Theybothdeserved someone to be nice to them.
“Yeah I can,” Zach said. “Just you wait. I’ll come up with dozens of compliments.”
Flynn licked his lips, staring down at his coffee cup again, but still smiling. “I guess I could get used to that.”
“You’ll just have to.” Zach sat back, finally able to relax. Excitement filled up his chest, making it feel tight enough to burst, but not in a bad way. He couldn’twaitto get to see more of Flynn, get to know him better, to be allowed to be closer to him.
He’d had a taste of it on Saturday night, and it’d only left him wanting more.
“So uh…” Flynn looked up again. “Would it be weird if I wanted to see your studio? I mean… you’ve seen where I work.”
“I’ve evensleptwhere you work,” Zach said, flattered that Flynn was interested. “I could give you the tour, yeah. It’s a shared space, though, and I’m only part-time, so I can’t take you today. Can I ask why?”
Flynn shrugged. “Curiosity, I guess. You’re my first artist.”
Zach snorted. “So first man is no big deal, but first artist you’re gonna need some time to adjust to?” he joked.
“First man is a big deal,” Flynn admitted. “But I’m trying to tell myself it’s not, because it probably shouldn’t be. First artist is moreinteresting,anyway. I dunno. If it’s stupid, or too… private, or something, just tell me.”
“It’s not stupid or private,” Zach said. “I’m flattered, honestly.”
Hedidn’tsay that Aiden had never asked to see his studio, but he figured that was implied. The last thing he wanted was for Flynn to feel as though Zach was constantly comparing him to his brother.
There was really no comparison. Zach had more or less discarded the idea of ever going back to Aiden twenty minutes after he’d met Flynn. Being reminded that there were better men in the world had been a wakeup call.
The fact that this better man was actually into him was the equivalent of winning the lottery, as far as Zach was concerned.
“You could come by tomorrow,” Zach added before Flynn had a chance to respond. “I could come meet you, or text you the address…”
“You don’t have to come get me,” Flynn said. “I can make my own way over. But that’d… be cool? If I’m not disturbing you?”
“I was just planning on doing admin stuff. I hate to not be there when I’m paying for the space, but I’m waiting on deliveries right now before I can get started on the next project. So your timing is actually perfect.”
“Awesome.” Flynn beamed at him. “Then I’d love to come by tomorrow.”
Zach sipped his coffee again, thrilled at this turn of events. He could see Flynn was trying, and he planned on giving him all the encouragement in the world.
Besides, the artist in him really wanted to see how Flynn reacted to his work.
He could hardly wait for tomorrow.
