Really, though, Nick mused as he microwaved his mid-shift meal, who needed space? All they needed was a bed and clean sheets, and Nick had those. Still, he was hardly ever home and awake when either Anya or Hayden weren’t around, except sometimes midafternoon before Hayden got home from school. But then Oliver would be at work, so Nick still had no solution.
A few hours on Oliver’s carpet before Nick’s shifts might be the best they could hope for.
As he ate his reheated meatloaf, his phone buzzed in his pocket with a text from Oliver.
Are you awake?
Nick thumbed back a reply.
I better be. I’ve got five more hours in my shift. Why are you awake?
The reply was quick.
Can’t sleep. Insomnia.
Nick grimaced. He’d had his fair share of sleepless days and nights over the last six months.
I was thinking about you.
He forced himself to chew slowly while he waited for a reply.
Oh yeah? Anything specific?
Nick glanced around the empty break room before he typed his answer.
You. Under me.
Like the other day?
Heat started to spread over Nick’s chest.
Yeah.
Should we do that again?
His hands were shaking so badly, he had to type the message twice.
I want to, yes. When?
He nearly dropped the phone when it rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey.” Oliver’s voice held a deep something. Every time Nick heard it, all of him sat up and paid attention.
“Hi.”
“Is it okay to talk?”
“For now. I have to go back to work soon. One second.” He fumbled in one of the pockets of the heavy cargo pants that were part of his uniform until he found a small pair of headphones. He plugged them into the phone and put the buds in his ears, the microphone dangling below his chin.
“Okay,” he said. “We can talk.”
“Hi again.” Oliver’s voice was soft and scratchy. It made the heat in Nick’s chest spread farther, out along his arms and down his stomach.
“Hi.”
“When would you like to get together again? Sunday? My place?”
