“Yeah,” Flynn said, his voice breaking just a touch. He took a sip of his coffee, swallowed, and then cleared his throat. “Yeah,” he repeated. “I wanted to. Which doesn’t have to mean anything ifyoudon’t want it to. I just figure there’s no point in lying about it.”
“I…” Zach paused, unsure where to evenbegin. “Is it okay if I’m fine with you wanting to kiss me?”
A tiny, shy smile spread over Flynn’s face, his features lighting up with it even as his eyes stayed cautious. “That… sounds like it’d be okay.”
Zach smiled an equally shy smile back. “Good. Because I’m fine with you wanting to kiss me. Uh. Again in the future, even, if that’s…”
“Yeah,” Flynn said again. “That’s something I’d like, I think. I… this is new for me.”
“I know,” Zach responded, fingers itching to reach out and touch Flynn. He debated it for a moment, and then cautiously extended his hand across the table, stretching his index finger and just barely brushing against the wedding ring Flynn was wearing.
Flynn didn’t make any attempt to move. If anything, he sat even more still than he had been, as though he was afraid of scaring Zach off.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” Flynn added. “I’m gonna need you to be patient with me.”
“I like to think patience is one of my greatest qualities,” Zach said. That wasn’t strictly true, but for Flynn, he’d make sure it was. Whatever pace he set, Zach would follow.
This was too good a chance, too wonderful a thing to screw up for the sake of moving quickly. It wasn’t often that a man like Flynn came along, and it had taken one hell of a series of events to get them to this point.
Zach wasn’t about to ruin it with impatience.
“I don’t needthatmuch of it,” Flynn responded. “I just… I only figured out that I’m probably bi yesterday, so… y’know, I need to take things a little slow. Just at first.”
“And I mean it when I say that’s okay.” Zach stroked the band on Flynn’s finger gently. “You’ve broken your barista’s heart, by the way.”
Flynn shrugged. “He probably deserves better. Coffee’s still great.”
“He deserves better thanyou?” Zach asked. “And Idon’t?”
Flynn smiled another tiny smile. “You do,” he said. “But I’m hoping you’ll settle for me. Or at least… give me a chance?”
“I think I could manage that,” Zach said. He finally sipped his own coffee, and it was just as palatable as last time. He probably could have cut the amount of sugar down, even.
“This was easier than I expected,” Flynn spoke up after a few moments of silence. “I mean… Istillfeel a little like I wanna throw up, but I probably won’t. And you’re not yelling at me. And it even sounds like you wanna keep hanging out.”
“I do,” Zach agreed. “Idefinitelywant to keep hanging out. And whatever else happens… happens. Or doesn’t. I promise not to be an asshole about it.” He paused to wet his lips. “But you should know that I think you’re really hot. On top of… kind and funny and all the rest.”
“Hot being the most important quality of those,” Flynn joked, a broader smile starting to spread across his face.
Zach could feel the tension easing out of him—out ofbothof them—now that they knew more or less where they stood with each other.
“Obviously.” He grinned. “You didn’t think I wanted you for your personality or something, did you?”
Flynn laughed. “I’m stupid, but I’m notthatstupid,” he said.
“You’re not stupid,” Zach murmured softly, unable to keep insulting Flynn even as a joke. “You’re kind, and warm, and funny, and your heart and soul are beautiful.”
A dark blush colored Flynn’s cheeks, creeping down his neckandup his ears. Which was unspeakably endearing.
Zach wouldn’t have any trouble falling in love with this man. All he needed was a little more time, and for Flynn to keep being himself. He could already feel it happening, all the joy he felt around him starting to seep into his cracked, bruised heart.
Flynn would be good for him. He knew it.
He just hoped he’d be good for Flynn, too.
“You can’t keep saying things like that,” Flynn mumbled, sipping his coffee.
Zach grinned. Now that he’d found this weakness, he had every intention of exploiting it. He was going to make Flynn blush all the time. He was going toshowerhim with affection, as much as he was allowed to, because Flynn deserved for someone to be nice to him.
