Joesph pondered this for a moment.“Yes, I would say it does.”
“Okay, so what do I do?”
“Whatdo you meando?Yougoto dinner.”
“Then what?”Jamie closed his eyes.“I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
“Ready for what?Jamie, look at me.”When Jamie opened his eyes, Joesph said, “This is just a dinner date.It can go however you want.Just see what happens.Do not go in there with any expectations.None.”
Jamie nodded.“Right.I should take something.”
“Normally I’d say cook or bake something, but that doesn’t seem very realistic at the moment.”Joesph looked behind himself into the kitchen.“By the way, that oven doesn’t work.”
“Well...crap.”
“I would stay away from flowers.That’s just a bit...too woosie, I think.”
“Wine?”Jamie asked, standing and started to pace the living room area.
“Wine can be safe or...not.”Joesph sat there thinking.“How about champagne?Everyonelikes bubbles.”
Jamie looked at his friend.“Do you really think Mike is the champagne kind of guy?”
“He’s spent time in France, and in France thereischampagne!”
“Okay.You make a valid point.”Jamie thought for a moment.“Right, I’ll do that.I’ll go over to that big liquor store.They had a nice wine section.Surely, they’d have a decent bottle of champagne.”
“Good boy.”Joesph clasps his hands together.“Now,” he stood, “I’m going to say ‘night and go to bed.I suggest you do the same.You have a very big day tomorrow.”
“Okay.Good night.”Jamie walked over and hugged Joesph.“Thank you for everything you do.”
Joesph hugged his friend back.“I think I should be thanking you.”
Jamie stood back to look at Joesph.“We can thank each other then,” he replied, smiling.
“I can live with that.Now,pleaselet me go to bed.”
“’Night.”
“Jamie, please do not overthink this,” Joesph said from his doorway.
“I’ll try not to.”Jamie tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.
Once Joesph closed his door, Jamie stood up, got himself some more cold water before heading into his bedroom.What am I going to wear?He rummaged around in his closet.He pulled one of the new polo-style shirts he’d recently gotten.He hadn’t even worn it yet.He hung it on the doorknob.That and a pair of the new jeans.These Levi’s should work.Okay, that’s sorted.
Stripping off his T-shirt and jeans, in only his boxer briefs, he went to brush his teeth.He did his best not to look at the cracked tile that seemed to be haunting him recently.He looked hard at his reflection in the mirror over the sink and ran his hands through his hair.“I need a barber.”
“No, youneeda stylist,darling.”
Jamie laughed.“Shut up.Go to sleep.”He heard Joesph laugh.
Lying in bed, Jamie tried to think of all the work he would be doing the following day with all the new equipment arriving, but his thoughts continuously went to Mike and him cooking dinner for him.I have no idea what to expect.What is he planning on cooking?Jamie had to smile.He tried to imagine Mike cooking.What surprised him was that he suddenly had the vision of Mike cooking in only a bib apron, his big, muscled thighs and butt on full show.Now that’s the kind of dinner I could get behind.He snickered at his own pun.
* * * * *
Mike lay in bed withonly the sheet covering him.“I need to double-check my shopping list first thing in the morning,” He said to himself.Should I think about wine?Beer?Jamie’s not that big a drinker, and I have no idea if he even likes wine.I’ll pick up some beer...and a bottle of wine, just in case.
He rolled over onto his side, plumping the pillow.Mike was having a difficult time seeing how the following evening would play out.Of course, they’d have dinner first and then...what?Sit on that love seat together?Would it be odd doing that when his big recliner was right there?Jamie might think he was putting the moves on him.“And you would be, you big dummy.”I very much want to make the moves on him.I hope Joesph knows what he’s talking about.If Jamie and I have sex and it’s not good, then what?
