“Rude,” Bryce said, grinning now for real.
They showered separately because Sage was nowhere near ready to see Bryce naked that way. After, they cleaned up theremnants of the party that Sage had missed. The apartment looked like itself again but at the same time different as well.
Bryce hovered near his bedroom door. “Meet back here at five? I have work to finish.”
“Five,” Sage said. “I’ll book the table.”
“Okay.” Bryce stepped in, hesitated, then leaned back out to catch Sage by the sleeve and pull him in for a quick kiss that made Sage’s stomach drop. “See you.”
Sage watched the door close and told himself to move. He booked a table at the restaurant. He answered three texts. He stared at the wall for a full minute and then went to his room to find a shirt that didn’t look like he’d slept in it. At four forty-five, Bryce came out in a clean button-down that made his eyes look lighter and his hair look darker. He halted as if he hadn’t expected Sage to be ready at the same second.
“You look good,” Bryce said.
“So do you,” Sage responded, his eyes traveling over Bryce.
They stood there like idiots for a second, then both reached for the door at the same time and ended up laughing. “Walk or bus?” Bryce asked, pulling the door open.
“Walk,” Sage said. “It’s cold.”
Bryce arched an eyebrow. “That’s not a reason to walk.”
“It is if you want to hold hands and have an excuse.”
Bryce’s ears went a little pink, which Sage thought looked cute on him, not that he would say anything. He shut the door behind them and lifted his hand without making a big deal. Bryce took it. The hallway was empty, and the building was quiet. The air outside bit at their faces and turned their breath white, but their hands stayed linked, and no one looked. If they did, Sage didn’t care anyway.
They walked the five blocks and talked about normal things. Bryce told a story about Gage breaking a beaker last semester that still made him laugh. Sage listened. At the restaurant door,Bryce stopped and squeezed his hand once as he looked at him. Sage squeezed back, and they went inside.
The host found their table. A small one in a corner with the candle already lit. No eyes on them that mattered. Sage heard the breath Bryce let out, watched him sit and relax. The last of Sage’s worries slid away. They didn’t talk about labels. They didn’t need to. They ordered and ate and talked about college and friends, and at some point, Bryce reached across the table and hooked his thumb against Sage’s knuckles. It stayed there for most of the meal. When Sage looked up, Bryce wasn’t looking away.
After they’d finished eating, Sage paid for their meal. “I booked, so I’ll pay.”
“Next time, it’s my turn.”
“Fine.” Sage nodded. “I’ll book that fancy Chinese place.”
Snorting, Bryce shook his head. “I’ll have to save up then. Didn’t know you had expensive taste.”
“I’m joking. Takeout is fine with me.”
On the walk back, the air was even colder. Their hands found each other and, halfway to the building, Bryce laughed at something Sage said and leaned in to bump their shoulders. Sage bumped back. Nice and easy with no tension.
At the door of their building, Bryce paused. “Porn night is canceled,” he said.
“Good.” Sage grinned. “I didn’t want to share the remote.”
Bryce shook his head. “You’re the worst.”
“You knew that before you kissed me.”
Bryce returned Sage’s smile. “Yeah. I did.”
Chapter Nine
Bryce unlocked the front door and pushed it open. The apartment felt warmer than the hall, and Bryce shrugged his coat off and hung it up. Closing the front door, he slid the chain on, then turned and watched Sage as he hung his own coat up. He saw Sage swallow as he closed his eyes.
“Still good?” Bryce asked.
Opening his eyes, Sage nodded. “Still good.”
