He brought the beer to the coffee table, next to the pizza. Spencer walked to the couch and plopped onto the chaise part of the sectional where he could rest his big, hulking boot cast. Patrick noticed how tall and strong he was, his chest and shoulders pulling at the fabric of his navy blue polo. He put a pillow under his cast.
“Thanks,” Spencer said. Patrick detected hesitancy in how he said it, like maybe he was nervous about being here.
Because he didn’t want to be here, Patrick reminded himself. He was guilted into it, probably worried that Patrick wouldn’t be able to help him commute if he had said no. Fortunately,Moonrise Kingdomwas only ninety minutes, so he wouldn’t torture his neighbor for too long. He could control his heart beating in his ears and stiffening erection pulling at his shorts for a little while.
Patrick put two pieces of pizza on a plate and passed it to Spencer, then he sat on the opposite end of the couch. He was as far from Spencer as the dimensions of his furniture would allow. He spooned the couch arm.
“What are your thoughts on football?” Spencer asked.
“I’ll watch the Super Bowl for the commercials.”
“I mean in terms of fall.”
“Oh, it’s peak fall. I love that other people watch it, especially weekend games. I remember I went to a few in college and Friday night games in high school, before I could appreciate its fall attributes. I love how seasonal it is. Basketball and baseball stretch for months. Football is only fall with a splash in January.”
“We’re kicking off a campaign on the website around our football content on Monday. I thought you’d appreciate that.”
He was thinking of me?Patrick faced the television and bit back a smile.
“There’s this place just over the border in Wisconsin where my family and I used to go apple picking, and they make the best donuts I’ve ever had. They were fresh and warm and just melted in your mouth.”
I could melt in your mouth, too.
“We’ll have to go.” Patrick had a quick heart attack, then recovered. “Or, I’ll have to get the address so I can check it out. I tried going apple picking in California, but it was eighty degrees.”
Patrick turned on the movie without saying a word. He had to switch topics because he just slipped in another forced date to his incapacitated neighbor.We’ll have to go apple picking.Patrick shook his head. He got up and flicked on the light since the sun was moments from fully setting.
“You can turn it off,” Spencer said.
Oh?
“There’s a glare on the TV.”
Oh.
Patrick turned off the light. Hazy darkness encased the space. He tucked himself back into the far corner of the couch. Soon, with the movie going, Patrick’s nerves calmed down. They were two people watching a movie, and Spencer seemed to be enjoying it, laughing a bunch, each time music to Patrick’s ears. Patrick wanted nothing more than to leap across the couch and shove his tongue down his neighbor’s throat. Instead, he shoved another slice of pizza in his own mouth.
Perhaps it was the contained nervous energy or the run he went on, but Patrick’s legs began to cramp about halfway into the movie. He stretched them out in front of him and rolled them in circles. His muscles flexed and stretched, sending bursts of relief up his legs.
“Are you comfortable?” Spencer asked.
“Yep.” Patrick pointed his heels to the ceiling, stretching his hamstrings.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I just get a little...it’s fine.”
“Why don’t you get comfortable? You can lay across the couch.”
Patrick did not turn down the opportunity to get his body closer to Spencer, since he was offering. He probably felt bad that he was taking the chaise. Patrick rested his head on the couch arm and curled up his legs and feet so that they stopped right at his neighbor.
“Here.” Spencer took his feet into his lap. Patrick took a deep breath, trying not to enjoy this too much.
“Thanks. Let me know if this isn’t comfortable for you.”
“I’m good.” Spencer shot him a lazy smile that sent a current of heat from Patrick’s feet up to his head.
Patrick poured all of his focus on the movie and not on the cute guy who had his socked feet in his lap. Well, he tried at least.
