Don't Judge a Book(store) by Its Cover: Parts 1-10 [J2, NC-17]
MASTER POST
Part 1:
Jared stood behind the Information desk of Channing and Weston, the largest chain bookstore in California. He allowed his brain to coast on auto-pilot as he put sale stickers on approximately ten million copies of the new James Patterson. “I swear that man must have elves writing for him or something,” he said to his co-worker, Kristen, who was similarly occupied, “Seems like he puts out a new book every week.”
Kristen rolled her eyes. “Yeah, seriously,” she agreed, then something caught her attention across the store. “Hey, who’s that with Eric?” she asked, referring to their store manager.
“Probably a customer,” Jared mumbled before he even bothered to look up from his stickering. When he did follow Kristen’s gaze, he was struck speechless. Eric was heading towards them, followed by the single most gorgeous guy Jared had ever seen. Oh, my god.
“Jared?” Kristen was peering at him in concern.
He shook his head to clear it, hoping he would regain the power of speech by the time Eric reached them. The powers that be were apparently feeling merciful, because he managed to say, “Hey, Eric. What’s up?” with only a hint of strain in his voice.
Eric didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, so Jared figured he’d passed. “Hey, Jared, Kristen,” he said, nodding to each of them with his usual, affable grin, “This is Jensen. He’s going to be our new head cashier.”
Jared was already drinking Jensen in. At close range he looked even better than he had from across the store. He stood a few inches shorter than Jared, but at six-four, who didn’t? He had short-cropped brown hair that lightened to blonde at the tips, lips that should be illegal, an adorable dusting of freckles across his cheeks and eyes . . . that were fixed firmly on the floor. Hmm, that’s odd, Jared thought. He decided to just barrel ahead anyway, as he did in almost all situations.
“Hey, I’m Jared,” he said brightly, smiling and sticking out his hand to shake.
Jensen looked up, seemingly reluctantly, and Jared was bowled over again. If the rest of Jensen was amazing, his eyes were out of this world. They were clear and green with gold flecks in them and Jared was pretty sure that if he spent too long staring into them he was going to forget his own name. Good thing he’d already introduced himself.
Jensen looked at Jared’s outstretched hand for a moment, as if unsure of what to do with it, then finally reached up and shook it slowly, but firmly. “Pleasure,” he answered softly.
“So, Jared, I was hoping you’d do the honors and give Jensen the grand tour. I’ve got a conference call in five minutes and Dawn will have my ass if I call in late,” Eric said, dispelling the weird tension in the air.
Jared grinned easily again. “Sure thing, boss!” he said with a mock salute.
Eric rolled his eyes and hightailed it back towards the office.
Jared turned to look at Kristen who was looking back with a considering expression. Uh oh. Jared hoped he wasn’t being painfully obvious, but he probably was. “Hey, Kristen. Think you can handle the crowd while I show Jensen around?”
She tossed a cursory glance around the sales floor where the few customers shopping on a Monday morning seemed perfectly happy without assistance. “Yeah, I think I can beat back the masses.”
“Awesome.” Jared turned to look at Jensen again. “Time for your tour of the asylum.”
Jensen gave him a look that clearly said he thought Jared was the one in need of an institution, but fell in wordlessly beside him.
Jared figured they’d start with the café. Fortunately it was 10 AM and the mad coffee rush was over so he’d be able to make proper introductions.
Sandy and Sophia were behind the counter when they made their way over. Jared introduced the tiny brunettes affectionately and noticed that Jensen didn’t seem nearly as shy around them. Interesting.
“Mike’s here this morning, right girls?” he asked.
Sophia nodded. “Yep. He’s getting something out of the freezer.” She pretended to look concerned. “Hope he didn’t get stuck in there or something.”
Jared laughed. “Rosenbaum!” he called into the back, “Get out here and meet our newest arrival!”
There was a crash followed by what sounded like some very colorful language for the retail environment, but it was hard to be sure. A moment later, Mike emerged. “What do you want, Padalecki?” he demanded, rubbing a hand through his short brown hair. Then he caught sight of Jensen. “Well, hello there,” he said, making no effort to hide his lascivious smirk, “It’s certainly a pleasure to meet you.”
Jensen frowned slightly. “We haven’t met,” he said.
Mike recovered instantly. “A grievous oversight that could be remedied if Jared here had any manners.” His eyes snapped to Jared. “What are you waiting for? Introduce us!”
Jared heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Dude, you didn’t give me a chance before you practically jumped the guy. Mike, this is Jensen, the new head cashier. Jensen, the man molesting you is Mike Rosenbaum, our café manager.”
Jensen gave a neutral nod and Jared figured it was time to move on with the tour. As they walk away he added, “My roommate, Chad, works in the café too. And Allison, Allie, she’s really nice. You’ll like her.”
They made their way to the other side of the store and the music department. Jared introduced Jensen to Jeff Morgan, the manager. Jensen greeted him in the same, reserved manner he had used with everyone thus far.
Chris, who had been helping a customer over in the far corner of the department, jumped into the conversation. “Hey, I’m Chris,” he said, then paused, looking at Jensen speculatively. “You look really familiar.”
Jensen shrugged and shook his head. “Jensen,” he said, sticking out his hand.
Chris shook, still looking like he was trying to place Jensen, but finally shrugging. “Good to meet ya.”
For their next stop, Jared dragged Jensen into the children’s department. He spotted a tall, dark haired man shelving picture books. “Hey,” he started and the guy straightened up to see who wanted his attention. “Jensen, this is-“
“Tom,” Jensen finished, his eyes wide and all the color suddenly gone from his face.
The normally affable Tom Welling suddenly looked very ill at ease. His gaze was fixed on the floor and he scuffed his shoe against some imaginary imperfection in the carpet. “Hey, Jensen,” he mumbled at the ground.
Jared glanced back and forth between Jensen and Tom, trying to think of a way to dispel the palpable tension. “So, you two know each other!” he said with strained joviality.
They both nodded mutely and the silence stretched out until Jared huffed out a breath. “Well, I guess we’d better get on with the tour then. See ya, Tom!”
Once they were back on the main book floor, Jensen shot a shy glance his way. “Listen, Jared. Thanks for the tour and all. I think I’d better just go ahead and get to work.”
Jared nodded, wondering what the hell just happened. “Yeah, sure, of course. You’ve pretty much seen everything anyway.”
Jensen nodded firmly and shot off towards the front cash registers like the devil was on his heels.
Jared just shook his head as he watched him go, confused and fascinated.
Part 2:
Steve was rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he clocked in for the closing shift. He walked through the break room door, intending to drop off his jacket and stopped dead. He rubbed his eyes again, unable to believe what he was seeing.
“Jensen?!”
The dirty blonde head snapped up, startled. Jensen gulped down the bite of sandwich he’d been chewing and stood abruptly, nearly tripping over his chair in the process.
“Steve!”
Jensen looked as shocked as he was feeling. After all it wasn’t everyday you ran into your best friend who you hadn’t talked to in two years at your workplace. Steve’s surprise scoots over a bit to make room for the burn of shame. They hadn’t fought or anything; nothing so dramatic.
They’d roomed together all four years of college. They’d been the kind of close that had everyone else they knew rolling their eyes and feeling like they weren’t invited to the party. Then graduation rolled around and they’d gone their separate ways, promising to stay in touch. At first the visits and phone calls and emails were frequent, but as they built up separate lives, the intervals in between got farther and farther apart. Until they’d stopped entirely. Steve knew it was a two-way street and all that bullshit, but he still felt deeply guilty for letting go of the best friend he’d ever had.
Initial exclamations out of the way, the awkwardness of those two lost years settled in between them. Steve cleared his throat and looked around at anything but Jensen.
“So, uh, what are you doing here?”
“I work here.”
“Oh, right, of course. So do I.”
Jensen rolled his eyes just slightly, a teasing smirk that Steve remembered well on his lips. “Yeah, I figured.”
“Right. So, when did you start?”
“This morning. Transferred in from the Sacramento store,” Jensen elaborated, taking pity on Steve.
“Wow. Who woulda figured we’d both end up working for Channing and Weston, huh?”
Jensen huffed a self-deprecating laugh. “Yeah. Not exactly what we had planned out in college, right?”
And just like that things were easy between them. Almost like no time has passed at all. Most likely they wouldn’t talk about it. That’s one of the things that drew them together. They understood each other well enough not to need to talk about it.
It was weird that they never hooked up. Two gay men who got along on almost every conceivable level, they really should have. But it was never like that with them. It never even crossed either of their minds in a serious way. Just one of those things. And speaking of hook-ups.
“Oh, hey! You’ve got to meet my boyfriend. Come on!” Steve grabbed Jensen by the elbow and hauled him out of the break room, laughing as he made a whimpering sound and cast a longing glance back at his unfinished sandwich.
Steve caught a few mystified looks from his coworkers as he dragged Jensen across the floor to the music department, but he was too excited to care. He’d explain later to the ones who actually cared and the rest of them would make up whatever explanation suited them. That was the nature of the rumor mill.
“Chris!” he called, darting his eyes around the racks of CD’s and DVD’s.
“Yeah?” came the faint answer, followed by an ominous sounding crash. “Shit. Coming!”
After another moment of muttered cursing that made Steve smile fondly, Chris appeared, a huge stack of CD’s in his hands.
“Chris, this is Jensen,” Steve said, practically bouncing with excitement.
Chris gave him a confused look. “Yeah, we met this morning,” he said slowly.
Steve just kept looking at him expectantly. He looked back and forth from his boyfriend to the new head cashier and suddenly the light went on. “Holy shit! Jensen Jensen?! The Jensen who’s in every single picture you have from college?”
Steve nodded happily. “Awesome, right?”
Chris laughed. “Well if that doesn’t just beat all!”
“Hey, don’t you slackers have work to do?”
They all turned abruptly at Jeff’s mock stern tone.
“Jeff! This is Jensen!” Steve said.
Jeff gave him the same look Chris had given him moments ago. “Yeah, we met this morning.”
Jensen and Chris burst into laughter.
“Umm, did I miss something?”
Part 3:
“Dude, doesn’t Steve already have a boyfriend?” Kristen asked, raising her eyebrows at Jared. They were leaning against the counter of the information desk, observing the proceedings in the music department; Kristen with keen interest, Jared with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction.
“Yep! And he’s standing right there looking like Jensen’s the second coming. Threesome?”
Jared startled at the interruption, looking over to see that Sophia had joined them, followed closely by Mike.
“Oh, please. Chris and Steve are like the definition of committed monogamy,” Mike chimed in, “They’d never go for a threesome. Believe me, I asked.”
The other three were too used to Mike to do more than roll their eyes at this announcement.
“Long lost brother?” Kristen proposed.
Sophia shook her head. “They don’t look enough alike. Cousin maybe.”
“But who really likes their cousins that much?” Mike queried.
The girls grimaced in frustrated agreement.
“You know, one of us could just go over there and ask,” Jared pointed out.
“Good plan. You do it!” Sophia said.
“Woah, whoah, wait a second! I never said I wanted to. I just said someone could.”
Sophia laughed dismissively. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
Kristen leaned across Jared to stage whisper to Sophia, “You know, he practically went non-verbal this morning when Eric introduced them.”
Sophia’s eyebrows rose in delighted surprise. “Oh, really? Does someone have a crush? It’s okay, Jay, you can tell us. We won’t tell a soul.”
Jared’s eyes widened in panic. It was never good to be the subject of the rumor mill. “Yeah, right, I believe that,” he said sarcastically.
Sophia put her hand to her heart in mock offence. “I can keep a secret,” she pouted.
Mike rolled his eyes. “No one here can keep a secret. It’s like there’s something in the water.”
“Or the lattes,” Kristen proposed.
“What’s the secret?” Chad asked, joining the group. Sloppily dressed like he just barely managed to roll out of bed at three in the afternoon.
“That you’re late again,” Mike responded, sarcasm lacing his tone, “Oh, wait! That’s not a secret. Get to work!”
Chad rolled his eyes. Too familiar with Mike to be intimidated. “Oh, like you’re doing?”
Mike puffed up his chest. “I’m a manager. I delegate and supervise.”
“Uh huh.”
Sophia grabbed Chad’s arm and started dragging him toward the café before Mike killed him on principal. “Come on. I’ll fill you in,” she chirped, launching into the story as they walked out of earshot.
Mike shook his head. “One day that roommate of yours is going to push me too far,” he remarked to Jared.
Jared laughed. “Never happen, Rosenbaum. You’re too much of a softy.”
Mike playfully clapped a hand over his mouth. “Shush! Can’t have confidential information like that getting out!”
That just made Jared laugh harder.
“So you guys coming over tonight?” Mike held “get togethers” at his apartment at least a couple of nights a week. These gatherings usually involved a lot of alcohol and very little common sense.
“I don’t know, Mike,” Jared hedged, “I’ve gotta open tomorrow.”
“Oh, come on! There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead!”
Jared heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Yeah, okay.”
Mike gave a satisfied grin and turned to Kristen. “What about you, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, count me in. Hey! Why don’t you invite Jensen?”
“Great idea! We can find out all his secrets!”
“Umm, I don’t know if that’s such a great idea,” Jared cut in, “Is Tom gonna be there?”
Mike clutched dramatically at his chest with both hands. “Tom Welling? Love of my life? Of course!”
Jared sighed. “No, Tom Welling the very straight man you have a crush on. Jensen knows him and there was this really awkward moment when I started to introduce them this morning. I don’t think they like each other.”
Mike’s eyes widened and Jared could practically see him disregarding everything Jared had said except for one thing. “He knows my baby?”
“One more time. Tom is straight and it was awkward. But you’re just going to ignore me anyway, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely,” Mike declared, then walked off towards the cluster of men in the music department calling, “Hey, newbie! You like to party?”
Jared sighed again, dropping his chin to his chest. “This is so not good,” he mumbled to his navel.
Kristen laughed. “Oh, come on, it’s just Mike. He’s mostly harmless.”
“Yeah, like a Chihuahua with rabies is mostly harmless,” Jared observed morosely.
“Point,” Kristen conceded, then continued almost casually, “So, do you have a crush on the new guy?”
Jared shot her a baleful look. “I don’t know. Do you have a crush on a certain brunette café server I should tell the whole store about?”
“Oh, low blow! You wouldn’t!” she pouted.
“No, I wouldn’t, cause I’m just that nice of a guy, but that doesn’t mean I trust you as far as I could throw you.”
“Hmm, fair enough,” she said, tossing him a wink.
Just then they were distracted by customers coming up with questions. “Oh, right, we do work here!” Kristen exclaimed in mock surprise before attending to her customer.
Jared smiled and did the same, but he couldn’t shake his niggling worry about the coming evening. He tried to shrug it off, telling himself Mike would be Mike and usually they all survived the experience, but he was uneasy. Not to mention he couldn’t decide whether he was more nervous that Jensen would come or that he wouldn’t.
Part 4:
Jensen sifted through his dresser drawers in growing frustration. He’d already tried and rejected three different shirts. He sat back on the end of the bed, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t even sure why he’d accepted Mike’s invitation. He’d never exactly been a social butterfly, even in college, and his anti-social tendencies had only increased after graduation.
Then again, he’d come to LA for a change. Maybe he should embrace it. He smirked derisively at that thought. Apparently he hadn’t gone quite far enough. Who knew he’d find his old best friend and his old, well, Tom both working in the same store he happened to transfer to. It was a coincidence almost on the level of Miss Cleo and he couldn’t deny he was shaken.
No doubt about it, he was glad to see Steve again. He’d really regretted losing touch, but things hadn’t been going so well out in the “real world” and, Jensen was ashamed to admit even to himself, it had just been too much effort to keep up their friendship long distance.
And then there was Tom. Jensen’s brain took an abrupt left turn every time the subject surfaced in his consciousness. Well, at least they wouldn’t really have a lot of overlap at work. If he tried, Jensen might be able to avoid him entirely.
With that comforting thought in mind, he bounced up off the bed and attacked his wardrobe again. He finally decided on a green, screen printed t-shirt. It was one of his favorites, soft and worn in and tight enough to just barely cling to his torso. He paired it with new jeans that made his ass look amazing. Jensen wasn’t any vainer than your average gay man, but he wasn’t blind either. As long as he was going to go be social, he might as well emphasize his assets.
His thoughts drifted to Jared. His tour guide for the morning was pretty much the most attractive man he’d ever met, and Jensen wasn’t prone to hyperbole. Unbelievably tall with legs for miles, those hazel cat eyes and a puppy dog smile, and suddenly Jensen was regretting choosing the tighter fit for his jeans. He took a couple of breaths to get control of himself. Then he reminded himself firmly of his no dating rule. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a written in stone type of rule, but Jensen was pretty much the definition of cautious when it came to men.
He shook his head to dispel the depressing thoughts. Tonight he was going to go and have fun with his new coworkers and old friend. No sense in dwelling on things he couldn’t change. He cast a final glance in the mirror and, finding everything in order, grabbed his wallet and walked out the door.
Part 5:
The party wasn’t too crazy when Jensen got there, but he could tell it was on its way to being a rager. Mike threw open the door when he rang the bell, all pink cheeks and overly wide smile. “Jenny! You came!” he greeted, throwing an arm around Jensen’s shoulders and dragging him inside.
Jensen hunched his shoulders and ducked his head, embarrassed, but pleased to be included. “Umm, I don’t really like it when people call me that,” he said.
“What, Jenny?”
Jensen nodded, quirking his lips apologetically.
“Sorry man!” Mike said affably, “From now on I’ll call you Mr. umm. Hey wait! What’s your last name?”
Jensen couldn’t help but laugh softly. Mike had a way of making you feel at ease. “It’s Ackles, but Jensen is fine.”
“All right, so what’s your poison?”
“Just a beer’s fine.”
“Beer for my new friend, coming right up!”
Mike sashayed away towards the kitchen, there was no other word for it. Jensen took the opportunity to look around the room. He spotted Steve and Chris on the couch, pressed in so close to each other than no one would mistake them for just friends. Jensen smiled. He was glad Steve had found someone. He deserved it. And from their brief introductions earlier, Jensen was inclined to like Chris.
Continuing his survey of the room, he spotted most of the people he’d met that day, plus quite a few he didn’t know. When his eyes drifted over the far corner of the room, he froze. Tom was standing there, a wide grin on his face as he chatted up a couple of very attentive girls.
Before his brain could even totally process the image, his legs were turning him around and moving him towards the door. He had his hand on the doorknob when Steve’s arm shot across his chest, blocking his way.
“Running away?” Steve asked, leveling his gaze on Jensen.
Jensen raised his eyebrows. “Umm, yeah.”
“Jen,” Steve said, his lips thinning, “It’s been five years. He’s already taken enough from you. Don’t let him take this.”
Jensen sighed heavily, his eyes darting from Steve to the door and back again. “I just can’t do this tonight,” he protested.
“If not tonight, then when?” Steve combed the hand that wasn’t pinning Jensen through his hair. “Just come have a drink with us, okay? You don’t even have to talk to him. In fact, I’d recommend it.”
Jensen’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Yeah, all right. But if things get weird, I’m leaving.”
“Fair enough, now come on!”
Jensen followed Steve over to the couch where Chris was sprawled out to keep other people from taking their seats. Mike found them just then.
“Jensen! There you are! I thought you disappeared.” He handed him a beer.
Jensen smiled his thanks, then followed Steve’s lead, sitting on the couch as Chris sat back up and made room. Mike sat down on Jensen’s other side, slinging an arm around his shoulders again and making himself at home.
“So!” he started, “I hear you know-“
“All my darkest secrets, yeah,” Steve cut in, shooting Mike a warning look.
Mike might be crazy, but he wasn’t stupid, so he took the hint.
“Right! You must have all kinds of dirt on Stevey here. C’mon! Gimme something!”
Steve dropped his head back against the back of the couch in mock despair. “Hey now! I’m your best friend. Don’t sell me out!”
Jensen made a considering face. “I don’t know. Mike here’s supplying the alcohol. Maybe he’s my best friend!”
The four of them settled in comfortably on the couch, drinking and bantering. For a moment, Jensen felt almost outside of himself, surprised by his own openness with virtual strangers. He chalked it up to having Steve by his side. His best friend had always been able to draw him out like nobody else. Nobody except-well, Tom. He risked a glance across the room and was sorry he did.
One of the girls had left and the other one, a petite blonde, was in Tom’s lap, kissing him sloppily. Jensen turned his head sharply and found Steve watching him with worried eyes. He shook his head and shrugged to let Steve know he wasn’t going to let it bother him. Well, he was going to try anyway. He turned to Mike.
“So, uh, do you think Jared’s going to come tonight?” he asked, trying for casual, but hearing himself fail miserably.
Mike picked up on his tone like a dog picking up a scent.
“Oh, so you like the giant, huh?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
“What? I-no! I just-he was-he seemed nice this morning.” Jensen felt the blush staining his neck and cheeks and buried his face in his hands.
Mike laughed, but it sounded friendly, not malicious. He patted Jensen’s head comfortingly. “Whatever you say, champ. Jolly Green said he was coming, but I wouldn’t put it past him to flake. Said something about opening in the morning. Like that’s an excuse not to party!”
“Right,” Jensen agreed weakly, a smile returning tentatively to his face at Mike’s lack of pressure on the subject of Jared. The more he talked to the guy, the more he liked him.
Looking to his other side, Jensen noted that the longer the evening wore on and the more alcohol was consumed, the closer Chris and Steve got. By this point Steve was sprawled across Chris’ lap, his head resting in the crook of his shoulder. Jensen’s lips twitched into a smile of affection at the sight.
His attention was yanked away abruptly when Mike jumped up from the couch shouting, “Jay, my man! You showed!
Jensen’s breath caught in his throat as he spotted Jared at the door. He could swear the guy had gotten taller since this morning, not to mention more gorgeous. He was wearing faded jeans with a couple of rips in them that Jensen was pretty sure were earned, not bought. They were paired with a slightly rumpled button-down in a shade that looked suspiciously like pink. Mike said something Jensen couldn’t hear and Jared burst into loud, carefree laughter.
Jensen jumped up abruptly, needing to be somewhere Jared wasn’t before all his faculties failed him. “Umm, bathroom?” he asked.
“Past the kitchen,” Steve said, gesturing behind them and looking perplexed.
Jensen shot out of the room without another word. He closed the bathroom door and clicked the lock, then leaned against it, dragging air into his lungs. This was so not good.
Part 6:
Chad drifted away from Jared’s side while his roommate talked to Mike. He wove aimlessly through the crush of people until he spotted Sophia and Kristen over by the patio door.
“Hey, girls,” he greeted.
“Hey, boy,” Sophia returned, grinning impishly.
“So, what did I miss? My prissy roommate went through about twelve outfits before I managed to drag him out the door. I thought we’d never get here.”
The girls giggled. “Ooh, the plot thickens!” Kristen exclaimed.
“What? You know something?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “You know, for a straight guy, you do love to gossip.
Chad shoved her lightly in the shoulder. “Yeah, well, how else do I know what’s going on with all the crazies we work with?”
“True. So, you’ve pretty much confirmed our theory that Jared has a crush on the new guy, Jensen.”
“And,” Kristen chimed in, “Now it looks likes Jensen might be crushing back!”
“How can you tell?” Chad looked around the room bewilderedly. “Where is he anyway?”
More giggling.
“Well, the second you and Jared walked in, Jensen jumped up looking all panicked and sprinted for the bathroom,” Kristen said.
“And, no offense, but I’m pretty sure he’s not crushing on you,” Sophia finished.
“Thanks a lot!”
“Well, you wouldn’t want him to, would you?” Kristen asked.
“No!” he said, but he was laughing, knowing his friends were only teasing.
“Anyway,” Sophia continued, “That’s the big headline for the day, but it’s not the only story.”
“Oh?”
Kristen gestured across the room. “Nope. Check out Allie and Tom. It looks like they’re about five seconds away from blowing this popsicle stand.”
Chad’s eyes widened as he looked where she was pointing. “Wow, that’s new!” He tilted his head to the side as he watched the heavy make out session going on. “Umm, it looks like they might need some help getting detached later.”
Sophia stifled a laugh with her hand. “Ooh, it looks to me like they’re interested in getting closer, not farther apart.”
Chad slapped a hand over his eyes. “Geez, Soph! Spare me the mental image, please!” There was more laughter and he pulled himself away from the wall. “I’m gonna go grab a drink. Try not to have too much fun without me,” he cautioned, then walked off towards the kitchen.
***
Jeff sank back into his chair, rubbing his thumb across the smooth surface of the glass in his hand. It was his favorite chair, worn in and comfortable and a prayer away from disintegrating entirely. He’d had it since college and never had the heart to get rid of it.
He took a sip of amber liquid and felt it burn its way down his throat. He stared at the glass consideringly for a moment, then nodded and tossed back the remainder of its contents. He sat the glass on the table beside him and listened to the silence of his empty apartment, accented by the buzzing of his good friend, whiskey.
He sighed and switched off the floor lamp beside him, plunging his living room into total darkness. He knew how pathetic it was, drinking alone in the dark, but he couldn’t quite work up the energy to care.
He thought about earlier today, when Mike had asked him to come to his party. He asked often, but Jeff never accepted. He didn’t really think Mike expected him to. He was older and, hopefully, more mature than most of the regular guests at Michael’s parties and he could imagine with vivid clarity how out of place he would feel there. He didn’t see the need to go and experience the reality.
Mike’s friends were one thing. Unfortunately, Michael Rosenbaum himself was quite another matter. Jeff might lie to other people, but he did try to be honest with himself and honestly, he was drawn to that man with an almost irresistible force.
Unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t mutual. As a manager, Jeff didn’t catch quite as much of the gossip as his subordinates, but he was neither deaf nor stupid. Mike wanted Tom, straight or not, and that was that.
Jeff sighed and levered himself up from his chair. It was probably for the best anyway. Nothing serious could ever work between them and while he certainly wasn’t old, he was old enough to be looking for more than a fling. Shaking his head, he felt his way through the dark into his bedroom. If he was going to be home alone with the lights off, he might as well go to sleep.
Part 7:
Jensen would have been perfectly content to hide in the bathroom for the rest of the night, but then he realized something. He wasn’t alone anymore. Steve was out there in the living room and, if past experience was anything to go by, he was about thirty seconds from banging on the door and demanding Jensen come out.
Steve had some . . . unconventional methods of battling Jensen’s shyness when it got out of hand and this was shaping up to be one of those times. So, he took a deep breath, gathered up all the scattered bits of his resolve, and opened the door. He strode down the hall, so intent on his goal that he didn’t even see the guy coming out ofhte kitchen until he rang straight into him.
The guy fumbled for a moment, but managed to save the beer in his hand from hitting the floor. He braced Jensen with his other hand. “Whoa, slow down there! You might hurt somebody if you’re not careful,” he said, sounding amused. Then his eyes lit up. “New guy! I’m Chad.” He offered his hand to shake and Jensen took it somewhat bemusedly.
“Jensen,” he returned, “But I guess you can call me ‘new guy’ if you want.”
Chad burst out laughing. “You’re funny.”
Jensen shrugged and ducked his head.
“Hey, I think Jay was looking for you actually.”
“Jay?”
“Jared, my roommate,” Chad elaborated. He angled his head toward the living room. “Come on, then.”
At the mention of Jared, Jensen’s breathing started speeding up again and he was heartily tempted to make a dash back to the bathroom. At just that moment, though, Steve popped around the corner, a searching look in his eye. He smiled when he spotted Jensen with Chad.
“Jen, there you are!” he said, “You’re not trying to corrupt my boy are you, Chad?”
Chad rolled his eyes. “My boy is looking for him,” he answered.
Steve’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, really? Well carry on then!”
As Chad dragged him away, Jensen tossed a pleading look over his shoulder at Steve, but Steve just smiled and made a shooing gesture at him. He decided it was best to just accept his fate and face it like a man. He squared his shoulders as he was brought face to face with Jared.
***
Jared had been thinking about Jensen all day, despite his efforts to distract himself. And now he was having to work really hard to keep his distraction hidden while he talked to Mike. He had spotted Jensen the moment he came in, mostly thanks to the fact that Mike had been sitting right next to him. But Jensen had jumped up and disappeared right after that and he’d been gone for a few minutes now.
Suddenly Jared realized Mike was looking at him expectantly. Obviously he had asked him a question which Jared hadn’t even heard. “Sorry, what?” he asked.
Mike rolled his eyes. “I said you seem distracted tonight,” he said with a pointed stare, “Anyone particular on your mind?
“No!” Jared said and the second it was out of his mouth he knew he’d spoken too quickly to be convincing. Especially to a seasoned matchmaker like Mike.
Sure enough, Mike shot him a disbelieving look. “Yeah, right. Spill. Who is it? It’s Jensen, isn’t it?”
Jared groaned in embarrassment. He’d hoped he wasn’t that transparent. “Yeah, it is, but don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Mike made a face of mock affront. “Me? Surely you know me better than that!”
“Yeah, Mike, I do, which is why I’m asking you to go against your nature and keep your trap shut.”
Mike patted Jared’s arm comfortingly. “Don’t worry, Big Jay, your secret’s safe with me. And speaking of, here he comes!”
Jared nearly gave himself whiplash he looked up and around so quickly. Sure enough, Jensen was coming toward him, dragged by Chad of all people.
“Hey, roomie! Look who nearly ran me over in the hall. Our new pal, Jensen! Oh, hey, looks like Sophie and Kristen need me. You come too, Mike. Okay, see y’all later, bye!”
Jared barely blinked and suddenly Chad and Mike were across the room and he was face to face with Jensen alone. Well, okay, alone in a crowd of drunk people, but essentially without backup.
“Umm, hey,” he said, suddenly feeling extremely awkward.
Jensen seemed to find his shoes intensely interesting. “Hey,” he told them.
“So, uh, some friends I’ve got, huh?”
Jensen looked up for an instant and Jared caught a hint of laughter in his eyes. “Yeah,” he said, then looked down again.
“They may be insane, but they’re pretty good guys. Don’t let them scare you back to Sacramento or anything.”
This time Jensen looked at Jared long enough to complete a whole eye roll. Jared cheered mentally, counting this as progress. “Nah, they seem nice. Mike’s been really great.”
Jared grinned. “Yeah, he’s like that. Buckets of crazy, but his heart’s in the right place. Well, except where Tom’s concerned. He simply will not accept that the man is straight. I swear, one of these days he’s gonna-“ Jared broke off suddenly. Jensen had gone frighteningly still and white as a sheet. “What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?”
Jensen shook his head like he was trying to clear it. “No, umm, it’s just-it’s nothing. I’ve gotta go.” He whirled abruptly on his heel, walking over to the couch where Steve was wrapped around Chris. He spoke briefly to Steve, who sat up quickly, disentangling himself from his boyfriend.
Steve looked at Jared, then across the room. Jared tracked his line of sight and saw Tom and Allie making out in the corner. Tom. And he’d been talking about Tom when Jensen had freaked out just now. And there was that tense moment when the two of them met that morning.
There was a picture forming in Jared’s head. It was blurry and missing big chunks like puzzle pieces, but the impression he was getting was pretty upsetting. He watched Jensen leave, kicking himself for being an idiot. Then he headed out to the patio. He needed some air and a quiet space to think because there was a lot to sort out in his head.
Part 8:
Tuesday morning, Mike was feeling the effects of last night’s drinking. Not regretting, no, because he believed that it was worth paying the consequences to feel that he was living life to the fullest. And a hangover was pretty much the only thing that incited in him any seriousness or self-reflection.
So when he ran into Jeff in the office, he greeted him with a quiet “Hey,” rather than his usual, exuberant salutation.
“Hey, Mike. Too much fun last night?”
“Nah, just enough fun.” Mike paused, considering. “You didn’t show though. You never do. Why is that, Jeff?”
Jeff looked genuinely surprised. “You don’t seriously think I’d fit in with the twenty-somethings, do you?”
Mike shrugged. “It’s my party, not theirs. Will you come next time?”
Just then, the copies Jeff had been making finished. He snatched them out of the tray. “I’ve got work to do,” he said sharply before brushing past Mike and leaving the office.
Mike stared after him in consternation. Jeff was usually such an easygoing guy. He couldn’t understand what he’d said to upset him.
***
Jared was on edge all day, waiting for Jensen to come in for the afternoon shift. He felt like such an ass for mentioning Tom when he should have realized it was a touchy subject. He desperately wanted to talk to Jensen and make things right, but he didn’t have his number and even if he did, he had to work.
It occurred to him that maybe it was weird to be this concerned about someone he’d only known for a day, but he felt irresistibly drawn to Jensen. He hoped he hadn’t screwed up his chances before he even had a chance to get started.
Finally, three o’clock rolled around. Not that Jared was watching the door or anything, but when he spotted Jensen coming in, he bounded over, eager to make things right. “Hey, Jensen,” he greeted.
“Jared,” Jensen acknowledged, nodding at him, but not looking particularly happy to see him.
Quickly Jared tossed his cautious plan out the window and barreled ahead, all the things that had been running through him mind spilling out in a rush. “Listen, Jensen, I’m really sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to upset you, okay? And I know I just met you, but I really want us to be friends. If you give me another chance I swear I won’t screw it up. Please?”
A reluctant smile lights Jensen’s face. “It wasn’t you, all right? Don’t worry about it. Of course we can be friends.”
Jared’s cheeks hurt he smiles so wide. “Awesome! So, umm, do you maybe want to try something a little quieter? I mean, Mike’s parties aren’t exactly the greatest place to talk anyway. What do you say? IHOP tonight? I’ll pick you up when your shift ends.”
“Umm, sure,” Jensen says, looking a little stunned.
“Great! See you then!”
Part 9:
Chris flopped down at the break room table with a muffled groan. “Oh, my God, Jeff is being a pissy bitch today,” he announced to no one in particular, although it was vaguely directed at Sandy since she happened to be the only other person in the room.
She made a non-committal, yet annoyed sound and flipped a page in her magazine.
Chris looked up at her, statled. “Whoa! Going around I see.”
She immediately looked apologetic. “Oh, Chris, I’m sorry. I just have some stuff on my mind is all.”
“Yeah? What stuff?”
“Nothing much.”
“Come on. You can tell me.”
She looked around, then leaned in closer. “Okay, but you promise you won’t tell anyone?”
He nodded. “Yeah, absolutely.”
“Okay, so Allie hooked up with Tom last night-“
“Yeah, we all noticed.”
She slapped his arm lightly. “Shut up! That’s just the preface. Anyway, she will not stop talking about it and it’s driving me crazy because-“
“What?”
She looked down at the table, fidgeting. “Because she’s a tiny blonde person and she makes me think of another tiny blonde person who I’m not hooking up with.”
“Wait, come again?”
“I have a crush on Kristen, okay?” she said, looking miserable, “Now please don’t go spreading that around the store.”
“You know I wouldn’t. Have you talked to her?”
“No!” Sandy exclaimed, looking horrified at the very idea, “I couldn’t!”
“Why not? You’ll never know if maybe she likes you back otherwise.”
“Oh, she doesn’t. She couldn’t.”
“Umm, why not? You’re seriously hot.”
“Stop being such a guy, Christian.”
“Oh, not that’s just hitting below the belt, sweetheart! The gay friend is totally allowed to assess your hotness.”
“Yeah, I just. It’s complicated.”
“You wanna uncomplicated it?”
She shook her head glumly. “Not really. Thanks, though.” She glanced at the clock. “Thirty minutes is just never as long as it should be. Later, Chris.”
***
Jensen stared after Jared, dazed and bit unsure of what had just happened. About five seconds ago he had been resolved to keep things strictly business-with Jared and everybody else. It was just easier that way. No muss, no fuss.
Then Jared had practically bowled him over with his pleading, puppy-dog eyes and sincere apologies when he hadn’t even done anything and now-Jensen fumbled in his pocket for his cell phone, dialing with trembling fingers.
“Hello?”
“Steve. Hey.”
“Hey, Jen. What’s up?”
“Um, I did something bad.”
“Like what?”
“I, um, think I just accepted a date. With Jared. For tonight.”
Steve let out a whoop that had Jensen pulling the phone away from his ear. “Damn right you did something wrong, Jen,” he said with barely restrained glee, “Don’t you know a lady never accepts a date with less than three days notice?”
Jensen glared at nothing in particular since Steve wasn’t actually present to benefit from his death stare. “Bitch.”
“You love me.”
“Yeah.” Jensen paused, pinching the bridge of his nose and huffing out a breath. “So-you think this is okay, then?”
“Jensen. It’s more than okay. It’s great. Have you dated at all since-“ Steve cut himself off, then redirected, “since college?”
“Yeah, a little. Kind of. It just never really went anywhere.”
Steve sighed. “Don’t be afraid to let yourself be happy. You deserve it.”
“Thanks, Steve. I gotta go. I’m gonna be late.”
“Full details tomorrow!” Steve crowed as Jensen flipped his phone shut and sprinted for the time clock. It wouldn’t do to be late on his second day.
Part 10:
Chris heard the overhead page for him and grabbed the phone. “This is Chris. How can I help you?”
“Hey, it’s Steve.”
Chris dropped the professional phone voice instantly. “Hey, baby,” he greeted warmly, “What’s up?”
“I need you to keep an eye on Jensen for me.”
“How come?”
“Well, Jared kind of asked him on a date tonight.”
“Really? That’s awesome!”
“Yeah, it is, but I think Jen might try to make a run for it. He’s really skittish about dating and I think he’s gonna talk himself out of it by closing time. So can you just make sure he doesn’t try to slip out or something crazy?”
“I’ll cut him off at the pass. You can count on me to play cupid in your absence.”
Steve laughed. “Thanks. And then,” he paused.
“Yeah?”
“Hurry home,” Steve finished, his voice dropping half an octave and making Chris shiver pleasantly.
“Fast as I can,” he promised.
***
Sophia opened the till and bit back a curse when she saw the four lonely pennies inside. It was just like Chad to leave the drawer like that without telling anyone. She gave the customer in front of her his change and then made a dive for the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, we need change over here like ten minutes ago.”
“Okay. Be right there.”
Barely a minute later, Jensen entered the café, several rolls of coins in his hands.
“My hero!” Sophia exclaimed, grinning.
Jensen gave her a shy smile. “Yeah, whatever you say.”
As he opened the drawer and traded out change for bills, Sophia said, “So, I hear you’ve got a date tonight.”
His hands jerked and pennies spilled onto the floor. “You what? How?”
She bent down to help him pick up the scattered change. “Oh, please. There are no secrets in this store! You might as well get used to it.”
He picked up the last of the money, stood abruptly, and fled.
Sophia stared after him, intrigued.
***
Jensen was taking far too long to close out the tills. He kept making mistakes and having to redo things because he was so nervous about Jared he couldn’t stay focused. He didn’t even know what he’d been thinking, accepting that invitation.
He wanted to just call and cancel, but then he realized he didn’t have Jared’s phone number. After all, they’d only met yesterday. Which was why this was crazy and Jensen should just call the whole thing off. He could just tell Jared he was too tired to go out. Apologize for wasting his time and flee back to his lonely, safe apartment.
His course of action decided, Jensen managed to finish his work quickly. He shoved the last till into the safe and shut the door with a dull clang. He grabbed his jacket quickly and hurried to meet Eric at the front door. Usually everyone else had gone home by the time the counting down was done, so Jensen was surprised to see Chris chatting with Eric when he walked up.
“All right, time to go home,” Eric said.
“Definitely,” Jensen agreed.
“Oh really? I heard you had plans,” Chris said.
“Yeah, um-“
“Not thinking of canceling are you?” Chris asked pointedly, pitching his voice low enough that only Jensen could hear him.
Jensen was puzzled for a moment, then realization hit him. “Steve?”
“Asked me to see you safely on your way,” Chris confirmed, grinning cheekily, “Embarrassing pictures with corsages and bad hair optional.”
“Sneaky bastard. Tell him I’ll kill him later.”
Chris laughed as they walked out the door. “Doubtful. He always manages to talk his way out of capital offenses. Oh, hey Jared! Jensen was just telling me how much he’s looking forward to going out with you, weren’t you, Jensen?”
Jensen smiled tightly. “Yeah, absolutely.” He leaned in close to Chris’ ear and whispered while holding his grin, “I just added a name to my hit list.”
“Me too!” Jared enthused, nearly tripping over his long limbs as he came around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Jensen. “See ya, Chris!”
Chris waved. “You crazy kids have fun. I’ve got a hot blond waiting for me at home.”
Jared laughed and Jensen groaned, clapping a hand over his eyes. Then he turned back to Jared, who was still holding the door open for him. He melted a little bit at the gesture, so silly yet sweet.
“You ready?” Jared asked, grinning from ear to ear.
The corner of Jensen’s mouth curved upward. Not hardly, he thought. “Yeah, let’s go,” he said and slid into Jared’s car.
NEXT
Part 1:
Jared stood behind the Information desk of Channing and Weston, the largest chain bookstore in California. He allowed his brain to coast on auto-pilot as he put sale stickers on approximately ten million copies of the new James Patterson. “I swear that man must have elves writing for him or something,” he said to his co-worker, Kristen, who was similarly occupied, “Seems like he puts out a new book every week.”
Kristen rolled her eyes. “Yeah, seriously,” she agreed, then something caught her attention across the store. “Hey, who’s that with Eric?” she asked, referring to their store manager.
“Probably a customer,” Jared mumbled before he even bothered to look up from his stickering. When he did follow Kristen’s gaze, he was struck speechless. Eric was heading towards them, followed by the single most gorgeous guy Jared had ever seen. Oh, my god.
“Jared?” Kristen was peering at him in concern.
He shook his head to clear it, hoping he would regain the power of speech by the time Eric reached them. The powers that be were apparently feeling merciful, because he managed to say, “Hey, Eric. What’s up?” with only a hint of strain in his voice.
Eric didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, so Jared figured he’d passed. “Hey, Jared, Kristen,” he said, nodding to each of them with his usual, affable grin, “This is Jensen. He’s going to be our new head cashier.”
Jared was already drinking Jensen in. At close range he looked even better than he had from across the store. He stood a few inches shorter than Jared, but at six-four, who didn’t? He had short-cropped brown hair that lightened to blonde at the tips, lips that should be illegal, an adorable dusting of freckles across his cheeks and eyes . . . that were fixed firmly on the floor. Hmm, that’s odd, Jared thought. He decided to just barrel ahead anyway, as he did in almost all situations.
“Hey, I’m Jared,” he said brightly, smiling and sticking out his hand to shake.
Jensen looked up, seemingly reluctantly, and Jared was bowled over again. If the rest of Jensen was amazing, his eyes were out of this world. They were clear and green with gold flecks in them and Jared was pretty sure that if he spent too long staring into them he was going to forget his own name. Good thing he’d already introduced himself.
Jensen looked at Jared’s outstretched hand for a moment, as if unsure of what to do with it, then finally reached up and shook it slowly, but firmly. “Pleasure,” he answered softly.
“So, Jared, I was hoping you’d do the honors and give Jensen the grand tour. I’ve got a conference call in five minutes and Dawn will have my ass if I call in late,” Eric said, dispelling the weird tension in the air.
Jared grinned easily again. “Sure thing, boss!” he said with a mock salute.
Eric rolled his eyes and hightailed it back towards the office.
Jared turned to look at Kristen who was looking back with a considering expression. Uh oh. Jared hoped he wasn’t being painfully obvious, but he probably was. “Hey, Kristen. Think you can handle the crowd while I show Jensen around?”
She tossed a cursory glance around the sales floor where the few customers shopping on a Monday morning seemed perfectly happy without assistance. “Yeah, I think I can beat back the masses.”
“Awesome.” Jared turned to look at Jensen again. “Time for your tour of the asylum.”
Jensen gave him a look that clearly said he thought Jared was the one in need of an institution, but fell in wordlessly beside him.
Jared figured they’d start with the café. Fortunately it was 10 AM and the mad coffee rush was over so he’d be able to make proper introductions.
Sandy and Sophia were behind the counter when they made their way over. Jared introduced the tiny brunettes affectionately and noticed that Jensen didn’t seem nearly as shy around them. Interesting.
“Mike’s here this morning, right girls?” he asked.
Sophia nodded. “Yep. He’s getting something out of the freezer.” She pretended to look concerned. “Hope he didn’t get stuck in there or something.”
Jared laughed. “Rosenbaum!” he called into the back, “Get out here and meet our newest arrival!”
There was a crash followed by what sounded like some very colorful language for the retail environment, but it was hard to be sure. A moment later, Mike emerged. “What do you want, Padalecki?” he demanded, rubbing a hand through his short brown hair. Then he caught sight of Jensen. “Well, hello there,” he said, making no effort to hide his lascivious smirk, “It’s certainly a pleasure to meet you.”
Jensen frowned slightly. “We haven’t met,” he said.
Mike recovered instantly. “A grievous oversight that could be remedied if Jared here had any manners.” His eyes snapped to Jared. “What are you waiting for? Introduce us!”
Jared heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Dude, you didn’t give me a chance before you practically jumped the guy. Mike, this is Jensen, the new head cashier. Jensen, the man molesting you is Mike Rosenbaum, our café manager.”
Jensen gave a neutral nod and Jared figured it was time to move on with the tour. As they walk away he added, “My roommate, Chad, works in the café too. And Allison, Allie, she’s really nice. You’ll like her.”
They made their way to the other side of the store and the music department. Jared introduced Jensen to Jeff Morgan, the manager. Jensen greeted him in the same, reserved manner he had used with everyone thus far.
Chris, who had been helping a customer over in the far corner of the department, jumped into the conversation. “Hey, I’m Chris,” he said, then paused, looking at Jensen speculatively. “You look really familiar.”
Jensen shrugged and shook his head. “Jensen,” he said, sticking out his hand.
Chris shook, still looking like he was trying to place Jensen, but finally shrugging. “Good to meet ya.”
For their next stop, Jared dragged Jensen into the children’s department. He spotted a tall, dark haired man shelving picture books. “Hey,” he started and the guy straightened up to see who wanted his attention. “Jensen, this is-“
“Tom,” Jensen finished, his eyes wide and all the color suddenly gone from his face.
The normally affable Tom Welling suddenly looked very ill at ease. His gaze was fixed on the floor and he scuffed his shoe against some imaginary imperfection in the carpet. “Hey, Jensen,” he mumbled at the ground.
Jared glanced back and forth between Jensen and Tom, trying to think of a way to dispel the palpable tension. “So, you two know each other!” he said with strained joviality.
They both nodded mutely and the silence stretched out until Jared huffed out a breath. “Well, I guess we’d better get on with the tour then. See ya, Tom!”
Once they were back on the main book floor, Jensen shot a shy glance his way. “Listen, Jared. Thanks for the tour and all. I think I’d better just go ahead and get to work.”
Jared nodded, wondering what the hell just happened. “Yeah, sure, of course. You’ve pretty much seen everything anyway.”
Jensen nodded firmly and shot off towards the front cash registers like the devil was on his heels.
Jared just shook his head as he watched him go, confused and fascinated.
Part 2:
Steve was rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he clocked in for the closing shift. He walked through the break room door, intending to drop off his jacket and stopped dead. He rubbed his eyes again, unable to believe what he was seeing.
“Jensen?!”
The dirty blonde head snapped up, startled. Jensen gulped down the bite of sandwich he’d been chewing and stood abruptly, nearly tripping over his chair in the process.
“Steve!”
Jensen looked as shocked as he was feeling. After all it wasn’t everyday you ran into your best friend who you hadn’t talked to in two years at your workplace. Steve’s surprise scoots over a bit to make room for the burn of shame. They hadn’t fought or anything; nothing so dramatic.
They’d roomed together all four years of college. They’d been the kind of close that had everyone else they knew rolling their eyes and feeling like they weren’t invited to the party. Then graduation rolled around and they’d gone their separate ways, promising to stay in touch. At first the visits and phone calls and emails were frequent, but as they built up separate lives, the intervals in between got farther and farther apart. Until they’d stopped entirely. Steve knew it was a two-way street and all that bullshit, but he still felt deeply guilty for letting go of the best friend he’d ever had.
Initial exclamations out of the way, the awkwardness of those two lost years settled in between them. Steve cleared his throat and looked around at anything but Jensen.
“So, uh, what are you doing here?”
“I work here.”
“Oh, right, of course. So do I.”
Jensen rolled his eyes just slightly, a teasing smirk that Steve remembered well on his lips. “Yeah, I figured.”
“Right. So, when did you start?”
“This morning. Transferred in from the Sacramento store,” Jensen elaborated, taking pity on Steve.
“Wow. Who woulda figured we’d both end up working for Channing and Weston, huh?”
Jensen huffed a self-deprecating laugh. “Yeah. Not exactly what we had planned out in college, right?”
And just like that things were easy between them. Almost like no time has passed at all. Most likely they wouldn’t talk about it. That’s one of the things that drew them together. They understood each other well enough not to need to talk about it.
It was weird that they never hooked up. Two gay men who got along on almost every conceivable level, they really should have. But it was never like that with them. It never even crossed either of their minds in a serious way. Just one of those things. And speaking of hook-ups.
“Oh, hey! You’ve got to meet my boyfriend. Come on!” Steve grabbed Jensen by the elbow and hauled him out of the break room, laughing as he made a whimpering sound and cast a longing glance back at his unfinished sandwich.
Steve caught a few mystified looks from his coworkers as he dragged Jensen across the floor to the music department, but he was too excited to care. He’d explain later to the ones who actually cared and the rest of them would make up whatever explanation suited them. That was the nature of the rumor mill.
“Chris!” he called, darting his eyes around the racks of CD’s and DVD’s.
“Yeah?” came the faint answer, followed by an ominous sounding crash. “Shit. Coming!”
After another moment of muttered cursing that made Steve smile fondly, Chris appeared, a huge stack of CD’s in his hands.
“Chris, this is Jensen,” Steve said, practically bouncing with excitement.
Chris gave him a confused look. “Yeah, we met this morning,” he said slowly.
Steve just kept looking at him expectantly. He looked back and forth from his boyfriend to the new head cashier and suddenly the light went on. “Holy shit! Jensen Jensen?! The Jensen who’s in every single picture you have from college?”
Steve nodded happily. “Awesome, right?”
Chris laughed. “Well if that doesn’t just beat all!”
“Hey, don’t you slackers have work to do?”
They all turned abruptly at Jeff’s mock stern tone.
“Jeff! This is Jensen!” Steve said.
Jeff gave him the same look Chris had given him moments ago. “Yeah, we met this morning.”
Jensen and Chris burst into laughter.
“Umm, did I miss something?”
Part 3:
“Dude, doesn’t Steve already have a boyfriend?” Kristen asked, raising her eyebrows at Jared. They were leaning against the counter of the information desk, observing the proceedings in the music department; Kristen with keen interest, Jared with a vague feeling of dissatisfaction.
“Yep! And he’s standing right there looking like Jensen’s the second coming. Threesome?”
Jared startled at the interruption, looking over to see that Sophia had joined them, followed closely by Mike.
“Oh, please. Chris and Steve are like the definition of committed monogamy,” Mike chimed in, “They’d never go for a threesome. Believe me, I asked.”
The other three were too used to Mike to do more than roll their eyes at this announcement.
“Long lost brother?” Kristen proposed.
Sophia shook her head. “They don’t look enough alike. Cousin maybe.”
“But who really likes their cousins that much?” Mike queried.
The girls grimaced in frustrated agreement.
“You know, one of us could just go over there and ask,” Jared pointed out.
“Good plan. You do it!” Sophia said.
“Woah, whoah, wait a second! I never said I wanted to. I just said someone could.”
Sophia laughed dismissively. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
Kristen leaned across Jared to stage whisper to Sophia, “You know, he practically went non-verbal this morning when Eric introduced them.”
Sophia’s eyebrows rose in delighted surprise. “Oh, really? Does someone have a crush? It’s okay, Jay, you can tell us. We won’t tell a soul.”
Jared’s eyes widened in panic. It was never good to be the subject of the rumor mill. “Yeah, right, I believe that,” he said sarcastically.
Sophia put her hand to her heart in mock offence. “I can keep a secret,” she pouted.
Mike rolled his eyes. “No one here can keep a secret. It’s like there’s something in the water.”
“Or the lattes,” Kristen proposed.
“What’s the secret?” Chad asked, joining the group. Sloppily dressed like he just barely managed to roll out of bed at three in the afternoon.
“That you’re late again,” Mike responded, sarcasm lacing his tone, “Oh, wait! That’s not a secret. Get to work!”
Chad rolled his eyes. Too familiar with Mike to be intimidated. “Oh, like you’re doing?”
Mike puffed up his chest. “I’m a manager. I delegate and supervise.”
“Uh huh.”
Sophia grabbed Chad’s arm and started dragging him toward the café before Mike killed him on principal. “Come on. I’ll fill you in,” she chirped, launching into the story as they walked out of earshot.
Mike shook his head. “One day that roommate of yours is going to push me too far,” he remarked to Jared.
Jared laughed. “Never happen, Rosenbaum. You’re too much of a softy.”
Mike playfully clapped a hand over his mouth. “Shush! Can’t have confidential information like that getting out!”
That just made Jared laugh harder.
“So you guys coming over tonight?” Mike held “get togethers” at his apartment at least a couple of nights a week. These gatherings usually involved a lot of alcohol and very little common sense.
“I don’t know, Mike,” Jared hedged, “I’ve gotta open tomorrow.”
“Oh, come on! There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead!”
Jared heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Yeah, okay.”
Mike gave a satisfied grin and turned to Kristen. “What about you, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, count me in. Hey! Why don’t you invite Jensen?”
“Great idea! We can find out all his secrets!”
“Umm, I don’t know if that’s such a great idea,” Jared cut in, “Is Tom gonna be there?”
Mike clutched dramatically at his chest with both hands. “Tom Welling? Love of my life? Of course!”
Jared sighed. “No, Tom Welling the very straight man you have a crush on. Jensen knows him and there was this really awkward moment when I started to introduce them this morning. I don’t think they like each other.”
Mike’s eyes widened and Jared could practically see him disregarding everything Jared had said except for one thing. “He knows my baby?”
“One more time. Tom is straight and it was awkward. But you’re just going to ignore me anyway, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely,” Mike declared, then walked off towards the cluster of men in the music department calling, “Hey, newbie! You like to party?”
Jared sighed again, dropping his chin to his chest. “This is so not good,” he mumbled to his navel.
Kristen laughed. “Oh, come on, it’s just Mike. He’s mostly harmless.”
“Yeah, like a Chihuahua with rabies is mostly harmless,” Jared observed morosely.
“Point,” Kristen conceded, then continued almost casually, “So, do you have a crush on the new guy?”
Jared shot her a baleful look. “I don’t know. Do you have a crush on a certain brunette café server I should tell the whole store about?”
“Oh, low blow! You wouldn’t!” she pouted.
“No, I wouldn’t, cause I’m just that nice of a guy, but that doesn’t mean I trust you as far as I could throw you.”
“Hmm, fair enough,” she said, tossing him a wink.
Just then they were distracted by customers coming up with questions. “Oh, right, we do work here!” Kristen exclaimed in mock surprise before attending to her customer.
Jared smiled and did the same, but he couldn’t shake his niggling worry about the coming evening. He tried to shrug it off, telling himself Mike would be Mike and usually they all survived the experience, but he was uneasy. Not to mention he couldn’t decide whether he was more nervous that Jensen would come or that he wouldn’t.
Part 4:
Jensen sifted through his dresser drawers in growing frustration. He’d already tried and rejected three different shirts. He sat back on the end of the bed, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t even sure why he’d accepted Mike’s invitation. He’d never exactly been a social butterfly, even in college, and his anti-social tendencies had only increased after graduation.
Then again, he’d come to LA for a change. Maybe he should embrace it. He smirked derisively at that thought. Apparently he hadn’t gone quite far enough. Who knew he’d find his old best friend and his old, well, Tom both working in the same store he happened to transfer to. It was a coincidence almost on the level of Miss Cleo and he couldn’t deny he was shaken.
No doubt about it, he was glad to see Steve again. He’d really regretted losing touch, but things hadn’t been going so well out in the “real world” and, Jensen was ashamed to admit even to himself, it had just been too much effort to keep up their friendship long distance.
And then there was Tom. Jensen’s brain took an abrupt left turn every time the subject surfaced in his consciousness. Well, at least they wouldn’t really have a lot of overlap at work. If he tried, Jensen might be able to avoid him entirely.
With that comforting thought in mind, he bounced up off the bed and attacked his wardrobe again. He finally decided on a green, screen printed t-shirt. It was one of his favorites, soft and worn in and tight enough to just barely cling to his torso. He paired it with new jeans that made his ass look amazing. Jensen wasn’t any vainer than your average gay man, but he wasn’t blind either. As long as he was going to go be social, he might as well emphasize his assets.
His thoughts drifted to Jared. His tour guide for the morning was pretty much the most attractive man he’d ever met, and Jensen wasn’t prone to hyperbole. Unbelievably tall with legs for miles, those hazel cat eyes and a puppy dog smile, and suddenly Jensen was regretting choosing the tighter fit for his jeans. He took a couple of breaths to get control of himself. Then he reminded himself firmly of his no dating rule. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a written in stone type of rule, but Jensen was pretty much the definition of cautious when it came to men.
He shook his head to dispel the depressing thoughts. Tonight he was going to go and have fun with his new coworkers and old friend. No sense in dwelling on things he couldn’t change. He cast a final glance in the mirror and, finding everything in order, grabbed his wallet and walked out the door.
Part 5:
The party wasn’t too crazy when Jensen got there, but he could tell it was on its way to being a rager. Mike threw open the door when he rang the bell, all pink cheeks and overly wide smile. “Jenny! You came!” he greeted, throwing an arm around Jensen’s shoulders and dragging him inside.
Jensen hunched his shoulders and ducked his head, embarrassed, but pleased to be included. “Umm, I don’t really like it when people call me that,” he said.
“What, Jenny?”
Jensen nodded, quirking his lips apologetically.
“Sorry man!” Mike said affably, “From now on I’ll call you Mr. umm. Hey wait! What’s your last name?”
Jensen couldn’t help but laugh softly. Mike had a way of making you feel at ease. “It’s Ackles, but Jensen is fine.”
“All right, so what’s your poison?”
“Just a beer’s fine.”
“Beer for my new friend, coming right up!”
Mike sashayed away towards the kitchen, there was no other word for it. Jensen took the opportunity to look around the room. He spotted Steve and Chris on the couch, pressed in so close to each other than no one would mistake them for just friends. Jensen smiled. He was glad Steve had found someone. He deserved it. And from their brief introductions earlier, Jensen was inclined to like Chris.
Continuing his survey of the room, he spotted most of the people he’d met that day, plus quite a few he didn’t know. When his eyes drifted over the far corner of the room, he froze. Tom was standing there, a wide grin on his face as he chatted up a couple of very attentive girls.
Before his brain could even totally process the image, his legs were turning him around and moving him towards the door. He had his hand on the doorknob when Steve’s arm shot across his chest, blocking his way.
“Running away?” Steve asked, leveling his gaze on Jensen.
Jensen raised his eyebrows. “Umm, yeah.”
“Jen,” Steve said, his lips thinning, “It’s been five years. He’s already taken enough from you. Don’t let him take this.”
Jensen sighed heavily, his eyes darting from Steve to the door and back again. “I just can’t do this tonight,” he protested.
“If not tonight, then when?” Steve combed the hand that wasn’t pinning Jensen through his hair. “Just come have a drink with us, okay? You don’t even have to talk to him. In fact, I’d recommend it.”
Jensen’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Yeah, all right. But if things get weird, I’m leaving.”
“Fair enough, now come on!”
Jensen followed Steve over to the couch where Chris was sprawled out to keep other people from taking their seats. Mike found them just then.
“Jensen! There you are! I thought you disappeared.” He handed him a beer.
Jensen smiled his thanks, then followed Steve’s lead, sitting on the couch as Chris sat back up and made room. Mike sat down on Jensen’s other side, slinging an arm around his shoulders again and making himself at home.
“So!” he started, “I hear you know-“
“All my darkest secrets, yeah,” Steve cut in, shooting Mike a warning look.
Mike might be crazy, but he wasn’t stupid, so he took the hint.
“Right! You must have all kinds of dirt on Stevey here. C’mon! Gimme something!”
Steve dropped his head back against the back of the couch in mock despair. “Hey now! I’m your best friend. Don’t sell me out!”
Jensen made a considering face. “I don’t know. Mike here’s supplying the alcohol. Maybe he’s my best friend!”
The four of them settled in comfortably on the couch, drinking and bantering. For a moment, Jensen felt almost outside of himself, surprised by his own openness with virtual strangers. He chalked it up to having Steve by his side. His best friend had always been able to draw him out like nobody else. Nobody except-well, Tom. He risked a glance across the room and was sorry he did.
One of the girls had left and the other one, a petite blonde, was in Tom’s lap, kissing him sloppily. Jensen turned his head sharply and found Steve watching him with worried eyes. He shook his head and shrugged to let Steve know he wasn’t going to let it bother him. Well, he was going to try anyway. He turned to Mike.
“So, uh, do you think Jared’s going to come tonight?” he asked, trying for casual, but hearing himself fail miserably.
Mike picked up on his tone like a dog picking up a scent.
“Oh, so you like the giant, huh?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
“What? I-no! I just-he was-he seemed nice this morning.” Jensen felt the blush staining his neck and cheeks and buried his face in his hands.
Mike laughed, but it sounded friendly, not malicious. He patted Jensen’s head comfortingly. “Whatever you say, champ. Jolly Green said he was coming, but I wouldn’t put it past him to flake. Said something about opening in the morning. Like that’s an excuse not to party!”
“Right,” Jensen agreed weakly, a smile returning tentatively to his face at Mike’s lack of pressure on the subject of Jared. The more he talked to the guy, the more he liked him.
Looking to his other side, Jensen noted that the longer the evening wore on and the more alcohol was consumed, the closer Chris and Steve got. By this point Steve was sprawled across Chris’ lap, his head resting in the crook of his shoulder. Jensen’s lips twitched into a smile of affection at the sight.
His attention was yanked away abruptly when Mike jumped up from the couch shouting, “Jay, my man! You showed!
Jensen’s breath caught in his throat as he spotted Jared at the door. He could swear the guy had gotten taller since this morning, not to mention more gorgeous. He was wearing faded jeans with a couple of rips in them that Jensen was pretty sure were earned, not bought. They were paired with a slightly rumpled button-down in a shade that looked suspiciously like pink. Mike said something Jensen couldn’t hear and Jared burst into loud, carefree laughter.
Jensen jumped up abruptly, needing to be somewhere Jared wasn’t before all his faculties failed him. “Umm, bathroom?” he asked.
“Past the kitchen,” Steve said, gesturing behind them and looking perplexed.
Jensen shot out of the room without another word. He closed the bathroom door and clicked the lock, then leaned against it, dragging air into his lungs. This was so not good.
Part 6:
Chad drifted away from Jared’s side while his roommate talked to Mike. He wove aimlessly through the crush of people until he spotted Sophia and Kristen over by the patio door.
“Hey, girls,” he greeted.
“Hey, boy,” Sophia returned, grinning impishly.
“So, what did I miss? My prissy roommate went through about twelve outfits before I managed to drag him out the door. I thought we’d never get here.”
The girls giggled. “Ooh, the plot thickens!” Kristen exclaimed.
“What? You know something?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “You know, for a straight guy, you do love to gossip.
Chad shoved her lightly in the shoulder. “Yeah, well, how else do I know what’s going on with all the crazies we work with?”
“True. So, you’ve pretty much confirmed our theory that Jared has a crush on the new guy, Jensen.”
“And,” Kristen chimed in, “Now it looks likes Jensen might be crushing back!”
“How can you tell?” Chad looked around the room bewilderedly. “Where is he anyway?”
More giggling.
“Well, the second you and Jared walked in, Jensen jumped up looking all panicked and sprinted for the bathroom,” Kristen said.
“And, no offense, but I’m pretty sure he’s not crushing on you,” Sophia finished.
“Thanks a lot!”
“Well, you wouldn’t want him to, would you?” Kristen asked.
“No!” he said, but he was laughing, knowing his friends were only teasing.
“Anyway,” Sophia continued, “That’s the big headline for the day, but it’s not the only story.”
“Oh?”
Kristen gestured across the room. “Nope. Check out Allie and Tom. It looks like they’re about five seconds away from blowing this popsicle stand.”
Chad’s eyes widened as he looked where she was pointing. “Wow, that’s new!” He tilted his head to the side as he watched the heavy make out session going on. “Umm, it looks like they might need some help getting detached later.”
Sophia stifled a laugh with her hand. “Ooh, it looks to me like they’re interested in getting closer, not farther apart.”
Chad slapped a hand over his eyes. “Geez, Soph! Spare me the mental image, please!” There was more laughter and he pulled himself away from the wall. “I’m gonna go grab a drink. Try not to have too much fun without me,” he cautioned, then walked off towards the kitchen.
***
Jeff sank back into his chair, rubbing his thumb across the smooth surface of the glass in his hand. It was his favorite chair, worn in and comfortable and a prayer away from disintegrating entirely. He’d had it since college and never had the heart to get rid of it.
He took a sip of amber liquid and felt it burn its way down his throat. He stared at the glass consideringly for a moment, then nodded and tossed back the remainder of its contents. He sat the glass on the table beside him and listened to the silence of his empty apartment, accented by the buzzing of his good friend, whiskey.
He sighed and switched off the floor lamp beside him, plunging his living room into total darkness. He knew how pathetic it was, drinking alone in the dark, but he couldn’t quite work up the energy to care.
He thought about earlier today, when Mike had asked him to come to his party. He asked often, but Jeff never accepted. He didn’t really think Mike expected him to. He was older and, hopefully, more mature than most of the regular guests at Michael’s parties and he could imagine with vivid clarity how out of place he would feel there. He didn’t see the need to go and experience the reality.
Mike’s friends were one thing. Unfortunately, Michael Rosenbaum himself was quite another matter. Jeff might lie to other people, but he did try to be honest with himself and honestly, he was drawn to that man with an almost irresistible force.
Unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t mutual. As a manager, Jeff didn’t catch quite as much of the gossip as his subordinates, but he was neither deaf nor stupid. Mike wanted Tom, straight or not, and that was that.
Jeff sighed and levered himself up from his chair. It was probably for the best anyway. Nothing serious could ever work between them and while he certainly wasn’t old, he was old enough to be looking for more than a fling. Shaking his head, he felt his way through the dark into his bedroom. If he was going to be home alone with the lights off, he might as well go to sleep.
Part 7:
Jensen would have been perfectly content to hide in the bathroom for the rest of the night, but then he realized something. He wasn’t alone anymore. Steve was out there in the living room and, if past experience was anything to go by, he was about thirty seconds from banging on the door and demanding Jensen come out.
Steve had some . . . unconventional methods of battling Jensen’s shyness when it got out of hand and this was shaping up to be one of those times. So, he took a deep breath, gathered up all the scattered bits of his resolve, and opened the door. He strode down the hall, so intent on his goal that he didn’t even see the guy coming out ofhte kitchen until he rang straight into him.
The guy fumbled for a moment, but managed to save the beer in his hand from hitting the floor. He braced Jensen with his other hand. “Whoa, slow down there! You might hurt somebody if you’re not careful,” he said, sounding amused. Then his eyes lit up. “New guy! I’m Chad.” He offered his hand to shake and Jensen took it somewhat bemusedly.
“Jensen,” he returned, “But I guess you can call me ‘new guy’ if you want.”
Chad burst out laughing. “You’re funny.”
Jensen shrugged and ducked his head.
“Hey, I think Jay was looking for you actually.”
“Jay?”
“Jared, my roommate,” Chad elaborated. He angled his head toward the living room. “Come on, then.”
At the mention of Jared, Jensen’s breathing started speeding up again and he was heartily tempted to make a dash back to the bathroom. At just that moment, though, Steve popped around the corner, a searching look in his eye. He smiled when he spotted Jensen with Chad.
“Jen, there you are!” he said, “You’re not trying to corrupt my boy are you, Chad?”
Chad rolled his eyes. “My boy is looking for him,” he answered.
Steve’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, really? Well carry on then!”
As Chad dragged him away, Jensen tossed a pleading look over his shoulder at Steve, but Steve just smiled and made a shooing gesture at him. He decided it was best to just accept his fate and face it like a man. He squared his shoulders as he was brought face to face with Jared.
***
Jared had been thinking about Jensen all day, despite his efforts to distract himself. And now he was having to work really hard to keep his distraction hidden while he talked to Mike. He had spotted Jensen the moment he came in, mostly thanks to the fact that Mike had been sitting right next to him. But Jensen had jumped up and disappeared right after that and he’d been gone for a few minutes now.
Suddenly Jared realized Mike was looking at him expectantly. Obviously he had asked him a question which Jared hadn’t even heard. “Sorry, what?” he asked.
Mike rolled his eyes. “I said you seem distracted tonight,” he said with a pointed stare, “Anyone particular on your mind?
“No!” Jared said and the second it was out of his mouth he knew he’d spoken too quickly to be convincing. Especially to a seasoned matchmaker like Mike.
Sure enough, Mike shot him a disbelieving look. “Yeah, right. Spill. Who is it? It’s Jensen, isn’t it?”
Jared groaned in embarrassment. He’d hoped he wasn’t that transparent. “Yeah, it is, but don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Mike made a face of mock affront. “Me? Surely you know me better than that!”
“Yeah, Mike, I do, which is why I’m asking you to go against your nature and keep your trap shut.”
Mike patted Jared’s arm comfortingly. “Don’t worry, Big Jay, your secret’s safe with me. And speaking of, here he comes!”
Jared nearly gave himself whiplash he looked up and around so quickly. Sure enough, Jensen was coming toward him, dragged by Chad of all people.
“Hey, roomie! Look who nearly ran me over in the hall. Our new pal, Jensen! Oh, hey, looks like Sophie and Kristen need me. You come too, Mike. Okay, see y’all later, bye!”
Jared barely blinked and suddenly Chad and Mike were across the room and he was face to face with Jensen alone. Well, okay, alone in a crowd of drunk people, but essentially without backup.
“Umm, hey,” he said, suddenly feeling extremely awkward.
Jensen seemed to find his shoes intensely interesting. “Hey,” he told them.
“So, uh, some friends I’ve got, huh?”
Jensen looked up for an instant and Jared caught a hint of laughter in his eyes. “Yeah,” he said, then looked down again.
“They may be insane, but they’re pretty good guys. Don’t let them scare you back to Sacramento or anything.”
This time Jensen looked at Jared long enough to complete a whole eye roll. Jared cheered mentally, counting this as progress. “Nah, they seem nice. Mike’s been really great.”
Jared grinned. “Yeah, he’s like that. Buckets of crazy, but his heart’s in the right place. Well, except where Tom’s concerned. He simply will not accept that the man is straight. I swear, one of these days he’s gonna-“ Jared broke off suddenly. Jensen had gone frighteningly still and white as a sheet. “What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?”
Jensen shook his head like he was trying to clear it. “No, umm, it’s just-it’s nothing. I’ve gotta go.” He whirled abruptly on his heel, walking over to the couch where Steve was wrapped around Chris. He spoke briefly to Steve, who sat up quickly, disentangling himself from his boyfriend.
Steve looked at Jared, then across the room. Jared tracked his line of sight and saw Tom and Allie making out in the corner. Tom. And he’d been talking about Tom when Jensen had freaked out just now. And there was that tense moment when the two of them met that morning.
There was a picture forming in Jared’s head. It was blurry and missing big chunks like puzzle pieces, but the impression he was getting was pretty upsetting. He watched Jensen leave, kicking himself for being an idiot. Then he headed out to the patio. He needed some air and a quiet space to think because there was a lot to sort out in his head.
Part 8:
Tuesday morning, Mike was feeling the effects of last night’s drinking. Not regretting, no, because he believed that it was worth paying the consequences to feel that he was living life to the fullest. And a hangover was pretty much the only thing that incited in him any seriousness or self-reflection.
So when he ran into Jeff in the office, he greeted him with a quiet “Hey,” rather than his usual, exuberant salutation.
“Hey, Mike. Too much fun last night?”
“Nah, just enough fun.” Mike paused, considering. “You didn’t show though. You never do. Why is that, Jeff?”
Jeff looked genuinely surprised. “You don’t seriously think I’d fit in with the twenty-somethings, do you?”
Mike shrugged. “It’s my party, not theirs. Will you come next time?”
Just then, the copies Jeff had been making finished. He snatched them out of the tray. “I’ve got work to do,” he said sharply before brushing past Mike and leaving the office.
Mike stared after him in consternation. Jeff was usually such an easygoing guy. He couldn’t understand what he’d said to upset him.
***
Jared was on edge all day, waiting for Jensen to come in for the afternoon shift. He felt like such an ass for mentioning Tom when he should have realized it was a touchy subject. He desperately wanted to talk to Jensen and make things right, but he didn’t have his number and even if he did, he had to work.
It occurred to him that maybe it was weird to be this concerned about someone he’d only known for a day, but he felt irresistibly drawn to Jensen. He hoped he hadn’t screwed up his chances before he even had a chance to get started.
Finally, three o’clock rolled around. Not that Jared was watching the door or anything, but when he spotted Jensen coming in, he bounded over, eager to make things right. “Hey, Jensen,” he greeted.
“Jared,” Jensen acknowledged, nodding at him, but not looking particularly happy to see him.
Quickly Jared tossed his cautious plan out the window and barreled ahead, all the things that had been running through him mind spilling out in a rush. “Listen, Jensen, I’m really sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to upset you, okay? And I know I just met you, but I really want us to be friends. If you give me another chance I swear I won’t screw it up. Please?”
A reluctant smile lights Jensen’s face. “It wasn’t you, all right? Don’t worry about it. Of course we can be friends.”
Jared’s cheeks hurt he smiles so wide. “Awesome! So, umm, do you maybe want to try something a little quieter? I mean, Mike’s parties aren’t exactly the greatest place to talk anyway. What do you say? IHOP tonight? I’ll pick you up when your shift ends.”
“Umm, sure,” Jensen says, looking a little stunned.
“Great! See you then!”
Part 9:
Chris flopped down at the break room table with a muffled groan. “Oh, my God, Jeff is being a pissy bitch today,” he announced to no one in particular, although it was vaguely directed at Sandy since she happened to be the only other person in the room.
She made a non-committal, yet annoyed sound and flipped a page in her magazine.
Chris looked up at her, statled. “Whoa! Going around I see.”
She immediately looked apologetic. “Oh, Chris, I’m sorry. I just have some stuff on my mind is all.”
“Yeah? What stuff?”
“Nothing much.”
“Come on. You can tell me.”
She looked around, then leaned in closer. “Okay, but you promise you won’t tell anyone?”
He nodded. “Yeah, absolutely.”
“Okay, so Allie hooked up with Tom last night-“
“Yeah, we all noticed.”
She slapped his arm lightly. “Shut up! That’s just the preface. Anyway, she will not stop talking about it and it’s driving me crazy because-“
“What?”
She looked down at the table, fidgeting. “Because she’s a tiny blonde person and she makes me think of another tiny blonde person who I’m not hooking up with.”
“Wait, come again?”
“I have a crush on Kristen, okay?” she said, looking miserable, “Now please don’t go spreading that around the store.”
“You know I wouldn’t. Have you talked to her?”
“No!” Sandy exclaimed, looking horrified at the very idea, “I couldn’t!”
“Why not? You’ll never know if maybe she likes you back otherwise.”
“Oh, she doesn’t. She couldn’t.”
“Umm, why not? You’re seriously hot.”
“Stop being such a guy, Christian.”
“Oh, not that’s just hitting below the belt, sweetheart! The gay friend is totally allowed to assess your hotness.”
“Yeah, I just. It’s complicated.”
“You wanna uncomplicated it?”
She shook her head glumly. “Not really. Thanks, though.” She glanced at the clock. “Thirty minutes is just never as long as it should be. Later, Chris.”
***
Jensen stared after Jared, dazed and bit unsure of what had just happened. About five seconds ago he had been resolved to keep things strictly business-with Jared and everybody else. It was just easier that way. No muss, no fuss.
Then Jared had practically bowled him over with his pleading, puppy-dog eyes and sincere apologies when he hadn’t even done anything and now-Jensen fumbled in his pocket for his cell phone, dialing with trembling fingers.
“Hello?”
“Steve. Hey.”
“Hey, Jen. What’s up?”
“Um, I did something bad.”
“Like what?”
“I, um, think I just accepted a date. With Jared. For tonight.”
Steve let out a whoop that had Jensen pulling the phone away from his ear. “Damn right you did something wrong, Jen,” he said with barely restrained glee, “Don’t you know a lady never accepts a date with less than three days notice?”
Jensen glared at nothing in particular since Steve wasn’t actually present to benefit from his death stare. “Bitch.”
“You love me.”
“Yeah.” Jensen paused, pinching the bridge of his nose and huffing out a breath. “So-you think this is okay, then?”
“Jensen. It’s more than okay. It’s great. Have you dated at all since-“ Steve cut himself off, then redirected, “since college?”
“Yeah, a little. Kind of. It just never really went anywhere.”
Steve sighed. “Don’t be afraid to let yourself be happy. You deserve it.”
“Thanks, Steve. I gotta go. I’m gonna be late.”
“Full details tomorrow!” Steve crowed as Jensen flipped his phone shut and sprinted for the time clock. It wouldn’t do to be late on his second day.
Part 10:
Chris heard the overhead page for him and grabbed the phone. “This is Chris. How can I help you?”
“Hey, it’s Steve.”
Chris dropped the professional phone voice instantly. “Hey, baby,” he greeted warmly, “What’s up?”
“I need you to keep an eye on Jensen for me.”
“How come?”
“Well, Jared kind of asked him on a date tonight.”
“Really? That’s awesome!”
“Yeah, it is, but I think Jen might try to make a run for it. He’s really skittish about dating and I think he’s gonna talk himself out of it by closing time. So can you just make sure he doesn’t try to slip out or something crazy?”
“I’ll cut him off at the pass. You can count on me to play cupid in your absence.”
Steve laughed. “Thanks. And then,” he paused.
“Yeah?”
“Hurry home,” Steve finished, his voice dropping half an octave and making Chris shiver pleasantly.
“Fast as I can,” he promised.
***
Sophia opened the till and bit back a curse when she saw the four lonely pennies inside. It was just like Chad to leave the drawer like that without telling anyone. She gave the customer in front of her his change and then made a dive for the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, we need change over here like ten minutes ago.”
“Okay. Be right there.”
Barely a minute later, Jensen entered the café, several rolls of coins in his hands.
“My hero!” Sophia exclaimed, grinning.
Jensen gave her a shy smile. “Yeah, whatever you say.”
As he opened the drawer and traded out change for bills, Sophia said, “So, I hear you’ve got a date tonight.”
His hands jerked and pennies spilled onto the floor. “You what? How?”
She bent down to help him pick up the scattered change. “Oh, please. There are no secrets in this store! You might as well get used to it.”
He picked up the last of the money, stood abruptly, and fled.
Sophia stared after him, intrigued.
***
Jensen was taking far too long to close out the tills. He kept making mistakes and having to redo things because he was so nervous about Jared he couldn’t stay focused. He didn’t even know what he’d been thinking, accepting that invitation.
He wanted to just call and cancel, but then he realized he didn’t have Jared’s phone number. After all, they’d only met yesterday. Which was why this was crazy and Jensen should just call the whole thing off. He could just tell Jared he was too tired to go out. Apologize for wasting his time and flee back to his lonely, safe apartment.
His course of action decided, Jensen managed to finish his work quickly. He shoved the last till into the safe and shut the door with a dull clang. He grabbed his jacket quickly and hurried to meet Eric at the front door. Usually everyone else had gone home by the time the counting down was done, so Jensen was surprised to see Chris chatting with Eric when he walked up.
“All right, time to go home,” Eric said.
“Definitely,” Jensen agreed.
“Oh really? I heard you had plans,” Chris said.
“Yeah, um-“
“Not thinking of canceling are you?” Chris asked pointedly, pitching his voice low enough that only Jensen could hear him.
Jensen was puzzled for a moment, then realization hit him. “Steve?”
“Asked me to see you safely on your way,” Chris confirmed, grinning cheekily, “Embarrassing pictures with corsages and bad hair optional.”
“Sneaky bastard. Tell him I’ll kill him later.”
Chris laughed as they walked out the door. “Doubtful. He always manages to talk his way out of capital offenses. Oh, hey Jared! Jensen was just telling me how much he’s looking forward to going out with you, weren’t you, Jensen?”
Jensen smiled tightly. “Yeah, absolutely.” He leaned in close to Chris’ ear and whispered while holding his grin, “I just added a name to my hit list.”
“Me too!” Jared enthused, nearly tripping over his long limbs as he came around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Jensen. “See ya, Chris!”
Chris waved. “You crazy kids have fun. I’ve got a hot blond waiting for me at home.”
Jared laughed and Jensen groaned, clapping a hand over his eyes. Then he turned back to Jared, who was still holding the door open for him. He melted a little bit at the gesture, so silly yet sweet.
“You ready?” Jared asked, grinning from ear to ear.
The corner of Jensen’s mouth curved upward. Not hardly, he thought. “Yeah, let’s go,” he said and slid into Jared’s car.
NEXT