Which Way the Wind Blows

Chapter 34

“So, what do you want to do now?” Sam asked Chris as they left the movie theater.

The blonde shrugged and walked quietly beside the taller man. It was only their second date, and the first time they were seeing each other without Kee to chaperone them. Not that this was a bad thing. Kee was a great friend, but Chris decided he could get to know Sam much better without interference. The silence stretched for a bit, but he didn’t find it uncomfortable. Nor did Sam, it seemed, as he reached for the blonde’s hand when they stepped onto the sidewalk.

“Maybe we could get a drink or a bite?” Chris suggested. “Somewhere quiet?”

“Quiet?” Sam smiled.

“Yeah. Somewhere we can talk.”

The brown-haired man nodded and tugged Chris’ hand. “I think I know a good place.

Just about a half-hour later, Chris found himself sitting across from Sam in a small coffee house where they were two of only four patrons. The place wasn’t a chain and the aroma wafting through it smelled so much better than a Starbucks or other coffee chain. Sam sat back against his chair and crossed his arms as he watched the blonde, making Chris feel a bit self-conscious. But the expression in the brunette’s eyes held only amusement and … maybe a hint of something else that Chris still wasn’t sure he deserved. It was weird being out on an actual date with a guy other than Warren. The other guys were just … screws. Warren had been his boyfriend. And Sam? Well, he felt … comfortable. Even on only their second date. He was easy to talk to and very laid-back.

Chris had a hard time picturing him as the angry waiter-man Kee portrayed him to be the previous Saturday on their first date. It was funny to hear, though. Sam had roared with laughter when Kee had disclosed he’d worried about his steak after Genie gave Sam such a hard time in the steakhouse.

“Not your food,” Sam had said between gulps of air and fits of laughter. “His, maybe.”

“Yeah right!” Joe had laughed.

Chris smiled as he thought about it.

“You okay?” Sam asked softly bringing his mind back to the present.

“Yeah,” he said shyly.

Sam nodded but still watched him curiously, giving Chris a kind of thrill he didn’t remember experiencing on a date. It was like the feeling he got every time he was about to do something he’d never done before but was looking forward to. Like skydiving, he supposed, though he still hadn’t tried that … yet.

“What are you looking for in this?” Sam finally asked his expression unreadable.

Chris’ eyes went wide. This is the question he wasn’t sure he wanted to answer just yet. Still, he could sense that this was important to Sam before they go further. Kee had been right when he told Chris he didn’t think Sam was looking for a casual fling. And Chris wasn’t either. But he was still struggling with himself. It was all pretty confusing to him.

“Something … real,” he finally murmured, not shifting his gaze from the hazel eyes that pinned him to his chair. “I’m just so … tired. You know?”

Sam’s face broke into a look of relief as he uncrossed his arms and leaned forward to cover Chris’ hand with his own. “Yeah. I do know.”

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“You still planning on apologizing to your ex?” Jake asked in a drunken slur as he and Warren held court at Kelly’s.

Warren, seeing that Jake was well on his way to oblivion, had stopped his own drinking in order to remain sober enough to make sure his friend made it home all right.

“Someday,” Warren shrugged sipping on his Coke.

“I STILL say you got nothing to be sorry for!”

“So you keep saying.”

“It bears repeating.” The blonde leaned against the bar precariously, threatening to tip over at any moment. Warren righted him and propped him against the wall.

“No it doesn’t.”

“Does too.”

Jake was apparently a stubborn drunk. He’d started drinking as soon as they got there and hadn’t been without a drink since. Warren had tried to get him to stop and the bartender had now refused to serve him anymore drinks. But Jake waited until the shift changed and sobered up enough to convince the new bartender to make him and Warren a pitcher of Long Island Iced Teas. Never mind that Warren kept shaking his head and telling the bartender, “No.” The guy knew Jake and followed directions, knowing he’d be tipped well.

“I think you’ve had way more than enough to drink, pal,” the dark-haired man said as he slapped a hundred on the bar and hoisted Jake up to help him outside.

The air was turning cooler now that fall was approaching and Warren pulled his jacket around Jake as he walked him to a taxi he’d just waved down.

“Is this where you take me home?” the blonde asked breathlessly as Warren followed him into the backseat.

“Yes.” He gave the driver directions to Jake’s building and sat back against the seat.

“Not my home,” the blonde pouted. He looked at Warren then pounced into his lap and kissed him sloppily on the lips. “Why can’t I be the one you worry about?” he slurred as he fell unconscious against a shocked Warren’s chest.

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Victoria let Sam into the apartment and gave him a brilliant smile. She’d been hounding her best friend for almost two weeks to quit making excuses and bring his new boyfriend home to meet her. But he’d only insist that he and Sam weren’t “boyfriends” yet and that she would jinx the good vibe they had going. Until the previous evening, that was, yet Victoria had yet to pry out of Chris what exactly changed.

“Sam, I presume!” she exclaimed.

“Ah, the lovely Victoria,” the attractive man winked at her, affecting a mock-courtly demeanor. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, my lady. I’ve heard so much about you!” He kissed her knuckle and she giggled, fanning herself with her free hand.

“My, my, you are a charmer!” she laughed as she shut the door. “And Chris has told me almost nothing about you!”

Sam gave her a hurt look.

“That’s because you always jinx me!” the blonde huffed as he stalked over to join them.

Sam laughed and leaned in to give Chris a quick kiss on the lips then allowed himself to be led into the living room … where Elaine sat watching with interest. Chris gave her a grateful smile and gestured to Sam.

“Elaine, I’d like you to meet Sam. Sam, this is Elaine.”

“Nice to meet you,” she chuckled, offering a hand up to him.

“You too.”

“So Chris, what’s Sam to you?” Victoria asked playfully as she joined Elaine on the couch.

“The same thing Elaine is to you,” the blonde shot back with a grin.

He knew Victoria was having a bit of jitters about actually taking her friendship to the next level and decided she needed a little push. Besides, Elaine had become a fixture in their apartment most every weekend and some weeknights. She deserved a bit of recognition.

Victoria’s cheeks colored a bit but she didn’t back down. “A … special friend?” she murmured suggestively. Chris nodded at her enthusiastically, prompting her confused stare.

“Is that all I am to you?” Elaine tapped the ebony-haired beauty of the shoulder with a frown.

“Um … yes?”

“Sam’s my boyfriend,” Chris grinned, earning him a hug from behind from said boyfriend.

He and Sam, in fact, had the discussion the previous week, where he’d learned that Sam had had enough of the playboy lifestyle and was ready for a monogamous relationship. Most couples wait until after the second date, at least, to have it, but they’d decided they liked each other enough to give a real relationship a try. Kee had to be pried off the ceiling when Chris told him, but Joe didn’t seem to mind.

“And that means …” Elaine laughed with a triumphant whoop.

Victoria blushed again and got up to get them all some beers.