“Something like that,” Ramsey said. He held out a six-pack of beer. “And I stopped by the corner store and got us something to bring.”
“Such a good guest,” Nate half-joked. “Maybe I should always take you with me.”
“Maybe you should,” Ramsey said, his chin tilting up towards Nate, the look in his eyes serious.
But that couldn’t be right. Ramsey couldn’t really mean that.
Nate cleared his throat. Not letting himself dwell on a faraway future where he didn’t even have to ask but just took it for granted that when he was invited somewhere, Ramsey would be at his side.
“Thanks,” Nate said. “We don’t have to leave yet—we could watch something on TV—” He’d been considering turning on the Stars Caps game from last night because the recap had seemed pretty good when he’d read about it, but before he could suggest that, despite the high potential for Ramsey giving him shit about watching hockey, Ramsey interrupted him.
“I thought we could also discuss what the plan is,” Ramsey said.
“The plan?”
Ramsey unzipped his jacket and hung it up next to Nate’s much more basic navy blue jacket. “Come on.” He gestured towards the kitchen. “Let’s talk about it.”
Nate wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about it. He wasn’t sure he wanted to justdoit either.
He hadn’t decided yet which was going to be worse—the talking or the doing—but apparently Ramsey had already decided.
Nate took a seat on one of the barstools, watching as Ramsey opened Nate’s fridge, humming under his breath as he took in the sparkling water that he’d started stocking since that first time Ramsey had come over.
He pulled out one of those for himself and a beer from Nate’s stock, opening it with a quick flick of his wrist, setting it in front of him.
Was it weird Ramsey was becoming so comfortable in Nate’s space? Nate didn’t know whether he hated it or loved it.
“So,” Ramsey said, taking a sip of his water, “do you have any hard limits?”
Nate wanted to confess that this whole thing was a hard limit; not because he’d dislike it or it would make him painfully uncomfortable, but because he’d like it all too much.
But it was too late to do that. Everyone already thought they were dating, and whether they did this tonight or in a few days or next week, it was happening.
“I don’t know,” Nate said.
“Can I touch you?”
Nate rolled his eyes. “Have I stopped you yet?” They’d held hands. There’d been casual touching when they sat on the couch watching the hockey game. Sure, it had made Nate feel like setting his skin on fire, but he’d done it.
He could handle it again.
Even if it was not casual and more purposeful.
“No.” Ramsey tapped his fingers on the counter. He looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back. Nate almost told him to spit it out, but if even Ramsey was worried about voicing something out loud, maybe it was better if he didn’t.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about,” Nate mumbled.
But he actually did.
Ramsey shot him a look. “You don’t?” he asked, tone full of disbelief.
And okay, yes. He did. He absolutely fucking did. What had been his first thought when Ramsey had suggested this insane plan?
I can’t do it, not if it’s not real.
“Okay, fair,” Nate conceded gruffly.
“So I can touch you? And you’re going to touch me?”
