It made me want more.
More than I could ever deserve.
But rather than dwell on that thought, I walked toward the fridge and grabbed two cold beers. As I handed him one, I asked, “So business is good then?”
He shrugged. “I guess you could say so.”
He was being humble. Based on my Internet stalking, he was the top welder in the state and had a wait list a mile long. I was thoroughly shockedat the beauty and elegance of his work as I looked through his online portfolio. Only Quinn was capable of taking metal and fire and making it something simply breathtaking. I might be enjoying his company, but there was no way I was going to let him know I’d been stalking him. Even I had more pride than that.
“What’s your current project?” My question led us out to the backyard where we settledinto some lawn chairs facing the water. The evening sun was broken up by the wooden slats of the pergola, casting shadows on our legs as they stretched out before us.
He took a long chug of his beer and let out a deep sigh of relaxation. “Right now, we have five sets of custom stair rails, three dining room table frames, and a custom doorframe mixed with wrought iron and wood.”
“That’s amazing.”
“What about you? What’s going on at Masterson Builders?” There was a smirk pulling on his lips as he asked, one that piqued my curiosity.
“What’s that look for?”
“Nothing,” he dismissed.
“Like hell it is. Tell me.” Occupying my mouth with taking a sip from my beer was a much safer option than using it to kiss the truth out of him.
“I’m just really impressed, very proud, and ridiculously intimidated.I knew you had skill and definitely the desire, but I had no clue that you would be able to do all this.” He lifted his arms, spanning the yard and back to the house as if he were putting it all on display. “And I saw your work in the showroom the other day. You’ve really made something of yourself.”
Never really the one who excelled at taking compliments, I was more than okay with the loud protestof my stomach cutting through the last of his words. “So how about some takeout? Sushi?”
His face immediately twisted, looking like that of a fifth-grade boy who was just accused of liking a girl. “Raw fish? No thank you.”
Waggling my finger in his face, I said, “Oh, no, you don’t. You made me trust you today. Let me order you dinner.” Obviously caught between a rock and a hard place, Quinnstruggled with what to do. Ultimately, he decided to let me take the lead.
“Just nothing too over the top, please. Nothing that’s still breathing. Or moving.”
Waving away his concerns with a flip of the hand, I said, “Nah. You have to go to the restaurant to have that stuff.” He narrowed his eyes at me before sticking out his tongue. I liked playful Quinn. Not much of our time together up tothis point afforded us the opportunity to joke around, so I made a mental note to make him laugh more often. “You stay out here. I’ll get you another beer and order the food.”
As I walked back into my house, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. Despite not sleeping at all last night over the nervousness of what today would bring, I felt energized and alive. And I owed it all to one reason.
Quinn.
But as I read through the menu and opened a few more beers, I knew the lightness I was feeling wasn’t solely because of Quinn. It was also because of who I was around him. He had always been the only one to make me comfortable enough to show who I was. From telling him I was gay over a decade ago, to sharing my love for classical music with him, he simply made me moreme.
Keeping thatin mind, I made sure to add an order of steak teriyaki, just in case sushi wasn’t his speed.
I couldn’t exactly put a finger on it, but as I walked back out into the yard, a sense of calm enveloped me. Quinn was here in my house. We were laughing together, drinking beers, while watching the sunset.
No matter what happened at the end of our time together, I knew that this would forever go downas one of the most significant moments of my life.
