Charlie clambered over Scott’s legs, neatly avoiding Fluffy as he got up off the bed, still kissing Scott as he climbed over him.
It was hard to stop kissing him. Everything about him made Charlie want to take a week off so he could just explore Scott’s whole body, inch by inch, make sure he memorized everything.
He felt stupid for wanting that, but he wanted it anyway.
This was more than the thrill of a new relationship, and Charlie knew it. Scott was important to him.
The thought that Scott might have been the person he was looking for—as intheperson, the one person—was terrifying, but exciting all the same.
“You leaving?” Scott asked, disappointment in his voice.
“I’m sorry,” Charlie said, grabbing his underwear from the floor. He only needed to go in for an hour or so to supervise while other people counted the books on the shelves, so they could deal with yesterday’s clothes.
He’d fully intended to get up early, but Scott had worn him out.
“How are you?” he asked, pausing at the side of the bed. He couldn’t just run away. He needed to know that Scott was okay with everything that had happened between them so far.
“Uh. Fine? Kinda sleepy,” Scott said.
“You’re okay with your sex life suddenly involving twice as much dick?” Charlie asked. He was worried that Scott was going to freak out, decide he’d had enough of this, back out before everyone found out that they’d been together.
Charlie would have been devastated, but he would have kept Scott’s secret. He knew how confronting, how scary being out could be for some people.
Generally, Hope Springs was a great place to be gay. But not everyone moved in knowing that. People had baggage. They had pasts.
Charlie got the impression that Scott had a little of that. He might not even have realized he did, but he seemed to be coming out of his shell now.
It was beautiful to watch, and Charlie wanted to see it all the way through. He wanted to hold hands with Scott at Pride next summer.
Baby steps. They needed to get past this first hurdle before they could do that.
“I’m fine,” Scott said, frowning in confusion. “Should I not be? I guess maybe you’re expecting… regrets, or something, but I’m just not feeling anything like that. At all. I’m… happy. Except for the part where you’re leaving.”
“I wouldn’t leave unless I absolutely had to.” Charlie pulled the t-shirt he’d been wearing under his sweater back on.
He was glad he’d decided to dress down for their date. Having Scott accept him, even when he wasn’t wearing one of his usually neater, better-fitted work outfits, meant a lot.
All Charlie had ever wanted was someone to love him for who he was. Soft and sweet. Kind of a nerd. Not necessarily as into fitted jeans and polished shoes as he made it look like he was at work.
Someone who could see all of him and still like it.
Scott felt like that someone.
“When can I see you again?” Scott asked, playing with Fluffy’s ear.
Charlie’s heart skipped. The question was so simple, but so meaningful. Scott wanted to see him again.
Scott had done all the asking so far. Charlie wasn’t sure why he was still worried.
“Well, my mom told me to invite you to a family dinner, but we always have lunch together on Sundays, so I’m inviting you to that. That is, uh… if that’s something you want to do? I know it’s a little soon for a meet-the-family thing…”
Charlie chewed on his lip, unsure if he’d done the right thing. He didn’t want Scott to feel forced, but hedidwant to see him as soon as possible.
As soon as possible was tomorrow, since Charlie knew that even though he was onlysupposedto be at the library for a few hours, he’d still be there at midnight, somehow.
“I’d love that, actually,” Scott said. “Your mom seems cool, and I already know Owen and Jude, so…”
“That just leaves Riley, but he won’t be there this week,” Charlie said.
