The Sweetest Thing

by E. M. Denning

  “Maybe I can vomit,” Tod said as he appeared out of nowhere. “If you two would quit flirting and help me load the trash, it would be appreciated.”

  “You’re so prickly.” Scotty ruffled Tod’s hair, then dutifully slid a pair of work gloves on and grabbed a pile of debris.

  “Now children, behave,” Nathan chided playfully. It had never been like this before. When they were younger, Scotty and Tod had fought like cats and dogs, as siblings often did. It didn’t get better as they grew up. Scotty was often the shadow, the one forgotten by Nathan and Tod as they went about their lives.

  How different his life might have been if he had noticed Scotty sooner? It was a crazy thought and somehow Nathan knew the younger versions of themselves never would have worked. Scotty had to grow into the confident, vibrant version of himself that caught Nathan’s attention. And Nathan, well, he’d simply been too wrapped up in Christian’s health. There hadn’t been room for anything else.

  Nathan snapped out of his daydream and he realized Scotty and Tod had been outside for several minutes. He ran a hand through his hair and went outside to make sure they weren’t killing each other. He stopped in the doorway when he saw them. They stood in the driveway. Tod was talking to Scotty, who looked surprised, and maybe a little overwhelmed. His mouth formed a thin, tight line and his arms were crossed over his chest.

  Nathan took a step with the intention of saving Scotty from whatever it was Tod was saying, then he watched as Tod yanked Scotty into his arms and gave him a hug. Nathan let himself watch until Scotty started to return the embrace, then carefully retreated into the house.

  Whatever had gone on outside wasn’t his business, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t curious. His curiosity was further piqued when they came inside a minute later and got to work as if nothing took place outside.

  They worked through the rest of the day with an atmosphere of friendliness. Tod didn’t stop making jokes about Scotty and Nathan, but they sounded lighter, almost as if they were a sign of his ultimate approval, or at the very least, his surrender. The tension which seemed ever present in Scotty when Tod was around had also evaporated. It left Nathan more curious than ever about what had happened between them outside.

  Nathan came in from tossing the last of the debris into the back of his truck. He caught sight of Scotty leaning against a wall with his eyes closed. He’d removed his hat and his damp hair stuck out in all directions. He was filthy, covered in dust from head to toe. Scotty’s eyes opened and he smiled at Nathan.

  There was no way he couldn’t cross the room and kiss Scotty. Nathan knew Scotty was important to him. He’d admitted he cared about Scotty. The fact that he was head over heels in love with him wasn’t something Nathan had owned up to yet. The feeling was too new, too foreign. No one had ever made him feel the way Scotty did.

  “What are you looking at?” Scotty asked.

  Nathan made a show of raking his gaze over Scotty’s body. “You.”

  Scotty pushed away from the wall and shimmied his hips a little as he approached Nathan. “Like what you see?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Lying isn’t a good look on you.” Scotty slid his arms around Nathan’s waist.

  The strange urge to slow dance in the kitchen came over Nathan. He could see it in his mind, a life with Scotty. It would include dancing and dirty jokes. Cool winter nights curled up under a blanket and hot summer days, shirtless in the sun. He imagined a million different moments and he wanted them all with Scotty.

  Falling in love had never been on Nathan’s to do list. His life had been consumed with helping his parents take care of Christian. He’d been in plenty of relationships and all of them had ended without Nathan missing the other person too much. There had never been a person before who captivated him the way Scotty did. All it took was a look and Nathan was a goner. He suspected that he’d been a bit in love with Scotty from the moment he opened his door.

  The butterflies he’d felt under his skin when Scotty opened the door were still there every time Scotty looked at him.

  “You okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?” Scotty asked. “Because you were a million miles away.”

  “Not true. I was right here, thinking about you.”

  “Me?” The angle of Scotty’s body changed. His voice rasped the way it did when he was turned on. “Why would you be thinking about me?”

  Their noses almost touched.

  “Why wouldn’t I be thinking about you?”

  Scotty’s lips brushed against Nathan’s. “Good answer,” he murmured.

  “Stay the night.” Nathan pleaded. “We can order dinner and shower upstairs.”

  “I could do that. I’ll have to take off early for work, though.”

  “I have to be up early, too.”

  “Okay. Let me give Tod a ride back to his car. I’ll run home and get a change of clothes.”

  “I’ll take Tod to his car. He’s going to help unload the truck at the dump.”

  “Perfect. So, we’re done for the day?”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  “Oh, thank fuck.” Scotty exhaled. “My arms are killing me. It’ll be a miracle if I’ll be fit for work tomorrow.”

  “I’ll give you a nice rub down when you get back.”

  “Oooh, the things you say.” Scotty batted his eyelashes and Nathan, unable to resist the allure, kissed Scotty.

  “The things you do to me.” Nathan whispered, fully aware that they’d put a time limit on this, an expiration date. But that was then. Things had changed. Not everything. Nathan still had to leave, but he’d admit he didn’t want to. He wanted to stay here and wrap his life around Scotty’s. Entwine their existences together and spend a lifetime kissing him and hearing his laughter.

  “The sooner I get out of here, the sooner I can be back.” Scotty tightened his grip on Nathan as if the thought of being separated was too much, even though it would be temporary.

  “You better hurry back then.” Nathan kissed him again, then forced himself to let go.

  Scotty stole another kiss and breezed out with a promise to return.

  Tod came in a minute later. “I hear I got stuck with dump duty.”

  “Don’t sound so excited.” Nathan grabbed his keys off the counter. “I appreciate the help today.”

  “It’s no big deal. Everyone at the house is rallying around Linda. She’s going back to school, so they’re divvying up babysitting duties. Scotty already offered to do it, but Linda won’t let him do it all, so the aunts are making a schedule. I love Mason, but I’m not cut out for babies.”

  Scotty’s heart had no limit to the love it could hold. He was selfless, Nathan thought.

  “That’s real nice of Scotty.”

  “It makes me look like an asshole though, because I’m on the list as the last resort.”

  “Aren’t you an asshole though?” Nathan gave him a shove and unlocked the truck.

  “Fuck you, Nate.” Tod’s remark came without heat.

  “I’d rather your brother fuck me.” Nathan shot back.

  “Oh dude. Gross. Can you not?”

  “What went on out here earlier?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “Come on, Tod. You hugged him.”

  Tod rolled his eyes. “Okay, so I might have apologized to him for some things.” Tod shrugged as though it were no big deal.

  “Aww. And just when I lost hope, you do have a heart.”

  Tod groaned and climbed in the truck. “This is why I don’t tell you anything. Can we drop this now?”

  “You’re no fun,” Nathan groused, but changed the subject.

  They talked about normal things, as though nothing had changed between them across time, distance, and a burgeoning relationship with his little brother. Nathan dropped him off at his car and returned to his grandpa’s where Scotty waited. Nathan pulled up and found him on the hood of his car, freshly showered and changed, an ove
rnight bag slung over his shoulder.

  “I hope you don’t mind. I had to clean up. Things that should never chafe were chafing.”

  Nathan twined their fingers together and tugged Scotty into the house. “I’m going to use the upstairs shower. I’d planned to shower with you, but if you relax for a few minutes, I’ll make good on that massage I promised you.”

  “I hoped you would say that.” Scotty flopped down on the bed and tucked his hands behind his head. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

  “I’ll only be a minute.”

  One minute turned into fifteen, and when Nathan walked into the bedroom dressed in only a clean pair of briefs and sweatpants, he found Scotty fast asleep. Nathan grabbed his phone off the dresser and snapped a picture.

  Nathan was hungry, but he wanted to wait for Scotty. He stretched out on the bed next to him, intending to rest for a few minutes until Scotty inevitably awoke. Nathan fell asleep with the image of Scotty at peace burned into his mind.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Scotty

  “Wait a second.” Kate said, pausing the water mid spray. “He what?”

  “Tod apologized to me.” Scotty said. It still hadn’t sunk in yet, and he wasn’t sure he believed the sincerity of it.

  “For what?”

  Scotty shrugged. “Everything. He wasn’t very articulate. He rambled. I don’t think he practiced his speech in the mirror or anything. It seemed pretty spontaneous.”

  “Well, that’s good though, right?”

  Scotty shrugged. “I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it seems too good to be true. I think maybe he did it to make Nathan happy.”

  “Does it matter why he did though?”

  Scotty turned his attention back to the cut he was working on. It was a simple cut, one he could do in his sleep, yet today it was taking all his concentration. “I suppose not.” It did though. Scotty didn’t want apologies that weren’t sincere. He didn’t want Tod to make nice just because it would make Nathan happy, and he couldn’t stop the bubble of bitterness choking him.

  “Speaking of Tod,” Scotty brushed the hair off the back of his client’s neck. “Does your brother still play in the beer league?”

  Kate gave him a funny look. “I thought you weren’t doing the whole jock thing anymore?”

  “I’m not. Tod wants to join one.”

  “Ollie’s number is in my phone under PITA. Feel free to grab it.”

  “PITA?” Scotty turned and looked at Kate. “What’s that mean?”

  “Pain in the ass.” Kate grinned and carefully removed the cape covering her client. Kate looked toward the door and then back to Scotty. “That must be Nathan.” Kate motioned toward the door.

  Scotty glanced over and sure enough, Nathan gave him a wink, then sat down on the couch to wait.

  “That’s him.” Scotty focused all his attention on getting his cuts even.

  “He’s hot.”

  “He works in construction.”

  “I’m trying to think of a dirty construction pun to say here, but I’m coming up blank. Help me out here, Scotty.”

  “Not a chance.”

  Kate huffed and went to the front to ring her customer through. “You’re no fun at all.”

  From his position in the back, Scotty watched Kate introduced herself to Nathan. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, a fact which drove him nuts and he had to force himself to take his time with his client. Kate’s next cut arrived as Scotty finished and she passed him with a wink.

  Scotty rang his customer through and watched them give Nathan a once over on the way out. Scotty rolled his eyes. “You need to not hang out here. You’re super distracting.”

  “Like what you see?” Nathan stood slowly and approached the counter Scotty stood behind.

  “Pffft. Hell yes. And so did everyone else.”

  “Then I need to be a permanent fixture here. It’ll be good for business.”

  The word permanent gave Scotty a butterfly, which he promptly ignored. He would not start writing out wedding invitations yet. “What are you doing here anyway? Don’t you have boards to smash and dust to create?”

  Nathan tucked his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. It was sexy as hell and Scotty barely kept his tongue in his face. “I thought I’d take you for lunch.”

  Scotty’s shoulders fell. “I had an early lunch because my afternoon is slammed.”

  “Dinner then?”

  “Yeah. I’d like that.”

  “What time did you want me to pick you up?”

  “I’m out of here at five, so six would be good.”

  Nathan leaned across the counter and Scotty met him halfway. “It’s a date,” Nathan kissed him, and it took all of Scotty’s restraint to not climb over the counter and make the kiss far filthier than was appropriate for a public space.

  “Where are we going?” Scotty asked, hoping for a clue as to how he should dress.

  “I’m not telling you yet.”

  “Because you don’t know,” Scotty challenged.

  Nathan gave him a devious look. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t.”

  “You so don’t.”

  “See you at six, sexy.” Nathan left with a smile on his face. Scotty walked back to his chair and grabbed the broom. He ignored Kate’s knowing glances and set about tidying up his station before his next client arrived.

  Kate tried, and failed to get Scotty to dish out more details about Nathan. He was reluctant to share too much. Maybe he was too invested in this, but he wanted it to work more than he’d ever wanted anything, and that’s how, at five to six, he finally settled on an understated look. Plain, skinny jeans and a semi sheer black top with long sleeves. He slid on a thin gold bangle and dusted his cheeks with blush.

  Nathan was right on time, and he looked like a goddamned god in his tight jeans. He wore a button down the color of dusk and from behind his back he produced a bouquet of flowers.

  “I hope roses are okay,” Nathan sounded sheepish.

  Scotty took the flowers and buried his face in the blooms, breathing in the scent. “They’re perfect. Roses never go out of style.”

  “I’m sure some would argue with you.”

  “That’s because there are people who argue for the fun of it. It’s a sport to them. He waved Nathan inside and produced an empty spaghetti sauce jar from under his sink. He filled it with water then put the roses inside.

  “I thought for sure you’d have a vase.”

  Scotty shrugged and took another moment to admire his flowers. “I’ve never had someone buy me flowers before.”

  Scotty reached for Nathan, lacing their fingers together like he’d done before, maybe not a thousand times, but enough to know he wanted it to be a thousand. A million. An infinite number of moments could be offered, and it would be inadequate. He needed Nathan to be his in all the ways, forever.

  “Where are we going?” Scotty asked as he pulled his door shut.

  “Oh, it’s a surprise.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  Nathan turned to him as they waited for the elevator. “I won’t blindfold you or anything, in case you were wondering.”

  “You can blindfold me whenever you want.” Scotty licked his lips and watched the way Nathan’s eyes hooded.

  “Dammit, Scotty. I’m trying to be romantic.” Nathan reached down and adjusted himself as the elevator doors slid open and his elderly neighbor from three doors down stood there, gawking openly at Nathan’s hand as it flew away from his crotch.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Nicholls.” Scotty bit back a fit of giggles as Nathan nodded politely, and they waited like gentlemen until she’d exited the elevator before they entered. The doors closed and the laughter Scotty bit back finally burst out. “Really, Nathan? Groping yourself in front of little old ladies. I’m shocked.”

  Nathan shook his head. “I can’t believe you right now.”

  Scotty laughed harder, the
nerves he felt all afternoon dissipated and by the time they made it to Nathan’s truck, Scotty had calmed himself.

  “Did I tell you how amazing you look tonight?” Nathan asked as he pulled Scotty’s door open and waited for him to climb into the truck.

  “Thank you, sugar. You’re looking pretty fine yourself.” Scotty climbed into the truck and buckled up. Nathan hopped in behind the steering wheel. They’d driven for a few minutes when Scotty noticed they were leaving the city. He kept his mouth shut and tried not to bother Nathan about where they were headed. He turned the radio on and ignored the look Nathan gave him.

  “You’re not going to ask where we’re going?”

  Scotty rolled his eyes. “You said it was a surprise. I’m trying to behave.”

  “Are you even a little curious?”

  “You know I am.”

  “But you’re not going to ask?”

  “Nope.”

  “Not even once?”

  “Nope.”

  They were quiet for a minute before Scotty finally indulged Nathan. “Fine,” he sighed. “Where are we going?”

  “I can’t tell you,” Nathan laughed. “It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh my god. You’re the actual worst,” Scotty laughed. “I can’t believe I fell for that.”

  “I can’t believe you did either.”

  “You’re terrible.”

  “You like me.”

  “Jury’s out on that one.” Scotty had been so distracted he almost didn’t notice Nathan turn down a familiar old road. “We’re going to the lake?”

  Nathan grinned. “Yeah. I thought it would be fun.”

  “I’m so not dressed for this.”

  Nathan flicked a heated gaze at him. “You’re fine. Trust me.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Nope. You’re in too deep now.”

  Nathan wasn’t wrong. Scotty was in so fucking deep and he didn’t care. Nathan was here, with him, and they were dating. They still had to figure out the whole, what happens when the renovations are done, thing, but they’d cross that bridge later.

  Mushroom Lake, aptly named for its shape, was still a popular place to go, but today the crowd was sparse, despite the ideal weather. Scotty, like everyone else in the town, had been going to the lake since he was a kid, but he hadn’t been in years.