Oliver felt like a cartoon character with a light bulb over his head.They needed a calendar.One where they could plan out their roles. If something needed to change at the last minute, then they’d adjust it, but if Bryce knew he could be a Dom during the week and a sub with Oliver on the weekends, it might make it easier on him until the two men worked out their signals or could manage to talk without worrying about offending each other.
“Oliver?”
“Huh?” Bryce was looking at him questioningly, but Oliver wasn’t sure what he’d said. “Sorry, I was thinking.”
“I was asking about the job stuff and if you’d figured out what you wanted to do.” Bryce walked around the kitchen and took a seat at the table. Oliver felt bad he’d zoned out and missed helping bring the food over to the table, but the guys didn’t seem mad. Just curious.
“I’m not sure.” Oliver walked over and took his normal seat beside Troy. They had a good-sized round table, but it felt like he was sitting between the two men. Sandwiched like that was perfect. “I’ve been looking around, but nothing is calling to me. I was talking to Troy yesterday about maybe going to grad school, but I don’t know about that, either.”
He’d been in the same position several years before when he’d just gotten out of college. At the time, he’d taken a job as an administrative assistant with a brokerage company. He wasn’t sure he liked finance, but he was great with organizing and managing people, like his boss and the customers.
The first weeks of working for the older gentleman had been rough. He was an odd mix of charm and a sexist pig, with women and gay men lumped in the same category. He’d taken it personally until he’d realized that the man wasn’t aware how offensive he was.
Before he could decide if he wanted to quit, one of the other assistants had approached him. She talked him through confronting the old fart and explaining what he could and couldn’t say. Oliver’s boss had never understood why what he said was so offensive, but it cleared the air and made things bearable. Oliver had actually come to enjoy their clients and his job.
When the old man died of a heart attack working late one night, Oliver decided to turn in his resignation instead of trying to find someone more open-minded at the firm to work with. Oliver only felt bad about George’s death because over the years he’d worked with him, he’d heard George’s wife say several times that she’d rather he died at work than retire at home.
She’d actually said something more colorful, calling him an old pig when she was yelling at him over the phone one time. So Oliver wasn’t upset, but wasn’t sure he wanted to live the drama any longer. Troy had agreed with him, telling Oliver that he should take time off to figure out what he wanted.
They made a good living with just Troy’s salary, and Oliver never felt bad for not working. Bryce didn’t seem disappointed that Oliver was technically unemployed, or maybe he was considered a house husband. House partner, maybe?
“Maybe you should find something to volunteer at if you just want to get out of the house.” Bryce took a bite of a meatball and moaned, making Oliver and Troy both shift in their seats. Bryce was completely oblivious to it, but watching him eat made them both want to jump him.
“Huh?” What had Bryce said?
Troy gave a low chuckle. “Volunteering.”
“Oh, yeah, it’s not a bad idea.” That just brought up more decisions, though. “I’m not sure what I would do.”
Troy and Bryce both gave him understanding smiles. Bryce leaned over and gave his hand a squeeze. “It was just an idea.”
“It’s a good one. I guess I’m floundering a little. I liked the helping side of my job. I want a career, but I don’t know what it should look like.”
“You’re smart enough to do anything you want.” Bryce gave Troy’s hand a pat and went back to eating.
“And staying home all day by yourself will make you crazy.” Troy gave him a dry look that made Oliver laugh.
“It’s already setting in.” Aside from avoiding a few odd jobs around the house like the baseboards, it was usually clean, and they were starting to figure out where everything should go. He was quickly running out of projects.
They tossed around a few ideas from reasonable to ridiculous and finished eating, laughing and joking. As they started cleaning up the kitchen, Troy looked over at Bryce after he put away the leftover sauce. “You still staying for a movie?”
Bryce nodded, loading a plate into the dishwasher. “Yes. I don’t have anything early tomorrow, so I’m not worried about the time.” He gave Troy a grin. “I’ve been trying to manage my schedule better and not make as many early morning or late appointments.”
“Evidently, you found something more interesting to do in the evenings.” Troy gave him a heated look as he walked over to the table to continue putting things away.
“Much more interesting.” Bryce looked at both of them, making sure Oliver knew he was included in theinteresting. They were so cute.
“I have to drive out to a few of the auto dealerships I’m contracted with tomorrow afternoon. The meetings are all going to run late, and one doesn’t even start until after six. I was thinking that you and Oliver might want to have dinner out tomorrow.” Troy nonchalantly tossed out the date like he was asking Bryce to pick up wine before he came over for dinner. Oliver knew it was on purpose to try to make it less of an issue, but the silence was overwhelming.
Bryce finally cleared his throat, considering both men carefully. “That sounds good. Do you want to try the French place we were talking about the other day?”
Inside, Oliver was squealing like a teenage girl at a boy band concert, but on the outside, he thought he looked fairly calm. “That sounds good, as long as I get dessert.”
Bryce laughed, going back to finish loading the dishwasher. “I can agree to that.”
Troy snorted, giving them a dismissive look. “I can’t believe you’re going to have your date at the French place. I thought you would take me there.”
Oliver laughed so hard the drink of soda he’d taken started to come out his nose. Bryce gave them a look like they were both crazy. Then he gave Troy a flirty smile. “Wouldn’t you like the sushi place instead?”
