Darren nodded and went back to eating, taking a few bites. “I have to ask. Why is staying here so important? I mean, there isn’t much all that exciting. And lord knows I’m not that interesting.” He set down his fork and sipped some wine.
Chet leaned closer. “How do you know what I find exciting?” He held Darren’s gaze until he swallowed. “You know I like you, and I can tell that you like me.”
“Yeah… but….”
Chet shook his head. “None of that stuff.”
“Is this some kind of ‘we get what we get’ sort of thing? We just need to appreciate what we have? Because that shit sucks.”
Chet tried not to laugh because Darren was so serious, but it still hit him as funny. Not the idea, but the way he said it. “Maybe you’re right. And maybe that’s just a saying that’s meant to keep people from dreaming or trying to want more, but in this case, it seems like it’s all we have.” He took Darren’s hand. “I have to return to New York. I can’t just walk away from my responsibilities no matter how I might want to. I hate that my life seems to have been planned out for me, but then… it’s agood life with more than what a lot of people have.” And he knew he should be grateful. “Yes, there are things I wish were different….”
“What would you do differently?” Darren asked.
“When I was in college, I wanted to act. To be in the theater. I was good, but of course I only took a few classes to fill a few electives. Nothing beyond that would have been tolerated. But I really liked it.”
“You could still do it,” Darren said as he squeezed his fingers. “You could do anything you wanted. I mean, you’re smart, you have drive, and you could do things most people only dream of. You have resources that few have access to… so…?”
“Money isn’t everything,” Chet said.
Darren sniffed. “Spoken like someone who has it. You can do whatever you want with your life. I know that, and I can see it.” He continued to hold Chet’s hand. “And for the record, it has nothing to do with money. You know the house next door…? It’s owned by a man and his wife. They’ve lived there for ten years or so. They moved here after he quit his job. His wife works from home, and he writes books. He told me that he started writing after work and found he loved it. So, he got more gigs and worked his ass off after his EDJ—evil day job. And eventually, he was able to build an audience and readership. Now he stays at home with his family, they have a daughter, and they work. He does something he loves. I think I need to figure out what my real talent is and then see how I can make it pay.”
Dinner wasamazing, and after cleaning up, Chet settled on the sofa in the small living room next to Darren.
“What do you want to watch?” Darren asked, and put his hand over his mouth to cover up a yawn.
“Would you rather I left so you can get some rest? I know you have to work in the morning,” Chet asked. He didn’t want to go, but he wasn’t going to ignore Darren’s tiredness either.
“No. I just need to find a show.” He flipped through his television channels.
“Wait, I know.” Chet used the remote to log into the PBS app, bringing it up on the television. “I saw this just before I left and wanted to see it. It’s a new version ofThe Count of Monte Cristo. Are you interested?”
“Sure. I don’t really know the story.”
“Okay. It’s pretty great.” Chet found the first episode and got it started. Then they got comfortable on the sofa.
ChapterFive
Darren musthave nodded off, but probably not for long. The program was still playing, but he was resting against Chet, who had his arms around him. Darren closed his eyes for a second, letting the care and closeness wash over him.
“We can stop if you want,” Chet said softly, but Darren shook his head, catching up to the story at just about where Edmond was being taken off to prison.
“Jesus. These folks are tough.”
“Oh, yeah? Just wait,” Chet said softly as the first episode ended. “Do you want to watch another one?”
Darren was tired, but he didn’t want this to end. It felt good to be held, and being with Chet was amazing. Maybe it was the fact that they had just met and there weren’t a whole bunch of expectations, but Chet got his pulse racing and, at the same time, made him feel special and cared for.
“We can watch another one,” Darren said softly, and Chet put on another episode.
An hour later, he was wide awake. The story was exciting, but it was getting late. He was warm, even though the foghorn from the lighthouse told him that it was cold and damp outside. Usually that made its way into the house, but not this time. He was cozy and comfortable. When he lifted his gaze to Chet’s, he found him looking back. Darren didn’t move, and Chet leaned toward him.
He put his hand on the back of Chet’s neck, drawing him nearer until their lips met. It was an amazing sensation, and all the fatigue from work slid away. He wanted to be awake for this,and hell, sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. He shifted on the sofa so he could get closer. Chet’s arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly. Darren loved the feeling of solidity. His life had always seemed like quicksand, but Chet was solid, and he gave himself over to the feeling, letting go of his need for control and to know what would come next.
“Darren…,” Chet whispered as he pulled back, his eyes deep and dark, filled with passion. It was nearly overwhelming to think that he could inspire such an intense reaction. Without looking away, Darren flipped off the television and stood up on wobbly legs. Somehow, he managed to take Chet’s hand and take the few steps off the living room to his bedroom, where he closed the door behind them.
What am I doing?Darren asked himself for a mere moment. But to hell with it. Right now, he didn’t need to have all the answers. Chet was leaving in a few days, maybe a week at most, and he intended to make the most of the time they had together. When Chet pressed him back against the bed, Darren went easily, sitting on the edge with Chet between his legs, kissing him back until he lay sprawled on the mattress.
Chet slid his hands up his chest, pushing up Darren’s shirt. He squirmed under his touch and his intense gaze. He tried to remember the last time anyone had looked at him like this and came up empty. It was like fire zipped from Chet’s eyes and right into him, sending him on a wild ride… and his clothes were still on. Chet tugged off Darren’s shirt, then leaned over him, kissing him intensely and to the point where Darren’s head began to spin.
