It was just dinner. Nothing fancy. Just dinner, him and Reece, at a sports bar they’d been to plenty of times before. So Nick didn’tknow why he was so frustrated—why nothing seemed to go right for him today.
His hair needed a cut. His clothes were a whole other obstacle. The first shirt he grabbed was wrinkled. The jeans he wanted to wear were dirty. He dropped his cologne twice before putting any on, and that’s when he knew the night must’ve been fucked.
Nick thought about what he’d say to Reece and how he would go about everything enough times to embarrass himself, but nothing he managed to come up with would work, considering he had to pick Reece up instead of just meeting him for dinner.
Nick almost said no after he got Reece’s “Pick me up?” text.
He was already at the gas station on his bike, and the last thing he needed was to have Reece clinging to him, but while he was debating what to say, another text came.
Reece:Nvm! Dec said he’ll give me a ride. ??
Jaw tensing, Nick tucked the glove from his right hand under his left arm to quickly type a reply.
Nick:Already otw
He stuffed his phone in his pocket before he could receive a response and drove off as soon as he finished pumping his gas.
Reece came out to him just moments after Nick parked in front of his apartment. He was dressed in tight ripped jeans, a blue t-shirt and a white jacket. His white and blue Jordans complemented the clothes, the colors suiting him.
“Hey, Nicky,” Reece said, and only then did Nick realize his eyes had been roaming, hungry for Reece. He just had that model appeal and everyone felt the same way, so Nick didn’t allow himself to overthink it any more than he already had.
“Get on.” Nick grabbed his spare helmet from his seat bag and passed it to Reece after he settled on the seat behind Nick.
“Now this is exciting.”
Reece sounded giddy, arms circling around Nick’s waist. He was warm against Nick’s back, his arms making some foreign flutter appear in Nick’s gut that he didn’t like one bit.
The place was popular, and a game between the Lakers and the Celtics had a lot of fans of the sport who liked to have a few drinks, good company, and delicious food gathered. Being somewhere so public with Reece made Nick instantly feel at ease. As long as they weren’t alone, he was safe.
Nick realized how wrong he was about that the instant he slid into a booth across from Reece and met those bright blue eyes and his flawless smile.
“Shit.”
“Hm?” Reece blinked at him, teeth disappearing behind his lips but his smile lingering, still as warm as ever.
“Nothin’.”
The waitress appeared, giving her name—though Nick forgot it as soon as she said it—and asked for their drink orders. They went ahead and ordered their food too, Nick knowing he was going for their bacon burger before he even arrived. Reece ordered the house burger, which came with their signature sauce. Not bad, but not as good as the bacon burger.
“Did you have a good day? Dec told me you two went hard at the gym today.”
Declanagain.“Wasn’t much to it,” he grumbled. “The hell were y’all doing?”
Not that it was any of his business…
Reece talked about his day for a little while, explaining that he and Declan met to play ball for a bit after lunch and then Declan went back to his apartment, where he still happened to be when it came time for Reece to get ready for hisdatewith Nick.
Yes, he actually called it that. No, Nick didn’t correct him. He was too caught up being pissed at Declan. What were they doing playing ball without him?
It wasn’t long before they were eating over casual conversation, and eventual commentary on the basketball game that began. Nick became so absorbed in the moment—in Reece, the atmosphere, and the food—that he forgot the whole event was for a purpose.
He had to put an end to things, not make them worse, yet here he was, digging a deeper hole for himself.
The burger was too good to be spoiled by any bad news. Reece was smiling way too much for Nick to just drop a bomb on him. He’d just wait until after dinner.
Whether that was a good idea or not, Nick wasn’t sure, but he preferred Reece’s lighter and playful mood over an argument or worse. Reece’s happiness just kept reminding Nick of why he was even bothering to do this in the first place, when all he really wanted to do was grab Reece by his pretty face and fuck his mouth. Bend him over the table and make him come until the only thing he knew was Nick’s name and Nick’s cock.
Nick was too easily distracted by Reece. The way his tongue dragged across his lips after every bite. The way his nose wrinkled every time he laughed. How animated he was when he talked. Reece was really and truly having a great time and, as much as he hated to admit it, Nick was too. He’d always wanted moments like these, when it was just him and Reece.
