Seth’s gaze immediately switched to Helio, his eyes widening in appreciation. “Well, damn. Way to pick ’em.”
“Yeah, he’s super good-looking, isn’t he? I told him that the first night we met.”
“I’m right here,” Helio muttered.
Benny just smiled at him, but Seth looked sheepish. “Sorry to ogle. I’m Seth.”
Helio stared him down for a minute, then glanced at Benny, who gave him an encouraging look. “Helio,” he said shortly.
“Um.” Seth’s eyes darted between them. “Charmed?”
This was so cool, everyone getting along. Benny kissed Helio’s cheek, mostly because he’d learned just this morning that doing it made him blush, and that was awesome. “You can wait outside if you want,” he told him.
“Thank the heavens.” Helio darted out the door immediately.
Seth’s eyebrows rose, and Benny shrugged.
“He’s kind of…solitary by nature.”
“Boyfriend though.” Seth’s eyebrows did a little waggle. “That’s new for you.”
“I guess so?” Benny had never thought ofhimselfas solitary, but it had been a long time since he’d had a partner. A really long time, now that he thought about it.
“I’ve seen you get picked up by plenty of hopefuls,” Seth pointed out, grabbing the coffee pot without Benny asking and pouring him a cup. “It never lasted beyond a few weeks. Why’d that one make the cut?”
“Well…” Benny accepted the cup, humming in thought as he tried to figure out how to articulate it. He knew how he felt, but everyone always wanted to know the why of things, didn’t they? “I just like his vibes,” he settled with. “And he likes mine. He doesn’t try to…change anything.”
“Ah.” Seth nodded like he understood, and maybe he did. He knew Benny as well as anyone, had seen his past attempts at dating. Benny tended to attract people who were drawn to him for whatever reason initially but then always wanted him to be…more. Better. They wanted him to pick up interests besides fitness. Wanted him to give up video games and take up a more grown-up hobby. Wanted him to basically be smarter or more interesting than he was.
Helio just let him be Benny.
Plus, he fucked like a god.
But maybe that was a fae thing.
“I should take him home,” Benny said, trying not to exude eager horniness but probably failing. “We’ve been wandering all morning, and he’s kind of shy.”
“Sure.” Seth glanced outside, and Benny followed his gaze to where Helio was sitting on a bench, kind of glaring at a little girl with a melting ice cream cone who kept trying to scoot closer. “Shy.”
Benny took a second to give Seth a half hug over the counter. “We’ll catch up later. Promise.”
It probably wouldn’t be cool of Benny to spill Helio’s secret, but he could give Seth a general picture of his summer, get his own fill of the town’s goings-on. Later though.
Helio stood from the bench as soon as Benny was out the door. “You’re done?”
“I’m done.” Benny walked up to him, grabbing his hand. “Want to head home?”
“God, yes.”
Benny started to lead him in that direction. “I’m pretty social when I’m here, just to warn you. But you don’t always have to come with me, if you don’t want.”
“I’m…adjusting,” Helio said slowly. “I’ve had you all to myself for several months now. I liked it that way.”
Benny swung their arms while they walked. “We can still do that sometimes. I meant it about splitting time.”
It was a short walk home, and Benny couldn’t help grinning when they made it back to the house his parents had left him. He really loved this place.
“You can take off your glamour if you want,” he told Helio, heading up the stairs to his bedroom, hoping to change into a fresh shirt. “All the curtains are drawn.”
