“Chinese would be great. You want me to drive and pick it up?”
“If you don’t mind?” his mother asked, smiling.
“Not at all. Let me just shower while you order and then I’ll head out.”
His mother smiled and thanked him, leaving him to shower and get changed.
***
Chapter 17
It had been five days since his night with Chad when Peter found the note in his kitchen. He had just gone to make himself a cup of coffee, wondering if he had milk or if he needed to call down for some, when he spotted the piece of paper lying on the counter.
Thank you for last night, I had a great time. Sorry I had to run—signed up for morning classes.
Chad Brand
Peter read the note twice, tracing the phone number on the bottom of the page with his finger. He didn’t know whether to laugh or slam his fist on the counter. Why couldn’t Chad have left the note in the living room, study, bedroom, hallway or any of the rooms that Peter actuallyused?
It would have saved him so much fucking grief.
Heart beating uncharacteristically fast, Peter pulled out his phone and dialed Chad’s number. As he listened to it ring, he consoled himself that at least now he wasn’t coming across as being at all desperate or clingy.
“Hello?”
Peter’s cock twitched at the sound of Chad’s voice.
“Chad, this is Peter Tank. I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner, I’ve just had a lot on my plate. How are you?”
“Peter,” Chad exclaimed, sounding surprised but pleased. “Don’t worry about it. I’m in California, actually. My dad was sick so I flew out to help.”
A knot of tension Peter hadn’t even been aware of loosened in his belly. He’d been worried that Chad would be hesitant or coldwhen he called, but that wasn’t the case at all. He leaned back against the counter and crossed his ankles, relaxing.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is he going to be okay?” Peter already knew the answer, but he didn’t want Chad to know that. He was entirely aware that he’d crossed several lines by keeping track of Chad the way that he was.
“He’s going to be fine. I’m actually flying back tomorrow.”
Peter grinned. He felt like a teenager talking to Chad. There was an honest-to-God flutter in his stomach at the thought of seeing the younger man, and his balls felt full and heavy between his legs.
“That’s great. Would you like to go out with me sometime after you get back?”
“Like a date?” Chad sounded happy, and Peter grinned.
“Yes,” Peter said. He wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted from Chad, only that his feelings were a bit more possessive than they had any right to be. But a date was a good place to start.
“I’d like that, sure. When?” There was no hesitation in Chad’s voice. Peter reached down and fondled his shaft through the front of his suit, closing his eyes and imagining just what he’d like to do to Chad after—or during—their date.
“When have you signed up for morning classes? I don’t want a repeat of last time.” Peter kept his voice light.
“Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,” Chad said, sounding a little embarrassed. “And I’m sorry about that, by the way. I should have woken you up to say goodbye.”
Peter agreed wholeheartedly, but he didn’t say it. “That’s fine. I didn’t tell you either way, so you didn’t do anything wrong. How about Wednesday night?”
That should give Chad a day or two to get settled in after his trip home.
“I’d like that.” Chad sounded happy, and Peter loved that he wasn’t trying to seem cool and unaffected. He decided he should follow suit and demonstrate a bit of the enthusiasm he was feeling too.
“Good. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
