Page 89 of Checking Out the Librarian

Somehow before the end of the song, Jonathan’s palm ended up over his eyes and Connor’s arm curled him face-first into his sweaty team shirt, and Connor’s other hand was patting his back while the squeaks of that dumb song and the people talking, talking, talking faded.

“It’s okay, J. It’s okay.”

“Not my name.” Synthetic material stuck to Jonathan’s cheek, but that was the least of the indignities flooding him with embarrassment at the moment. He was going to have to turn around and face everyone, and he had no idea what his face looked like.

“I think you’re sungry. I’ll get you some cake.” Connor’s voice was a low rumble above his head. “I ordered a yellow cake soaked in lavender simple syrup, with lemon curd and vanilla mousse filling, lemon buttercream frosting, and decorated with candied violets. I think you’re going to like it.”

“You think? Merely think? That cake is going to star in my fantasy life.” He let himself be peeled off Connor’s chest and spotted only two people hastily lowering their phones, so the photo evidence would be minimal. Hopefully.

The cake did fix almost everything, or at least it let him push the feelings down far enough that he could laugh and pose for photos and listen well enough to confirm that yes, Trixie’s girlfriend’s name was Michelle.

He was nailing this friend thing. And maybe sticking the landing on the dating part, too.

By the time they finished the cake, ate the hoagies and salad, and tidied the park’s picnic area, somehow Connor had drunk three beers and Jonathan two hard ciders.

Lily insisted she could drive them to save rideshare costs, and Connor assured Jonathan and their audience that he could easily run over and retrieve one of the cars in the morning. A six-mile run was within his abilities, he was a young twenty-six-year-old, not twenty-seven like Jonathan, not decrepit, for fuck’s sake, he still had stamina and good knees.

Even the insults didn’t make Jonathan stop leaning on Connor’s side. Also, the rest of the team swiftly picked up the gauntlet and insulted Connor’s stamina and his knees, so in the residual glow cast by a sheet of lemon-lavender birthday cake, Jonathan took the high road.

“Connor’s knees work very well.” He flourished the arm that wasn’t wrapped around Connor’s waist in the air. “I can attest.”

Oops.

The cake and cider had delayed his brain to mouth connection more than he’d realized.

In the midst of an epic volume of hooting, Softball Abby said, “Or you could, you know, take the bus.” She was a transit driver. And that was how Jonathan planned to return to the field when it was time for him to leave Connor’s.

Luckily, he wasn’t on shift until noon, but poor Lily had to open.

After Jonathan retrieved his bag from his own car, he settled into the front of Lily’s, Connor and Ribby safely contained in the back. Despite the seat barrier, Connor and Lily chatted as she drove, their topics occasionally overlapping to create a conversation that Jonathan could follow.

Listening to them, he felt content to keep his snarky observations inside. His friends were sweet. He’d landed in a life of cake and cider, and it was all nice and glowy.

He was definitely glad to not be driving. No driving while feeling glowy.

“Here you go, gentlemen. And Ribby.” Lily pulled to the curb in front of Connor’s. “Looks like a house. Maybe next time Connor will ask me in. I’ve heard sometimes friends ask their other friends to bring takeout over to their houses and hang out. Like friends do.”

“I’ll file that complaint with customer service, shall I?” He most definitely had not said shur-vice, or shur-vish, but ser-vice. Eighty percent definitely. But he wasn’t too fuzzy to know she meant she wanted to see his apartment.

Whatever.

He finished thanking her and exited the car with his bag while Connor fumbled with the back seat door handle.

Lily rolled down the passenger side window to talk to Jonathan. “Should I keep your boyfriend? Or are you going to rescue him?”

“Hey, I can hear that.” This time the door opened for Connor. “See, I did it on my own.”

Lily looked at Jonathan and raised her eyebrows.

“He’s a big boy, Lily. A very big boy.”

“I imagine he must be.”

“I can still hear you.” Ribby wrapped his leash around Connor’s legs.

“It was a compliment.” He put an arm around Connor’s waist again, not because he was swaying, more because it felt right.

“Was it?” His eyebrows came together at the bridge of his nose.