But most of all, he longed for his husband’s low, reassuring voice and the cozy, welcoming rooms of the home they shared. “This was amistake,” Nate whispered, then turned away from the window and the lights beyond. “I don’t belong here.” And yet, as his heart sank within him, he heard Colin’s voice commanding him togo to New York and kick fucking ass,and his competitive spirit rose.
“Iwillmake it here,” Nate said aloud. “And then I’ll go back to my mountains and make that smug, Irish son of a bitch apologize to me!” He drew back the sheets and blankets and climbed into bed. He hugged one of the many pillows, and for a moment, he stared into the darkness, overwhelmed by loneliness.
On impulse, he turned, grabbed his phone, and texted: “I’m in the Big Apple, and I’m scared to death and lonely as fuck. I miss all of you so much. God, I wish I was home. Night, night, Irish. Please hug David for me.”
In less than a minute, he received a reply. “You’re a champion, and don’t you ever fucking forget it. I believe in you, rabble-rouser! We all miss you too. I will hug David, and we’ll come for a visit soon. Hang in there. Love you, buddy. Irish.”
Nate smiled and set the phone down. “Colin thinks I’m a champion,” he murmured as he settled onto his pillow. “Ain’tthata bitch!”
CHAPTERFIVE
BETWEEN HERE AND THERE
The following morning, Nate woke up to the sound of pounding on his door and a male voice calling his name. “Nate! You up?”
“Jesus!” Nate spat out. He stumbled from the bedroom, still half-asleep and struggling to remember where he was. He jerked the door open to find Ross Tanner standing on his doorstep with a large bag in his hands.
“I brought breakfast!” Tanner announced. “And coffee!”
Nate stepped aside to let him in, feeling irritation grate against his nerves and shoot up his spine in a white-hot bolt that balled his hands into fists. “Ross, we need to get something straight—” Nate began.
“I know, I know,” Tanner interrupted. “I should have called first. I shouldn’t have presumed. But honest to god, Nate, I’m so geeked to finally meet you and get your feedback on my notes that I just threw caution to the wind.” He set the bag on the glass-topped table and held out his hands in a gesture of apology. “I’m sorry, Nate. I am.” Then he gestured to the bags. “Please. May I offer you a coffee?”
Nate drew in a breath and collapsed into a nearby chair, feeling at that moment that he would give every bit of success and fame Broadway had to offer to see David walk through the door. He glanced up at Ross, then dropped his eyes to the floor and sighed. “Sure. Coffee would be good.”
Ross looked down at his bowed head and smirked.
As they ate, Tanner went on at length about Nate’s play, praising it to the skies. But his overly familiar compliments left Nate squirming with discomfort, and he quickly steered the conversation to the notes Tanner had made on his script.
Nate agreed with two of the changes the director suggested, both of which addressed issues involving stage direction. “Ross, these revisions make sense given that we’re on a thrust stage. Thanks for thinking of them.”
“Nate, you are a natural at this stuff. You should be writing plays for Broadway.”
“I prefer to teach,” Nate told him, then leaned back in his chair.
“Would you ever consider a collaborative partnership?” Tanner asked. “You write, I direct? We’d have huge success in this town, Nate. Notoff-Broadway—Broadway! The big theaters!”
“I live in Charlottesville!” Nate snapped. “And Ihavea job.”
Tanner leaned toward him and touched his hand. “Think about it, Nate. I know there’s a Tony award in our future. We’d make a fantastic team! But it can’t happen as long as you see UVA as the only game in town.”
Nate gazed at the director but said nothing.David was right,he told himself.This guy has an agenda, and I’m on it!
* * *
In Charlottesville that evening,Colin brought up Nate’s text message, then leaned across the kitchen table and held his phone out so Joshua could read it.
“Wow,” Joshua breathed out. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Broke my fucking heart,” Colin muttered. “But I sent a cheerful reply and told him that we’d visit soon.” He arched his brows and met Joshua’s eyes. “So I hope you’re up for a trip to the Big Apple.”
Joshua reached to take Colin’s hand and smiled the wide, sweet smile that never failed to melt Colin’s heart. “Wherever you go, my love, I’ll always be right beside you.”
“Wow,” Colin said. “Thank you, baby.” He tilted his head and gave Joshua a half-smile. “Is the lack of Nate getting to you too?”
“Lacka-Nate-itis,” Joshua muttered. “This disease is turning out to be highly contagious.” He cocked an eyebrow. “We’ve got David for dinner, so we dare not be all mopey.” He sighed and glanced toward the stove. “Damn! I need to get cracking.”
Colin shook his head and released Joshua’s hand. “Don’t bother cooking, babe. Let’s go out.”
