Ramin hadn’t imagined Milan with canals, but apparently they’d once been used to move goods around the city. Now, though they featured the occasional gondola, they mostly seemed to be an excuse for adining district. Restaurant after restaurant lined both sides of the wide canal. Bridges crossed it every few blocks or so.
Mosquitos buzzed around Ramin’s legs.
He couldn’t stop smiling. Couldn’t help imagining thatthiswas his life. His real life. Not some artifact of trying to reinvent himself.
Being with Noah and Jake felt right.
It felt terrifying.
He was barely a month out of a two-year relationship. The last time he’d tried to imagine a life like this, tried to make it come true, it had blown up in his face. He should’ve still been grieving the breakup, right? He should’ve been a mess.
But every time Noah looked his way, all he knew was he had to give this a chance. Even if it scared him.
The sun set, and the streets along the canal came alive with lights and music and vendors plying a thousand things that caught Jake’s eye, but thankfully Noah navigated Jake around the souvenirs, because Ramin probably would’ve given in at the first instance of puppy-dog eyes.
They found a quiet restaurant and sat on the patio overlooking the canal. Their tables had paper placemats printed with Italy’s wine regions. Ramin could still remember the taste of the Gaja they’d shared in Bellagio, so rather than try to top it, he decided to be interesting and picked the first wine he didn’t recognize.
Their server brought them a bottle of Grignolino, a red wine from Piedmont. It was lighter than Ramin was expecting, almost like a Pinot Noir, rusty-red and oh so perfect.
He and Noah shared a toast, along with Jake, who clinked his glass of Limonata.
“It’s a tough life,” Noah said.
“It’s a tough life,” Ramin and Jake agreed.
While Noah ran to the restroom, Jake put down his drink, steepled his hands, and gave Ramin alook.
“Are you and my dad in love?”
Ramin nearly spat his wine out his nose.
“What?” He coughed. “What makes you ask that?”
“You’re both acting weird.”
“Sorry about that.”
Jake shrugged. “It’s fine. So are you?”
“No.” That was ridiculous. They hadn’t spoken in twenty years. Had met again just a few days ago. No one fell in love that fast.
Ramin wished Noah was here. He was the dad. He knew how to handle the hard questions.
But Jake seemed to trust him, and Ramin owed Jake some honesty, as best he could give it. Ramin wanted to be the kind of grown-up that Jake could trust. That Noah could trust with Jake.
“We’re just getting to know each other again. But wedolike each other. I hope that’s okay. And if you have any questions, we’ll try to answer them.” That was good, right? And honest. And gave Jake autonomy and respect. “I like you, too, by the way. You’re pretty cool.”
Jake beamed at him. “I like you, too. You have an awesome face.”
“What’d I miss?” Noah asked, taking his seat.
Ramin waited until Noah had a sip of his own wine.
“Jake was asking if you and I are in love.”
Now it was Noah’s turn to sputter and cough, while Ramin laughed.
“You are evil,” Noah said, without any real heat. “Jakey, would you be mad if we did fall in love?”
