school’s track team. We don’t have to do a four-minute mile. We just have to work off some energy.”
Dan was a perfectly competent runner, but he didn’t have much speed. Chris assured him that wasn’t important, and they jogged around their neighborhood, up Victoria Terrace, down Agin Court, then onto Mansfield Parkway until it linked to Court Darthur, then back to Victoria Terrace.
By the time they returned to Prince Albert Circle, Dan’s phone had buzzed once with a text from his mother saying she and Sharon had spoken to the doctor, who was pleased with the baby’s progress. A few minutes later, she sent another message saying she’d sent Arielle’s father and grandfather out for food, because she was damned if she was going to eat one more meal in the hospital cafeteria. Dan seemed to find the second text most reassuring. “If she’s worrying about food, she’s sure things are going to be okay, not just pretending to keep everyone else from panicking.”
Dan was heading back to his place, but Chris grabbed his hand. “Come home with me. We left the menorah there, and I need to start cooking.”
“I need a shower.” Dan shoved his hair out of his eyes. His skin was glowing from the exercise, and he’d worked up a decent sweat.
Chris smiled, showing his teeth. “I have a shower.”
Dan was still distracted, because he didn't catch on immediately. “I thought you were hungry.”
“Like your mom, I’m relieved your niece is okay. But that’s made me think of something besides food.”
The damn pipes in the shower stall rattled, but Chris barely noticed. When Dan went down on his knees, the entire ceiling could have crashed down and not destroyed his mood. But the water started to run cold before he could return the favor, and he had to bundle Dan into a towel and onto his bed so he could reciprocate properly.
He was pleased with the way that strategy played out when Dan sighed, curled up with a satisfied smile, and dozed while Chris made dinner.
They ate in the living room. Dan sat on the couch, his plate on his lap and his phone next to him, while he watched the candles flicker in the window.
Dan’s family called intermittently all evening, and by the last conversation even his father sounded positive all would be well.
They went to sleep without making love again. But they shared the same bed. As Chris drifted off, still holding Dan, he wondered if that made them a couple. Surely it was a relationship if you slept together without fucking first?
Chapter Seven
Seventh night—Tuesday
Dan slept soundly and had to rush to make it to the office on time the next morning. He spent half the morning checking his phone for news while he pretended to work. He received a few cheerful messages from his parents, but wasn’t sure the crisis had passed until his sister texted him.
Sharon: Mom says you need reassuring so I’m taking time out from my busy new mom schedule to say all’s well.
Dan: That’s great.
Sharon: We can take Arielle home today.
Dan: Even better.
Sharon: And I’ve been able to start breast-feeding her again.
Dan: Ew!!!
Sharon: Sorry. Forgot your gay-boy booby phobia.
Dan should have known it would take her fewer than fifty words to start teasing him. Some things never changed. I do not have booby phobia. I just prefer not to think about them.
Sharon: I bet you thought about them all the time when mom was using hers to feed you.
Dan: I’m sticking my fingers in my ears and singing real loud now.
Sharon: Okay, new subject. Mom says there’s a guy.
Dan: World’s full of guys.
Sharon: Mom and Dad say this one is there every time they call.
Dan gave up. She’d drag it out of him eventually. That’s Chris. He’s amazing. We hardly know each other but he took care of me yesterday.
Sharon: Oooh, details!
Dan: Shut. Up. I mean when I was worrying about the baby. He calmed me down.
Sharon: More than I can ever do. If he’s figured out the trick, he’s
Dan was a perfectly competent runner, but he didn’t have much speed. Chris assured him that wasn’t important, and they jogged around their neighborhood, up Victoria Terrace, down Agin Court, then onto Mansfield Parkway until it linked to Court Darthur, then back to Victoria Terrace.
By the time they returned to Prince Albert Circle, Dan’s phone had buzzed once with a text from his mother saying she and Sharon had spoken to the doctor, who was pleased with the baby’s progress. A few minutes later, she sent another message saying she’d sent Arielle’s father and grandfather out for food, because she was damned if she was going to eat one more meal in the hospital cafeteria. Dan seemed to find the second text most reassuring. “If she’s worrying about food, she’s sure things are going to be okay, not just pretending to keep everyone else from panicking.”
Dan was heading back to his place, but Chris grabbed his hand. “Come home with me. We left the menorah there, and I need to start cooking.”
“I need a shower.” Dan shoved his hair out of his eyes. His skin was glowing from the exercise, and he’d worked up a decent sweat.
Chris smiled, showing his teeth. “I have a shower.”
Dan was still distracted, because he didn't catch on immediately. “I thought you were hungry.”
“Like your mom, I’m relieved your niece is okay. But that’s made me think of something besides food.”
The damn pipes in the shower stall rattled, but Chris barely noticed. When Dan went down on his knees, the entire ceiling could have crashed down and not destroyed his mood. But the water started to run cold before he could return the favor, and he had to bundle Dan into a towel and onto his bed so he could reciprocate properly.
He was pleased with the way that strategy played out when Dan sighed, curled up with a satisfied smile, and dozed while Chris made dinner.
They ate in the living room. Dan sat on the couch, his plate on his lap and his phone next to him, while he watched the candles flicker in the window.
Dan’s family called intermittently all evening, and by the last conversation even his father sounded positive all would be well.
They went to sleep without making love again. But they shared the same bed. As Chris drifted off, still holding Dan, he wondered if that made them a couple. Surely it was a relationship if you slept together without fucking first?
Chapter Seven
Seventh night—Tuesday
Dan slept soundly and had to rush to make it to the office on time the next morning. He spent half the morning checking his phone for news while he pretended to work. He received a few cheerful messages from his parents, but wasn’t sure the crisis had passed until his sister texted him.
Sharon: Mom says you need reassuring so I’m taking time out from my busy new mom schedule to say all’s well.
Dan: That’s great.
Sharon: We can take Arielle home today.
Dan: Even better.
Sharon: And I’ve been able to start breast-feeding her again.
Dan: Ew!!!
Sharon: Sorry. Forgot your gay-boy booby phobia.
Dan should have known it would take her fewer than fifty words to start teasing him. Some things never changed. I do not have booby phobia. I just prefer not to think about them.
Sharon: I bet you thought about them all the time when mom was using hers to feed you.
Dan: I’m sticking my fingers in my ears and singing real loud now.
Sharon: Okay, new subject. Mom says there’s a guy.
Dan: World’s full of guys.
Sharon: Mom and Dad say this one is there every time they call.
Dan gave up. She’d drag it out of him eventually. That’s Chris. He’s amazing. We hardly know each other but he took care of me yesterday.
Sharon: Oooh, details!
Dan: Shut. Up. I mean when I was worrying about the baby. He calmed me down.
Sharon: More than I can ever do. If he’s figured out the trick, he’s
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