“It’s been our pleasure,” Shelley says. “Just nice to finallyget a glimpse into Tyler’s life. He’s never talked about work as much as hedoes now that Jay’s started working there.”
I’ve never been good at making friends, but I’ve made one inTyler. And that feels pretty damn good. Things have changed since Reese cameinto my life. Changed for the better.
We exchange a few more stories before we notice the time andrealize we should head out.
“Sorry. We didn’t mean to keep you so long,” Shelley says as sheguides us to the door. She’s clearly at ease with us now, and we feel the sameway with her and Tyler.
“It wasn’t an issue at all,” Reese replies. “We had a greattime.”
“We need to do it again,” I add.
“Oh, for sure,” she says. “We’ll keep in touch with you aboutbingo night. A bunch of us get together for it, and I think you’d really likethem. There are a few other gay guys in the group that I think you’d get alongreally well with.”
“That would be awesome,” Reese says.
I check the Uber app. I ordered a car about ten minutes ago, andwe have about five minutes before it arrives.
We say our goodbyes and then we head out. As we walk down thedrive, Reese snatches my hand, holding it tightly. “That was great,” he says.
I turn and see the light in his eyes again. “Yeah, it was.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“For getting me out of my shell. I never would have done thiskind of thing in the past—on my own—but being with you makes me want to open mylife up more. I don’t want to keep living in a box. I’ve known I shouldn’t belike that for a while, but I keep using work as an excuse to not make anyfriends or keep my distance with people. You’d think between the group sessionsand Laura I’d know better, but this has shown me that I need to start livingagain.”
“It’s done the same thing for me. Getting to spend time with youhas changed me. I’m not that asshole you met. You’ve made me open up the sameway. And not just in the bedroom.”
A wicked smirk slips across his face. He must be reflecting onthat hot evening last week when I wore those panties. My dick hardens justthinking about it.
“Maybe we need to get you back in those panties tonight,” hesays.
“Ooh. Doesn’t sound like such a bad idea, Reese.” I kiss himsoftly, but as I pull away, I see that uneasiness return. I can’t imagine why.
He gulps.
“Everything okay?”
“As we were sitting there at first, when I was watching Shelleyand Tyler interact, I was thinking about something from my past that I feellike I need to talk to you about.”
I wait for him to go on, but he doesn’t.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just…someone I hurt a lot. I want to talk to you about it,but I’m not sure I’m ready.”
“Reese, you don’t have to talk to me about anything you’reuncomfortable with. You know that, right?”
“I know. I feel terrible because it’s a part of my life that wasso important to me, and it’s like as I try to get away from it, I’m shittingall over it.”
“I can’t judge you for running from your past. That’s how I’vespent my life.”
He starts to say something, but I can tell by the look in hiseyes that he’s not ready for this.
“Hey, Reese. You don’t need to do this. We can just have a goodnight. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.”
He smiles again and kisses me, much more passionately thanbefore.
