“So… You wanted to ask me out?” Emmett asked quietly, cutting a meticulous piece off his pancakes. He peeked at him out of the corner of his eye when Gray hummed softly.
“Do you have plans for dinner tomorrow?”
4
Rooster watched over his menu as Emmett frowned at his own. They’d been seated at the restaurant for less than five minutes, and it already seemed like the boy was overwhelmed.
“Have you ever been here before?” Rooster asked casually.
Emmett glanced up, the furrow between his brows slow to melt away. “No, though I’ve heard that it’s good.”
Rooster nodded. “It is.” He studied Emmett for a few more seconds, then added, “Would you like me to order for you?”
He said it nonchalantly, like he might offer to a friend who didn’t know what to order, but he wanted to see if it was the kind of thing Emmett would be okay with. Not a test necessarily, but a way to gently let him know that if he wanted help, Rooster would be glad to give it.
Hell, he’dloveto give it. Stuff like that was what had always driven past partners crazy. He’d always had an innate desire to help and care for those around him, especially men and women he’d dated. It was why he’d become an EMT too. But people inthe past had felt smothered by his attempts to take care of them, leaving him feeling rejected and unfulfilled.
He’d gotten the impression Emmett wouldn’t be offended by the offer though. In fact, after the way he’d responded to some of the things Rooster had said and done the night before at his house, he was pretty damn sure the boy craved giving up more control than the other subs Rooster knew. He couldn’t imagine Ollie letting Six order his food—of course, maybe they were completely different as a couple when it was just the two of them.
He was glad he’d offered when relief washed over Emmett, his shoulders dropping and round face smoothing. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“No, of course not.” He set aside his menu and plucked Emmett’s from his fingers, setting it aside as well. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to help you. You seem surprised though.”
“Um, sort of,” Emmett said, fiddling with his rolled-up silverware. “It’s one of those things…”
He didn’t finish, and Rooster wasn’t sure where he was going with that statement. Following his instincts, he grabbed those fidgeting fingers and wrapped them up in his own hands. Gorgeous, golden-brown eyes flashed up to his face, lips parting slightly.
“It’s one of those things, what?”
Emmett licked his dark pink lips, hands twitching in Rooster’s hold. “One of those things I’ve always wanted but wasn’t sure would actually, um, be okay in real life.”
Rooster realized he was editing out a few words. The place wasn’t very busy, since it was a Monday evening instead of a weekend, but there were others sitting a couple of booths away.
He didn’t give a fuck.
He didn’t want any sort of misunderstandings between the two of them, so he clarified, “You mean certain things that you want from a daddy?”
Emmett’s cheeks flushed bright pink, but before he could answer, a server approached them. Rooster didn’t release his hands, barely glancing at the young man where he stood right at the end of his side of the booth.
“Evening, how are you doing tonight?” He winked when Rooster looked over again, annoyed he was ignoring Emmett.
He turned his full attention to Emmett when he tried to tug his hands free, tightening his hold instead and holding his eyes as he answered. “Fine. Can he get a lemonade, and I’ll take a Founders IPA—whatever you have on tap—and a glass of water.”
The local brewing company was one of his favorites, and he knew the restaurant carried several options. He only intended on having one though, not wanting Emmett to hesitate for even a second getting in the car with him again or missing out on any nuances of his reactions.
“Sure thing! I love their IPAs. That’s an excellent choice,” the server gushed, pushing buttons on the small tablet he carried. “I’ll be right back with?—”
“We’re actually ready to order our food as well,” Rooster cut in, wanting to lessen the number of interruptions they’d have as much as possible.
“Oh, uh, okay. Did you want to hear the specials?”
“No, thank you. We’ll start with the apps sampler, and then he’ll have the sirloin burger with the toppings on the side.”
“Okay, that comes with your choice of side,” he said, looking at Emmett for the first time and raising his eyebrows. “A lot of people get the house salad.”
Emmett shrank under his judgmental gaze and snide comment.
Grinding his teeth together, Rooster spoke again, voice harder. “He’ll have the truffle fries.”
