Phoenix
Phoenix’s stomach twisted in knots. He wasn’t entirely sure how this was going. The picnic itself had been good, but eating had given him an excuse not to talk. Now, he didn’t know what to talk about.
As they walked along the path, Phoenix stole a glance every now and again. Ace was handsome, there was no denying that. Even in something as simple as a pair of khakis and a chambray shirt, he was stunning. And smart, too. He’d gotten his masters in journalism, after all. It was intimidating, being out on a date with him, especially when he knew Ace was so far out of his league. Ben and Joel had told him to ask questions and get to know Ace better, so maybe that would help break the tension.
“Why did you want to be a journalist?” he asked.
Ace was quiet for just a moment before answering. “Two things, really. I always loved learning about people. Who they really were, what stories they had to tell. But—and this is going to sound a bit too ‘Batman’ but bear with me—I’ve also always loved justice.”
Phoenix snorted, but didn’t say anything, so Ace continued. “Making sure no one is being taken advantage of, seeing that everyone has the same opportunities. When I did my masters, I did an internship for National Geographic, and I got to see some of the conditions people live in. I heard their stories, and I got to know them on a personal level. I wanted to make sure their voices got heard.”
There was something incredibly noble in that. Something far deeper than what Phoenix had been expecting. He had thought Ace was going to say something like he had always been nosy or he liked telling stories. But this was much more personal. A side of him Phoenix had never seen before.
“It sounds like you’re really passionate about it,” he said.
Ace nodded. “Reporting, to me, is like art is to you. It’s stopped being something you like doing, and started being something you need to do.”
He supposed that was a good way of looking at it. His mother had always told him everyone had their own ‘special gifts’ and in a way, she was right. Ace’s was reporting, his was art. Neither one was better than the other.
They came to a stop at a park bench and took a seat. It was a little cooler than Phoenix had thought it would be, and he had forgotten his jacket in the truck. He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself.
“Are you cold?” Ace asked.
Phoenix didn’t want to walk back to the truck, but he didn’t want to lie, either. “A little,” he admitted. “It’s not a big deal.”
His stomach clenched as he shivered, though.
“You can always come closer. I’ll wrap my arm around you and maybe that’ll help.”
Phoenix slid across the bench and curled up against Ace’s side. He was like a radiator. How did one person hold in so much heat? Ace draped his arm over Phoenix’s shoulder, and Phoenix closed his eyes. If he were a cat, he would have purred.
“Better?”
“Yeah.”
He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Ace smelled amazing. Like leather and musk and a little bit of citrus. Whatever cologne he was wearing, it was one he should keep using. Phoenix closed his eyes, feeling a bit more relaxed. Ace was really good at touching.
How many other people had gotten to experience this? How many other guys had been so lucky? The question turned over and over in Phoenix’s mind until he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“How many boyfriends have you had?” he asked.
Ace’s chest rumbled as he laughed softly. “It depends on what you’d call a boyfriend. I had three in college, but none of them were serious. Then after, I had two that were, but one was an actor who wasn’t really sure where he was going to end up. He’s in Chicago now.”
“And the other?”
“It just didn’t work out. I was gone all the time for work. It was while I was interning for National Geographic. How about you?”
Phoenix frowned, unsure whether Ace was making a joke or not. “I haven’t had any boyfriends.”
“Really? Any girlfriends?”
Instead of answering, Phoenix just shook his head. Even if he weren’t socially awkward, he had always known he liked boys rather than girls. Girls were nice enough, and even pretty, but they didn’t interest him beyond friendship. Not that he had ever really had any friends who were girls, either.
“So, this is your first date?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?” Phoenix did his best not to sound defiant, though he was fairly sure it didn’t work.
“Not at all,” Ace said quickly. “It’s an honor, really. I can’t believe no one asked you sooner.”
He shrugged. “It is a small town. Aside from Ben, there was no one I knew was gay. Sam moved here later, and he’s nice, but I never really got to know him, and Joel isn’t really my type.”
“What is your type?” Ace asked.
Phoenix could feel his cheeks heat. “You. It was always you.”
There was a gentle pressure on the top of his head, and Phoenix realized Ace was kissing his hair. “I’m glad it was,” Ace said.
Phoenix moved just a bit closer and wrapped his arm around Ace’s waist. Maybe things weren’t going as horribly as he thought. He could certainly get used to this. The leaves rustled as the wind blew through them, and Lucy was lounging in front of the bench. It was peaceful. As close to perfect as he could imagine.
Someone was coming down the path. The gravel crunched underneath their feet. There was a fair chance that Ace wouldn’t want to be seen like this, so Phoenix opened his eyes and pulled away. He immediately missed the warmth, but the sight of the man walking down the trail chilled him more than the air.
Max Hague was walking his way.
After pranking Phoenix, Max had spread the story around school, making Phoenix’s junior and senior year hell. After graduation, he’d gone off to college, only to come back and run the horse stables outside town. Since they lived on opposite sides of town—and since Phoenix tended to avoid people in general—he had only seen Max a handful of times, and never in a situation like this. He tensed beside Ace, keeping his gaze down. If Max didn’t recognize him, if he didn’t look his way, then maybe things would be okay.
Of course, that would be too easy. When he flicked his eyes up, Phoenix found Max walking their way.
“Well if it isn’t Phoenix the pussy,” he said with a smirk.
Beside him, Ace scoffed. “That’s the best you could come up with? God, you’re not very bright, are you?”
Phoenix shrank back against the bench, wanting desperately to disappear. He threaded his fingers through Lucy’s fur. She was sitting up now, on full alert.
“And who the fuck are you?” Max demanded. “You his little boyfriend?”
Ace crossed his arms. “You’re twenty-six, dude. Act like it. Yes, this is a date. What’s it to you?”
There was only one way this could go—bad. Phoenix tugged on Ace’s sleeve. He just wanted to get out of here. Max would say what he would, but Phoenix didn’t care about that. His priority was avoiding a confrontation. It seemed that wasn’t going to happen.
Max took a step forward. He was built like Ace—all that time working with horses had certainly kept him fit. Surprisingly, though, he grinned.
“Oh I see. This is a ‘date.’ Is yours a prank, too?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” There was something odd with Ace’s voice. It was oddly strangled.
“He didn’t tell you about his first date?” Max snorted. “Go on, Phoenix, tell him.”
Heat flooded Phoenix’s cheeks, and his vision blurred as his eyes filled with tears. He didn’t want to tell Ace. It was too embarrassing, and Ace would see he had made a mistake asking Phoenix out. He shook his head, staring at the ground.
“Aww, is he shy? Fine, I guess I’ll tell it. So junior year, we had the homecoming dance. Everyone was going. Everyone except Phoenix here.” There was a laugh in his voice, and it only made Phoenix feel worse. “Everyone knew he was gay. If only he hadn’t been so weird. My buddies paid me fifty bucks to ask him out. So I did. But they never said I actually had to take him.”
“I suggest you keep walking. Now.” Ace’s tone was steely. Normally, that tone would make Phoenix feel uncomfortable, but with Ace, it made him feel safe.
Max laughed. “What are you gonna do, big guy?”
He took a step forward, doing his best imitation of a strutting rooster. Lucy was standing now, but Phoenix kept a firm grip on her leash. The last thing he needed was Max Hague bringing a lawsuit because she attacked him. Even if he deserved it.
“You’re not gonna do anything, are you?” Max scoffed, still pacing around them. “You may have muscles, but you’re just a pathetic little queer like him.”
Phoenix flinched at the slur. Striding forward, Max crowded Ace’s space, but Ace didn’t move. Max grabbed Ace’s shirt, and then everything sped up. Phoenix wasn’t sure what happened, but the next instant, Max was on the ground. His arm and wrist were twisted at awkward angles, and he let out a whimper of pain. Ace knelt so they were face to face.
“If you ever, ever come near him again, you’ll wish the pain was this mild.”
He let go of Max’s arm and pushed him off balance with his foot. Phoenix gaped, unsure how to process what Ace had done. He had…protected him. Fought for him. Ace made his way back over to the bench and knelt in front of Phoenix.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Phoenix shook his head. “I want to go home. Can we go home?”
“Of course.” Standing straight, he held his hand out and Phoenix took it. “Come on. Let’s get us home.”