The Manny

by A. T Brennan

  BY THE TIME THURSDAY rolled around Cameron was beyond excited.

  It had been a long time since he’d been on a date, and he was a little nervous, which was stupid. It might have been their first date, but they’d been seeing each other for months and sleeping together for longer.

  Nathan had arranged for a sitter to come over at six, so he had an hour to get ready before they planned to leave. It had been a little hard explaining to the kids that he wasn’t going to be putting them to bed because he was going out and their sitter would be doing it, but when he’d given them frozen yogurt and berries for dessert, they barely noticed when the sitter showed up.

  “Here.” Nathan held out a key as he was heading up to his room.

  “What’s this?” he asked as he looked at the key.

  “I thought it might be easier if you got ready in the suite downstairs. The kids will be heading upstairs soon, and your room is right there.”

  “Thanks. I’ll just go get my stuff.”

  “And I will see you in an hour.” Nathan let his hand linger on Cameron’s for a moment as he took the key from him.

  “An hour.” Cameron smiled and headed upstairs.

  When he got to his room, he found the surprise of a lifetime. There was a garment bag on his bed with another shopping bag next to it.

  He noticed a piece of white cardstock on the bag, and he picked it up.

  I thought you might like to wear something different tonight. I know you’ll look incredible in them. I hope they fit. Love, Nathan.

  Cameron smiled as he read the card and then looked at the bags. It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for him.

  He opened the garment bag and stared at the dress shirt inside. It was gorgeous. Most of the clothes he’d brought with him were casual, and the one dressy shirt he had in his closet was from the clearance rack at a big box store. This shirt was as soft as butter, the lines were crisp, and it was a vibrant aqua color. Cameron checked the tag and saw it was his size, and also designer.

  He opened the second bag and grinned when he saw a pair of leather dress shoes. He had a pair of black sneakers he normally wore when he was trying to dress up. The shoes were his size, and he recognized the designer. They were high-end but still classic.

  Cameron went into the closet, then bathroom to gather his things and grabbed the shoes and garment bag before he headed down to the basement.

  The in-law suite was basically a high-end two-bedroom apartment. As he laid his clothes out on one of the beds, he was pleased to see the bathroom was absolutely luxurious and no expense had been spared. It was a lot nicer than his bathroom upstairs, and he felt like he’d died and gone to heaven as he stood under the double rainforest showerheads.

  When he finally stepped out of the shower, he quickly dried his hair, taking a moment to style it before shaving and spritzing on some cologne.

  The shirt and shoes fit perfectly and went well with his charcoal gray slacks.

  This was the first time in a long time he felt handsome.

  When he came out of the basement, Nathan was in the hall waiting for him.

  As soon as Cameron had stepped into the hallway, Nathan’s jaw had dropped

  “You look amazing.”

  “Thank you.” Cameron blushed as he looked Nathan up and down. “You look incredible.”

  Nathan had put on a pair of black dress pants and a light blue dress shirt that set off his eyes, and the cut was a little conservative, so it clung to him nicely.

  “Thank you for the shirt and the shoes,” Cameron said with a slight flush. “It was really thoughtful of you.”

  “You look incredible in them. I went into your closet to check your size. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I was wondering how you got them right.” Cameron smiled as he shook his head. “That’s fine.”

  “You ready?” Nathan asked as he nodded to the door.

  “Ready.” Cameron nodded and took a deep breath as Nathan led him out to his car. It would be the first time he’d get to ride in it.

  THE RESTAURANT THEY went to was nice. It was decorated in traditional Japanese style, and the female staff was all wearing kimonos while the male staff was in Japanese style jackets and black pants.

  Nathan had called ahead and reserved a booth for them that was a little separate from the rest of the restaurant. It made the meal seem more intimate and gave them some privacy.

  “I hope you don’t mind sushi. This is my favorite place.”

  “Not at all; this is a really nice.”

  When Cameron picked up the menu, he realized that even with a translation he had no idea what anything was outside of a few staples.

  “You look lost,” Nathan said with a grin as he watched Cameron scan the menu.

  “I recognize a few things. Tea, soda, rice.”

  Nathan laughed, and just then their waitress came up.

  “Two jasmine tea and two sake,” he ordered.

  “Sake?” Cameron asked when the waitress left.

  “A Japanese drink. It’s kind of like a rice wine.”

  “Is it good?”

  “I think so.”

  “Then I look forward to trying it.”

  “Do you have any favorites you want to get?”

  “I’ve never been to a sushi restaurant,” Cameron confessed.

  “No? But you have had sushi, right?”

  “Sure, but that stuff you get at the grocery store.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat.” Nathan grinned. “How adventurous are you?”

  “Food wise?”

  “Food wise.”

  “Pretty adventurous,” Cameron said after a pause. “I won’t eat anything that’s still alive, but everything else is fair game.”

  “So if I took care of the ordering, you’d be okay with that?”

  “I can’t promise I’ll like everything, but yes, I’d be fine with that.”

  When the waitress came back with their drinks, Cameron sat back as Nathan ordered. He had no idea what he’d ordered, but apparently it was some kind of combo they could share.

  Nathan poured some of the sake into one of the small cups at their places and then poured out their tea into the other tiny cups.

  “Cheers,” Nathan said as he lifted the cup of sake.

  “Cheers.” Cameron smiled and lifted his own cup.

  It was warm, which he wasn’t expecting. It had a slightly different texture than he was used to and was almost a little oily, but it was good.

  “You like?” Nathan asked as he sipped his drink.

  “I like.”

  “This is nice,” Nathan said softly as he reached across the table for Cameron’s hand.

  “It is. Thanks for asking me out.”

  “I’m glad we can finally do this.”

  “Me too. It’s been a long time since I was on a date,” he confessed. “And I’ve never been to a restaurant this nice before.”

  “You said you didn’t grow up with much, but have you ever had a date spoil you?”

  “Not really.” He shook his head. “Most of my dates have been casual things, low-key types of dates. The boyfriends I’ve had weren’t really into fancy stuff. They were more pizza and beer types.”

  “Well, I’m glad I can introduce you to something new.”

  “I’ve never really been one to step outside my comfort zone.” Cameron bit his lip and tried to think of a way to say what he was thinking without freaking Nathan out. “But you bring it out in me. I don’t want to be comfortable. I want to explore things, discover them, and experience everything I can.”

  “I get it.” Nathan squeezed his hand. “Sometimes you don’t realize what you really want until you get a taste of it.”

  “Exactly. Have you always been into the finer things?”

  “I’ve always had it in my life. My parents were well off, so all of this was normal to me.”

  “I like that you still believe in romance. So many guys I’ve met are all abou
t hooking up and hanging out. It’s nice to feel like I’m more than a lay.”

  “You were never just a lay, Cameron. Not even when I was kidding myself and pretending I could keep from falling in love with you.”

  “You really know how to sweet-talk a guy.” Cameron’s face flushed.

  “I like to put the effort into people who are worth it.”

  “And I’m worth it?”

  “You’re worth everything.”

  They sat in silence for a few minutes before Cameron spoke up. “You’ve never really talked about your parents. What are they like?”

  “My dad was kind of like yours in that he was distant,” he said thoughtfully. “He worked all the time. I hardly ever saw him, but he made a lot of money. He worked just to get more, but it was never enough.”

  “What about your mother?” Cameron asked quietly. “You never talk about her.”

  “She wasn’t a bad mother, just detached. She liked having me around, but she didn’t like the nitty-gritty of childcare, so I had a nanny when I was younger. When I was old enough to be self-sufficient, she started to take more of an interest.”

  “Are they still alive?” he asked carefully. Nathan had used the past tense when talking about them.

  “No.” He shook his head. “My dad had a heart attack about five years ago. My mother died almost ten years ago, complications from surgery.”

  “What kind of surgery?”

  “Cosmetic,” he said bitterly. “She was always going under the knife to try and stop the clock, but it caught up to her, and she reacted to the anesthesia during one of her surgeries. That’s another way I’m able to afford the house and this lifestyle while living on a writer’s wage. We got quite the malpractice settlement when she died, and when my father died, he had a very healthy life insurance policy, so it set us up quite well. Then when Jason died, his life insurance and the lawsuit against the other driver paid really well, so the kids are set for the rest of their lives.”

  “Kind of a crappy way to pad the savings account,” Cameron said softly as he squeezed Nathan’s hand. “But at least they were able to help you and the kids in their deaths, which is a lot more than some people.”

  “True.” He nodded. “Did you parents help you guys at all?”

  “My mother didn’t have life insurance beyond funeral costs. When dad died, he’d had a little, but split five ways it didn’t go too far.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s hard to miss what I never had. I barely remember my mom, I was only five when she died, and Dad spent most of my life being disappointed in me and keeping his distance.”

  “How about we talk about something lighter,” Nathan suggested as he squeezed Cameron’s hand. “Like how incredible you look.”

  Cameron blushed and took a sip of his tea. Thankfully their food arrived then because he’d been trying to think of a clever retort but was at a loss.

  Cameron watched as several plates and something that looked like a boat covered with sushi was put down on the table. He recognized some of the contents, but most was completely new to him.

  “You know how to use chopsticks?” Nathan asked.

  “That I do know.” He nodded as he picked up his set and tested them out. They were plastic, so they were a little slippery, but he should be able to use them without making a fool out of himself.

  “We have seaweed salad and miso soup to start,” Nathan said as he pointed them out. “Ever had either?”

  “Miso soup yes, but not the salad, seaweed, thing.”

  “Then we have an assortment of sushi and sashimi,” Nathan continued with a grin. “You don’t mind the uncooked kind?”

  “I’ve liked the ones I’ve tried.”

  “Then I’m not going to tell you what you’re eating. If you like it, then you like it. If not just leave it.”

  “Sounds good. Makes every bite an adventure.”

  Nathan laughed as he handed Cameron a small dish of the salad and pushed one of the bowls of soup over to him.

  The meal was a lot of fun. Cameron tried everything, and the conversation was light and easy. Nathan seemed to love teasing Cameron when he would beg to know what he’d just eaten, but Nathan was true to his word. He didn’t name a single piece, and Cameron only found two that he didn’t like. It was a far cry from grocery store sushi, and he was definitely a fan of the authentic stuff now.

  They laughed and joked, and when the meal was over, Nathan paid the bill, and they headed to a jazz bar to finish up the date.

  The bar was exactly what Cameron expected it to be. The lighting was low, and the booths were small and cozy. There were candles everywhere, and there was a small stage with a jazz quartet playing.

  Nathan led him to one of the corner booths, and he smiled as he slid into the seat. Cameron loved seeing live music, and this place was perfect.

  “What do you think of the place?” Nathan asked as he handed Cameron a drink menu.

  “I like it.” He smiled as he scanned the list. “I’ve never been to a place like this before. It’s pretty perfect.”

  “You like jazz?”

  “I like all music. My taste basically ranges from whatever’s popular to please don’t judge me.”

  Nathan laughed and shook his head. “What’s your favorite?”

  “Pop. I can’t help it.”

  “Some of it is catchy.”

  “Let me guess; you like opera?”

  “I like classic rock.” Nathan grinned.

  “Oh, that’s not at all what I pictured.”

  “I like opera when I’m editing, but for music I mostly listen to classic rock and dance.”

  “Wait, you listen to dance?”

  “It’s great to work out to, or when you need something to pump you up.” He shrugged.

  “Now I don’t feel so bad about liking pop.” Cameron chuckled.

  “Any idea what you’d like?” Nathan asked as he nodded to the menu.

  “A martini maybe,” he said as he glanced at the different types. “The mint chocolate one sounds like it could be the best thing I’ve ever had or the biggest mistake I could ever make.”

  Nathan smiled and looked at the ingredients list. “I’d have to concur,” he agreed. “Why don’t you give it a try? If it’s terrible, then at least you can say you tried it.”

  “Another adventure. What the hell. What about you, what are you going to order?”

  “Scotch. Twenty years old.”

  “So barely legal,” he teased with a giggle.

  Nathan laughed and shook his head as they put down their menus. It was nice to see Cameron out of the house and letting his guard down. He was a lot of fun and had a sharp wit at home, but to get him out and see him enjoy new experiences gave Nathan a sense of pride and contentment.

  As they listened to the music, Nathan let his hand rest on Cameron’s thigh and alternated between looking at him and watching the musicians. Cameron was glowing; his entire face lit up as he watched the musicians playing. It was incredible to witness, and Nathan made a mental note to take Cameron out to places he hadn’t been before. It might be old-fashioned, but he wanted to spoil Cameron.

  They stayed at the bar for almost two hours, just listening to the music and nursing their drinks. The chocolate mint martini had been a gamble that hadn’t paid off, so Cameron had gone for a vodka cranberry juice for his second drink and had slowly sipped it as they’d talked and listened to the music that surrounded them.

  Nathan kept to one drink and lots of water, and by the time they left to head home, Nathan was feeling light and happy.

  “Nathan?”

  A slightly nasal female voice rang out as Nathan and Cameron were leaving the bar hand in hand.

  “Susan, hello.” Nathan stopped dead in his tracks when he turned to the woman who’d called out to him. He didn’t drop Cameron’s hand even when Susan stared down at them. They were out together, and he wasn’t about to make Cameron feel worse by pretending this wasn’
t a date.

  “I didn’t realize your agency was full service.” Susan looked at Cameron critically before giving Nathan a dark grin. “Too bad they don’t make nannies that would fit my tastes.”

  Nathan wasn’t a big fan of Susan. She was the mother of Daniel’s best friend, but they’d had few interactions over the years. She had two nannies who took care of Daniel and was known to have affairs when her husband was away on business. She was also a gossip and an elitist.

  “It was nice to see you, Susan.” Nathan tugged Cameron closer to him. “I’ll see you around.”

  “With that tasty little morsel living in your house? I don’t expect anyone will be seeing much of you for a long time.”

  Nathan didn’t respond; he just gave Susan a tight smile and pulled Cameron from where he seemed to be rooted to the ground.

  “I don’t know her, but I feel like I should.” Cameron hurried to catch up to Nathan’s quick pace.

  “She’s Michael’s mother, but she’s not around much when he is.”

  “Ah. She was at Logan’s party, right? Hung out with the beehive?”

  “The beehive?”

  “The ladies who seem to think they’re the shit. They stand around with their judgmental faces on ignoring their kids.”

  “She’s definitely one of them.”

  “So what does this mean for us?” Cameron asked when they reached Nathan’s car.

  “It means she saw us on our date, and that’s the last we’re going to think about it.”

  “You’re not worried?”

  “Why would I be? So one of the other parents saw us out together. You’re an adult, and I’m single. It’s not exactly scandalous.”

  Nathan saw Cameron bite his lip before he climbed into the car.

  The truth of the matter was that he was a bit nervous. What they were doing was against the agency rules, and Cameron could lose his job. He hoped Susan could keep her big mouth shut for once, but he wasn’t banking on it.

  They drove home in relative silence, but it wasn’t strained. When Nathan pulled up to the house, he knew that no matter what, this wouldn’t be their last date.