TJRBB: Find me somebody to love - Part III
Part III
Tommy was actually nervous about the not-date with Nate. He called him and they decided to meet at a bar. He was really nervous and it was still not really clear if it was even a date. They were talking about having a drink together. Did that even mean Nate was interested in Tommy?
Tommy sighed while he tried the next shirt. Finally he decided to wear a simple black V-neck t-shirt, tight black jeans and a leather jacket. He took a last look in the mirror before he left his apartment. The bar they wanted to meet was not far away and Tommy decided to walk there to calm down. When he arrived it was almost twenty minutes too soon, so he sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. When he turned around to face the door, Nate walked in. Tommy had to catch his breath because it hit him again how good looking Nate was. Even in the casual clothes he chose for the night he was really nice to look at.
Nate spotted Tommy quickly and walked over to him. “Hi!” his voice sounded a bit nervous. Tommy smiled returning the greeting and they walked over to a table in the back of the room. When they sat down and faced each other there were a few minutes of silence before them both burst out laughing.
“Man, I was kinda nervous, I don’t even know why.” Nate shook his head.
Tommy nodded. “I know what you mean. It’s stupid though. We are just two guys having a drink, aren’t we?”
Nate leaned forward at that and said with a law voice. “If you want that to be just a drink, it’s okay by me. But let’s decide what it exactly is by the end of the evening? What do you think?”
Tommy’s smile was blinding. “Yeah, I like that idea.”
Nate ordered two beers then. “So tell me Tommy Joe, what's your secret?” Tommy just laughed.
___
When they walked out of the bar several hours later Tommy didn’t want to go home, he wanted to stay with Nate. Talking to him was so easy. They talked about their families. Nate had two brothers and a sister. Nate told Tommy how his family came to America almost 100 years ago. They still had relatives in Finland, but the connection was not very strong anymore. Nate didn’t even speak Finnish for real; he just knew some sentences and words. He told Tommy how he started his own catering business. He was in a good situation now with his business and could choose the parties he was cooking for. Tommy was amazed how easy it was to talk to Nate. How easy Nate let him into his life and how easy Tommy seemed to let Nate in. He kept wondering if it was the way Nate’s Finnish roots were working here. All the Finnish people he met were easy and open. Sauli was the best example of that. Tommy was still amazed how fast they became really close friends.
“So... I wish I didn’t have to work tonight.” Nate stated with a shy smile.
Tommy smiled back. “Yeah. I'm sure there is more you want to know about me. We aren't done in my opinion.”
Nate’s smile deepened at that. “I want to see you again. Can we call the evening a date and meet soon for the next one?”
Tommy nodded. “I’d like that. It was the best date I've had in a long time. I want to see you again, but… damn!” Tommy felt something like guilt rising up in his stomach.
Nate looked at him confused, the smile slipping away. “I knew there has to be a “but”. It was just too perfect. So is the “but” a boyfriend waiting somewhere for you?” It should sound jokingly. It didn’t.
Tommy leaned against the wall beside the door to the bar, he closed his eyes. “No boyfriend. It’s because of Adam, I…” He paused to find the right words when Nate interrupted his thoughts.
“I see. But you two aren’t together anymore, so why…”
Tommy’s eyes flew open at that and he stopped Nate. “What? No, we never were together. I mean there might have been some sparks when we met, but no! The thought is kinda gross actually, because Adam is like my brother now. So: no!”
Nate sighed in relief. “So what does our next date have to do with Adam?”
Tommy sighed heavily at that. “It’s kinda stupid and embarrassing to be honest.”
Nate had to chuckle at the contrite face Tommy was making. “Sounds interesting to me, spill it!”
Tommy threw his hands over his face. “Hemighthavemademepromisenottodateyouyet.” The words where thrown out of his mouth in a rush and Tommy looked at Nate through his fingers.
Nate’s eyebrows shot up. “I might have got that wrong, but did you say he made you promise not to date me for now?”
Tommy sighed and let his hands fall. “Kinda. I'm not sure?” Nate’s face was pure confusion. “Look, he's afraid that I'm rushing into things with you and that you'll break my heart or something like that. The talk he gave me reminded me of my father talking to me when I was fourteen and started to date girls. It was so embarrassing.” When Tommy looked at Nate he saw emotions playing over his face. One of them was definitely amusement. Tommy leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes again. “I'm new to the whole dating guys thing. I've only ever dated girls before. I just never saw the possibility to get more with a guy then sex. But…” Tommy stopped and looked over at Nate.
“But what?” Nate asked softly. Tommy felt a blush rising up his face while he looked at Nate.
“I don’t know yet, but maybe it could be more?”
Nate got closer and cupped one of Tommy’s cheeks with his hand. He forced him softly to look up in his eyes. “I hope for more, Tommy. I don’t do casual often, and I'm really able to imagine having more with you.”
Tommy felt something uncurl in his stomach. “Yeah?”
Nate kept gazing in Tommy’s eyes as he nodded and whispered, “Yeah.”
The magical silence between them was interrupted after a few seconds and right before Tommy thought Nate would kiss him when Tommy’s hungry stomach made a loud request for attention. Tommy closed his eyes and Nate chuckled. He left a kiss on Tommy’s forehead and pulled a bit away.
“What do you think about coming back with me to my kitchen?”
Tommy opened his eyes. “Wouldn’t that be disturbing while you work?”
Nate smiled and stroke with his thumb over Tommy’s cheek before he let his hand fall down again. “I'd actually like to have some company while I'm cooking. It’s nice. We could talk and I can make you something to eat?” The look in Nate’s eyes was so earnest and sweet, how could Tommy even consider saying no.
“I’d like that.”
_____
Tommy was sitting on a bar-stool at the counter where Nate was working with some flour. Nate wanted to cook him something, but Tommy refused to make him work for him. So Nate made a sandwich with some leftovers from a roasted chicken and a sauce that was amazingly delicious. Tommy was licking his fingers and caught Nate watching him with open interest. He let his tongue lick deliberately slow over his thumb and watched Nate’s eyes darken.
He smirked at that. “So, what are you doing?”
Nate swallowed before he could answer. “There is a birthday of a little girl tomorrow. She's turning five. Right now I want to finish the cake. A huge pink thing, she loves all the girly stuff with lots of glitter.”
Tommy moved closer to have a better look. “This is marzipan paste. I colored it with pink food coloring and now I'll roll it out.”
Tommy was mesmerized with the skilled movements of Nate’s hands. Quickly the marzipan was prepared to cover the cake. Nate put it on the side to finish filling the cake. It was filled with a crème made with butter and pudding. The first coating was chocolate, the second one was vanilla. Nate put some vanilla crème all over the cake before he finally laid the marzipan cover over it. The cake had the shape of a butterfly, so it was not really easy to put the cover over it. Tommy watched the concentrated expression on Nate’s face. He pressed his lips together while he tried to form the butterfly. Finally the cake was covered in pink marzipan.
“Wow, this looks amazing!”
Nate smiled. “I prefer marzipan over icing. It looks and tastes better.”
He gave Tommy a small piece of the marzipan he cut of the cover. “You're right, very tasty!”
Next decorations were flowers and hearts in different colors. Tommy watched Nate forming them out of different colored marzipan pastes. It was amazing to see how the marzipan became a flower. Nate attached them to the top and sides of the cake using a bit of icing as adhesive. Finally he wrote the little girl's name and a “5” over the top of the cake. The last thing to do was throwing eatable glitter all over the cake. Then the cake was done.
“This is really artistic work you are doing. It looks amazing.”
Nate blushed pink. “Thank you.”
___
Nate got out of his car to take Tommy to his door. “It was a nice evening. I had fun watching you making the cake.” Nate came closer. “I hope we can do that again, I mean the date thing?”
Tommy reached out and cupped Nate’s cheek. “I'd like that too.”
Nate turned his head to leave a kiss in Tommy’s palm. “I'll call you then?”
Tommy let his hand fall away from Nate’s cheek to scratch over his neck. “Do you want to come in?”
Nate smiled sadly. “I wish I could, but I need to get up really early to prepare food for that party. I’m sorry. “
Tommy shook his head. “Yeah sure, work comes first, I understand.” He was not really able to take the disappointment out of his voice.
Nate moved then really close and took Tommy’s hand. “I really like you Tommy and I think maybe it’s even better if we take things slowly. I want to get to know you better. Is this okay with you?”
Tommy nodded and pulled Nate closer to his body. “Slow is okay, but I think I won’t be able to sleep if you don’t kiss me tonight.” Nate chuckled but leaned forward. He was caressing Tommy’s chin and his lips with his fingers. Tommy pushed up on his toes as he gazed into Nate’s eyes. When their lips finally met, it was like sparks would run through Tommy’s body. He let Nate push his head back at an angle that made the kiss deeper, as Nate licked into Tommy’s mouth.
Nate pulled away and pecked Tommy’s lips once again before stepping away. “Good night Tommy.”
“Good night Nate.” Tommy watched Nate driving away and couldn’t stop his hand from touching his lips, already missing Nate’s touch.
Part IV