I laughed. “Expecting a roadhouse? Or maybe the bar at a casino?”
Clark shrugged. “Kind of, actually.”
“You’ll see in a bit,” I said. “Mars and I want the second part of the date to be a surprise, though.”
“Leave it to Mars,” Clark joked. “He can’t help but be a surprise sometimes.”
“You know,” I said, “I was thinking about it the other day, and Mars and I are just as out of our depth with this dating stuff as you are.”
“Oh really?” Clark frowned. “Tell that to the stadium full of guys you both dated back in Detroit.”
“No, really,” I said. “Think about it. You’ve never really dated before, but Mars has never tried to have a long-term relationship, and neither of us have dated more than one person at the same time. I know it’s not exactly the same thing, but we’re all a little out of our comfort zones.”
Clark let out a puff of air, then nodded. “I’m relieved to hear you say that. My friend Ezra is giving me a lot of advice, but I still feel a little confused.” He pushed his glasses up on his nose, then glanced around the restaurant. “Like, I know Mars is meeting up with us later, but I still feel guilty having dinner with you here without him.”
“Like maybe we’re breaking some rules,” I agreed.
“Even though there aren’t any rules!”
“Exactly.”
We both laughed, and then the waiter came by. I took the initiative to order us some crab rangoon for an appetizer, as well as a couple of glasses of a nice red wine. The restaurant was quiet and dimly lit, and once we were left alone again, I felt like I was able to dive into a real conversation with Clark. So many of our other times together had been such high intensity, strained with passion and anger, like the past was clawing at our necks while we talked. But as food began to fill our table and gentle music piped over the speakers, I appreciated the opportunity to just chat with him and to hear about the little things in his life.
No wonder he insisted on some proper dates.
“I’ve never been to Portland,” I said. “Once I ran away from Seattle, I pretty much avoided this whole region until Aunt Grace needed me.”
“It’s nice,” Clark said. “My mom moved down when I was twenty. At first I hated having her in a different city, but I’ve gotten to really enjoy the drive, and I can’t deny how good the new job at the college is for her.” He shrugged. “We’ve just always gotten along.”
“You didn’t think about moving, too?” I knew that guys in their twenties didn’t usually move with their mothers, but Clark seemed to be deeply loyal to the people and places he cared about.
“I couldn’t give up my life here,” he said. “My friends are so important to me, and Northstar…” He trailed off, then shrugged as he munched down on another rangoon. “It probably seems silly to love a job at a comic book store so much.”
“I don’t think so. It’s where your friends are, after all.” I thought about it, remembering the special places I used to gather with the other outcasts and misfits. Even when we had little more than a rundown apartment or a stinky dive bar, the fact that we took shelter there together made it feel special. “It’s important for gay people to look out for each other,” I said.
Clark laughed, then pushed his glasses up on his nose. “Sometimes, I still can’t believe that Rip Cirillo is sitting in front of me, saying stuff like that.”
I took a sip of my wine, then winked. “Sometimes, I still can’t believe I managed to go through a whole semester of high school without planting a kiss on those puffy pink lips.”
Clark bit down on his bottom lip softly, and I felt his foot push up against my leg, toeing beneath the cuff. “Whatever alternative reality this is,” he joked, “I’m glad we ended up here.”
I resisted the urge to pull him across the table and go to town on his tight body right there. I had promised myself earlier that I would act like a perfect gentleman, at least until Mars showed up. After that, I knew that all bets would be off.
We took our time sharing and enjoying the final morsels of food, and I appreciated the way Clark sucked the last noodles between his lips with a satisfied hum. I paid the bill and guided him back out to the car, feeling good that I had established myself enough in Seattle to take him out properly and treat him to a good, solid meal. Once I kicked the car into gear and rolled down the hill and away from the restaurant, he leaned sideways and pressed his cheek against my shoulder as I drove.
“You going to tell me where we’re going next?” he asked.
“Soon,” I promised. “It’s pretty nice to leave you hanging, though.” I glanced down at him out of the corner of my eye and felt a rush of happiness when he nuzzled his cheek against me. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
He laughed softly. “Glad you think so.”
I rolled up to the second location, a rundown and abandoned convention center to the north of the city. It was set at the top of a hill, and as I steered my car into the middle of the cracked parking lot, I could see the last sliver of the sun disappearing behind the horizon.
“What in the galaxy…” Clark peered through the darkness out the window. “Now I’m totally confused.”
I chuckled, then parked the car in the empty lot. “I didn’t expect you would recognize the place.”
“It is a little closer to what I would have guessed you two did on a date,” he mused.
