“It’s not as fun the hundredth time,” Mr. O’Connor said, a teasing lilt in his voice.
“No, probably not. Ninety-nine rounds of fun isn’t bad, though.”
Mr. O’Connor shook his head, wordlessly continuing to tease him. He really was handsome. Arthur could hardly believe how lovely he looked, with his light-brown hair and hazel eyes. Eyes that were really very expressive, as well. Playful. Mischievous. Intelligent.
Arthur finally realized he had been staring when Mr. O’Connor crooked an eyebrow. Arthur’s cheeks warmed as his eyes fell to the floor, and he let out a nervous chuckle. Hopefully his creative use of the Gordon Jobber had helped to banishsomeof Mr. O’Connor’s obviously negative feelings toward him.
Mr. O’Connor.Arthur had never even learned the man’s full name.
“Thank you for letting me try the press.” Shuffling his foot on the tile, Arthur looked up and said, “I think I missed your first name, by the way.”
“Jesse.”
Jesse.Arthur’s face burned hotter. It was as lovely as the rest of him.
“Jesse,” Arthur repeated. “I like that.” He cringed, slamming his eyes shut. “Sorry. Obviously it’s not important that I like it. I’m not sure why I said that.”
“It’s fine,” Mr. O’Connor said, sounding more amused than offended. Arthur reopened his eyes. “I, uhm, I wouldn’t mind you calling me Jesse instead of Mr. O’Connor. Since you like it so much.”
Arthur was starting to feel a little lightheaded. He had most certainly become overheated, too.Jesse.It really was a nice name. Given the fact that Arthur was technically Jesse’s superior, perhaps hecouldrefer to Jesse by his first name. But...
Arthur pursed his lips, thinking it over. He couldn’t help but feel... notuncomfortable, exactly, but a smidge saddened by the fact that Jesse would continue referring to him as Mr. Hughes in return.
“If you’d like,” Arthur began tentatively, nervousness making his stomach queasy, “you may call me Arthur.”
Jesse’s eyes widened.
Quickly, Arthur blurted out, “Or not. Mr. Hughes is fine.”
“I . . . uhm . . . I can call you Arthur if that’s what you’d prefer.”
Arthur’s heart stuttered. He liked hearing Jesse say it.
“Yes. Please.”
Arthur rolled his bottom lip between his teeth. Jesse calling him by his first name might seem peculiar to the other employees. He’d rather not haveeveryonecall him Arthur, either. Only Jesse. Because... well, probably because he had lost his mind.
Arthur wanted Jesse to call him Arthur because he liked hearing Jesse say it and because he wanted Jesse to like him. Because he liked Jesse. Even though Jesse had insulted him. Or perhaps, in part,becausehe had.
Arthur said, “Although, perhaps you shouldn’t call me Arthur when the, ehm, others are here. Just when it’s the, uh, the two of us.”
Jesse smiled and nodded, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Arthur’s heart pitter-pattered excitedly from the sight, and he cursed himself for it. He was not being careful even a little, was he?
Jesse said, “Do you want me to show you the Grasshopper now?”
Arthur smiled back, his heart still fluttering madly. “Yes, thank you.”
Together, they walked over to the next machine. And when Jesse began the lesson, Arthur let himself become lost in thought over how much he liked having this man, this engineer, speak so freely with him. He liked listening to Jesse teach him things.
When Jesse moved to roll some ink onto a preloaded forme (unlike the Gordon Jobber, the Grasshopper had a stationary bed where the formes sat, which they then needed to coat with ink themselves), Arthur came up behind him, telling himself that he wanted to help but secretly only wanting for the two of them to be close. Pressing his body flush with Jesse’s, Arthur took hold of the second handle of the roller.
Oh, he was not being careful at all.
Chapter Four
Jesse
Jesse’s heart thumped wildly as he tried to look over the sheet of newspaper that he and Arthur had printed together. Colorful spots peppered his vision. He felt so lightheaded that he could barely even see the text. After taking a couple of long, slow breaths, the printed page finally came into focus. Unfortunately, half of the words werestillcompletely illegible.
