He normally asked if Connor wanted a coffee, so he obviouslywasn’t going to pretend that absolutely nothing had changed.
Connor wasn’t sure whether or not that was a relief.
“Hey,” Connor responded, barely above a whisper. The word hadcaught in his throat, nerves getting the better of him.
He wasn’t normally a nervous person, but helikedMax.Really liked Max.
The thought of losing him over this was… a lot. Too much.
“I said goodbye, but I think you were asleep,” Max said softly. “Ihad to get back and check on mom and Zoe. I… I mean, I don’tknow, but Idon’t think I’m normally the kind of guy who just… disappears after. I’m sorry.”
Thatwas definitely a relief. Max wasn’t mad, and he hadn’t leftbecause he regretted last night.
Connor couldn’t be mad at him for that. He understood that Zoecame first in all this, and he really didn’t mind being further down Max’s listof priorities than his own sister.
Now that Connor wasn’t worried that he’d lost Max forever overthis, he could see that Max looked… happy. Or happier, at least, than henormally did. More relaxed.
Getting laid had been good for him. Connor wished now that he’dtaken the time to do a lot more for him, but there was the tiniest spark ofhope in his heart that he’d get the chance to try again.
“It’s okay,” he said after a slightly too-long pause. “I, uh… Ijust… missed you. A little. When I woke up. But I knew where you’d be.”
Max smiled the tiniest, softest smile at that.
“So… coffee?”
“Please,” Connor said, his stomach finally settling as he realizedthat not much had changed between them. Max was still warm and kind, and hestill had a ridiculous crush on him.
Well, he wasn’t sure if it was still a crushafterthey’dgotten into each other’s pants. It definitely still felt like it, though.
“Hey, uh…” Max began, prepping the coffee machine. “Listen, don’ttake this the wrong way, but… can we keep this between us? Just… just for now.”
Connor looked up, seeing genuine worry in Max’s eyes.
He understood. Both why Max was worried, and why he didn’t wantthe whole town to know.
Hope Springs was probably the most gay-friendly place in thecountry outside of San Francisco, but it was a small town. News travelled fast,and if Max wasn’t sure how he felt…
Everyone in town knowing wouldn’t give him a whole lot of room toexplore.
Even Connor was aware that there were rumors and speculation goingaround about them. None of it negative, not at all, but still. Connor could seewhy Max didn’t want the whole town knowing the details of his sex life.
Especially if he wasn’t entirely sure what they were yet.
He got that, too. Max had thought of himself as straight up untilrecently. Possibly as recently as yesterday, though looking back, Connor wasstarting to think he’d been curious before now.
“I won’t tell a soul,” Connor said. “I’ll even keep admiring youfrom a distance, like usual.”
Max blushed darkly, flicking the machine on and pouring milk intothe steaming jug. “Thank you,” he said. “I know it’s a cliché, but… it’s reallynot you. It’s me. And I just… need some time and space.”
“Consider yourself the proud owner of as much time and space asyou need,” Connor said.
He’d wait for Max. Max was worth waiting for.
“Oh, uh,” Max spoke up as he started steaming the milk forConnor’s latte. “I forgot to mention, I got us a venue. I mean… I asked about avenue, you get the final say, obviously, but… a friend of mine has this big oldbarn that he said we can use. Do you know Riley?”
“I think I’ve had him pointed out to me,” Connor said. “A barnsounds… perfect. I wanted one to begin with, but I couldn’t find one to hire.”
“Well, this is free as long as I help him paint it,” Maxresponded. “Riley’s a good guy. I mean, it’s not reallyhisbarn, it’shis husband’s, but Brent’s a good guy, too. Ask anyone.”
