewarming, a christening of the place. Food, music, drinks, and dancing. I’ve got just over a week to get this place ready.”
“And you currently look like you’re ready to drop. You sit, and I’ll bring plates.”
“There’s cider in the fridge. Can you grab me a Fieldwork Rainbow Sour? I think I’ve got some 2 Towns Pineapple and an apple from someplace that I forget.”
“Can do.”
He was back a minute later with two plates, two cans stuck under his arms, and napkins between his fingers.
“This place is awesome. I love their pizza.”
I watched out of the corner of my eye while he served himself and realized he hadn’t really stopped smiling since he came in.
“I might be ready to drop, but you look like you’re ready to float away. Good night last night?”
He paused with his pizza on the way to his mouth. “I can’t even begin to describe how awesome it was.”
“Well, begin. You didn’t text me like you promised, and I would know because I was up till close to three.” I pulled out a garlic knot and a piece of veggie pizza. The knot was so good, my eyes rolled back in my head when I took a bite.
“Oh, I was home and in bed by eleven-thirty.”
I frowned. “How’s that? They didn’t leave here until eight.”
He brought his shoulders up and then sighed with a dreamy look on his face. “They met me in the park, and they brought a picnic.”
“In the dark?”
“They had LED candles and snacks and drinks. It was adorable. They made it all about me. They asked about my bucket list items, where I would like to travel, my favorite movies… It was so great. I’m on cloud nine.”
“So, what, did you go back to their place?”
“No. They said they wanted to date for a while so we could all get to know each other. I got a goodbye kiss from each of them, very chaste, and then they said good night.”
“That is the most wholesome thing I’ve ever heard,” I said. “What’s the catch?”
“Right? I don’t know! They said there was none. They just want to date me.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin, and his smile fell a little. “Is it wrong that I kinda love the idea?”
“Of course not,” I said, putting a hand on his arm. “Don’t take my reaction as anything but me being jaded and worried about you. If you’re having fun and you like them, you should do it. Who cares what anyone thinks?”
He chuckled nervously. “It’s just… no one has ever paid attention to me like they do. It’s a little unnerving. I kinda don’t know how to handle all their focus, you know?”
“It’s about time you found that with someone, and who cares if it’s two someones? Enjoy it, D.”
We finished our pizza and both had our feet kicked up on the coffee table in front of the large sectional and hands on our full bellies.
“They treat me like they’re the ones who are lucky, and they’re so funny together. They’re a team. Like, they live together, they work together, they do everything together.”
“And they want you together.”
Derek sighed again. “Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
We both cracked up. “College us would freak out if we heard ourselves right now,” he said, once he could breathe.
“You’re right. Twelve years ago, we thought we were going to marry girls. It wasn’t until we actually tried dating in college that we realized we were gay.” We’d both been super-late bloomers, and thankfully we had each other to lean on when coming out.
“They want to see me again this weekend. I mentioned that I’d never been roller skating, and do you know they found a skating rink? In Chico. They’re taking me all the way to Chico.”
“That’s awesome. I’m going to have a date of my own.”
Derek turned to face me. “Really? Kendall? The guys had so many nice things to say about him, by the way.”
I snorted. “The guys. I love it. Yeah, we decided that since we’re neighbors, we probably should make sure we actually like each other, so before we hop into bed, we’re going to try dating. Our first date is going to be a collaboration on a joint boundary project.”
Derek frowned at me and wrinkled his nose. “Huh? That sounds more like a work situation than a date.”
I rolled my eyes. “We’re going to have a meal together and Zoom with his friend, who’s a metalworker, and come up with a cool idea to replace the fence on our property line.”
“Again, kinda sounds workish, but okay. That’s cool that you’re collaborating, I guess? But I thought you wanted to… collaborate with him.”
My face flushed, and my mouth went dry. Derek noticed and started to apologize.
“I’m okay,” I hurried to reassure him. “He’s wonderful, but I can’t help it. There’s a part of me that worries that he… that we…”