“You did, yeah.” Ozzy grinned, and that needling spark returned to his eyes. “So that means just a date?”
Evander tried really hard to pretend the camera and their mics weren’t actually there. This was what he wanted, and Ozzy was on board, now. At least it seemed that way. No one was drunk or overly emotional, but he was still asking. Plus, their relationship would get recorded sooner or later if it went anywhere serious. So Ev nodded. “If we can finish up this planning, I’lldeignto let you take me out tonight.”
“Oh, well for that kind ofprivilegeI guess I have no choice but to agree.” He reached over and slid Evander’s phone closer, brushing his knuckles against Ev’s in the process. “So let’s get this banged out while we can. Are you still set on that ridiculous table?”
“The one Jake already built? Yes.” Ev nudged him with his shoulder. “I think that’s staying, no matter what any handsome gardeners have to say about it.”
“Had to try and talk a little sense into you.” It was the same way Ozzy always talked, but his tone and his body language…it felt like they worked again.
Now we just have to avoid the off-again stage.Because in that moment, more than he had with any other boyfriend and definitely more than any rando he grabbed at a club or a bar, Evander felt comfortable with the relationship.
Comfortable was worth the effort.
Chapter thirty-eight
Ozzy
Three Rivers, Michigan wasn’tlike Seattle. In a metropolis like that, the options for where to eat were nearly endless, and there were plenty of high-end restaurants to hit up, even at the last minute. Major holidays notwithstanding. Getting a last minute table on Valentine’s Day or something was a pipe dream. But otherwise, even if Seattle wasn’t known for its food compared to places like New York, New Orleans, or Las Vegas, there was plenty to work with.
Furious internet searches in his hotel room left Ozzy with three options in Three Rivers that weren’t fast food, casual chains, or reviewed into the dirt. And one of them—the hotel bar—immediately got axed. They’d been there and done that twice, and it was frankly nothing to write home about.
So when he met Evander downstairs, he was ready with the two remaining restaurants and they could pick one together. Theproblem was, when he saw Evander, his tongue kind of stopped working. It wasn’t as if Ev was unkempt on the regular, but he didn’t tend to spend too much time gussying himself up. That night, he stood in a shimmery red button-down, with the top two buttons left undone to show off his chest, and black slacks that left only the slightest bit to the imagination. Ozzy couldn’t trace the outline of his dick, but they certainly complimented and lifted his ass up. He also had a tasteful silver chain around his neck, with a matching star medallion hanging from it, landing just at the top of his breastbone.
Before Ozzy could compliment him, Evander’s eyebrows went up and he whistled. “Damn. You were serious about a date.” He closed the gap and grabbed the lapels of Ozzy’s cobalt shirt, rubbing them between thumb and forefinger. “Silk? You brought silk on the road?”
“You never know when you need to look good.” It was a silk blend, but it did feel wonderful and it fit Ozzy really well, in his opinion.
Ev kept on looking and commenting. “And the khakis. You know I like you in these light pants like this. Emphasizes theass-ets.” He punctuated it by squeezing Ozzy’s left cheek.
Ozzy pulled slightly away. “Save that for later, if you must.” He grinned at Evander. “But yeah. I did actually pay attention when we were together. I know what you like.” He sucked in a breath. “Not trying to be a douche there.”
“Oh, you don’t need to try.” Evander winked as Ozzy flipped him off, then he looped his arm through Ozzy’s, pulling him close. He didn’t pushtoohard, just gave a little guiding and allowed Ozzy to close as much distance as he wanted. Ev was only a little disappointed when Ozzy didn’t suction right against him, but he didn’t pull back either.
Ozzy pulled out his phone as soon as they walked out of the front doors of the hotel. “I found a couple restaurants. Figuredwe could come to a conclusion together instead of me picking.” His eyes sparked. “Although since I know you, I’m pretty sure I know what you’re going to go for.”
“Oh really? What if I’ve changed?”
“Then I’ll eat my shoe.” He flicked over his phone screen a couple times, then reached over where they could both look at it. “Go on. Weigh in.”
After a moment, Ev shook his head.Damn. He’s good. It wasn’t that Evander didn’tlikebarbecue. It was more about how much helovedEastern European food. That was a broad descriptor, but this was a Czech restaurant. If he was going to pick one cuisine from the area, it would be Czech.
He nudged the phone back over. “You win.”
“I figured I would. I know what you like.”
“Don’t get too bigheaded just yet I could still shock and amaze you.” Although given how the evening was progressing so far, Ozzy probably had the right read. “How we getting there?”
“It’s close. I figured we could just walk a little bit. Enjoy the small town vibes or whatever.”
“Vibes or whatever is the best kind of date.”
“You’re still a little shit.” Ozzy moved a bit closer all the same and started out of the parking lot, then turned right. The sidewalk had seen better days to be certain, cracked and mossy, the edge crumbling into the road. Not enough to be dangerous, but certainly not pretty. It cleaned up as they carried on past the hotel and into a street full of little shops. Most of them were already dark and closed, but they passed by a bookstore with warm, amber light streaming through the windows, a gift shop displaying local Michigan wine that Evander tried not to betoosnobby about, and a little bakery-cafe-candy shop combo that Evander couldn’t help but point at. “If they’re open on the way back? Or are you off sugar again?”
“Even if I was, I’d be happy to spend the time with you. Unless this date is actually terrible.” He raised an eyebrow at Evander. “You didn’t deliberately sabotage this, did you?”
“Not yet, but the night is young.” Evander kept on taking in the surroundings as they moved down the street.
They took a left and Ozzy pointed to a brick building about halfway down the block. “Told you it was close.”
