Friday afternoon, and there was no way Dustin was walking out until he’d talked to Leo. After all, Dustin had just happened to notice on the schedule that Leo was working that day.

He couldn’t wait any longer to do it. Leo probably had to arrange to take the evening off, so Dustin had to give him notice. Plus, his brothers kept nagging him about whether he had a date. He could only put them off for so long. If he was going to make an excuse about working, it couldn’t be last-minute, or they’d see through it.

It felt like he was living inside his own head as he argued the merits of talking to Leo—just asking one simple, easy question

Do you wanna meet my brothers?

Jesus. He’d never thought of himself as especially shy, just in comparison to his brothers. But now? The idea of talking to Leo, asking him to meet his best friends in the world, was utterly terrifying.

Maybe some of it did come down to his dating history. Which, if they dated, he was going to have to tell the guy, too. He’d already spilled enough of it accidentally, it would probably come out on its own if he didn’t.

He jumped when a voice in the doorway said his name.

“Whoa. Sorry.” Leo was carrying two mugs of coffee.

“Again? I’m starting to suspect you’re lacing that.” Dustin grinned, then winced. Wow. That was the least romantic thing he’d said. Not the best way to start.

“With a little love potion number nine? It doesn’t smell like turpentine or look like Indian ink. I think you’re safe.” Leo grinned back and handed over the mug.

Dustin awkwardly smiled, and everything he’d planned to say about Valentine’s Day vanished in his mouth. “Uh. So. Cool. Hi. Thanks.”

Leo, seemingly unfazed by his suddenly being tongue-tied, smiled back. “Hey. No problem.”

“Long time no see,” Dustin mumbled. I could wait until the weekend, right? See him on Saturday or Sunday, ask him on Wednesday…

“Yeah. Yeah, it’s felt like a long time… again,” Leo grinned teasingly. “What’s on your mind?”

Oh, man. Dustin swallowed hard and glanced at his computer screen. No escape there. “Uh. Slow day at work.”

“Uh huh. For me, too. I like those days.” Leo sipped his coffee, reminding Dustin to drink his own.

Dustin nearly scalded his tongue in his haste to cover up his own awkwardness. “Ow. Fuck.”

“Sorry. Shit, I should have warned you.”

Dustin mumbled, “You can kiss it better this weekend. If you want.”

“I was just coming to see if you had Friday night plans.” Leo winked. “I swear I didn’t set that up, though. I’d be delighted to provide medical first response… this evening.”

“Definitely not at work,” Dustin nodded.

“No. For sure.”

“Too many eyes,” Dustin said.

“Yeah.”

“I’m not even sure our policies on those things.”

Leo grinned at him. “What has you so flustered all of a sudden?”

It was a good question. Dustin was normally able to stay reserved and cool at work, or even outside work, with everyone around him. The only explanation—that there was something different about Leo—was something he couldn’t exactly say at work.

So he just mumbled, “Long week.”

“Wanna come over after work and talk?”

“Yes,” Dustin answered so fast it embarrassed him. “I mean, yeah. We should chat.”

Leo’s lips quirked into an amused grin. “I was thinking that too. We left some things hanging there.”

“For a whole week,” Dustin nodded.

“Uh huh. Sorry about that. Things have been crazy with school and whatnot,” Leo shook his head. “And I wasn’t sure how you felt about me texting you… you know. Off-hours.”

“Why not?” Dustin shook his head. “We didn’t meet at work, after all.”

Leo blinked. “That’s a good point.”

“And if it’s not talking about work stuff…” Dustin trailed off meaningfully.

“No. It isn’t.” It was Leo’s turn to look nervous, and perhaps a bit shifty. “Yeah, we’ll talk tonight, huh?”

“Tonight. Six? At your place?” Dustin asked.

“Want me to pick you up?”

“No, no.” Dustin figured he should have his own way home, in case they didn’t end up… just sleeping together. Again. As usual. “I’ll drive there.”

Leo smiled and nodded. “Cool. See you later.”

Dustin waved, then cringed at himself as he wrapped his hands around the mug and blew on the hot coffee.

Ugh. That was the most awkward conversation ever. Hopefully tonight’s didn’t beat it.

* * *

The hours crept by. By the time Dustin headed home, he had an elaborate script in his head.

He had to explain that his brothers weren’t really looking for him to have a boyfriend, just a plus-one, so if Leo didn’t want to date that was cool. And if he wanted to tell them he was straight, they’d be fine with that.

It did mean being seen in public with all of them and he couldn’t control people’s assumptions—by people, he meant Victor—but Leo seemed kind of okay about that, compared to most straight guys. Or bi guys. Newly-out guys. New gays.

But everything vanished when he arrived on Leo’s doorstep and the guy answered the door in a freaking clingy t-shirt that showed off all his muscles. By the grin he gave Dustin, he knew exactly what he was doing.

“Uh. Hi,” Dustin managed.

“Come on in.” Leo held the door for him, making him brush past him on the way past. Both of them shivered at the touch—they were close enough he could feel Leo’s reaction.

Leo didn’t let him get further than the entryway before wrapping an arm around his waist. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” Dustin admitted. With Leo’s arm around him, the layers of uncertainty and professionalism and attempted friendship melted away, and they were back to who they had been on the night they’d met.

Leo drew him in for a kiss and Dustin pressed close to him, finally wrapping his arms around Leo’s shoulders as he returned it. Their warm lips slid together in a short but sweet dance.

Then Leo pulled back and smiled. “Come in, then.” He caught Dustin by the hand and tugged him into the living room.

Dustin’s uncertainty about Leo’s label and what that meant for him melted away whenever Leo treated him like this. It was only in private so far, with guarded hints in public, but Leo seemed willing to look past whatever had held him back from men before.

“Sorry things were so weird at work this week,” Dustin found himself apologizing.

“No, no. It’s our workplace. They’re bound to be weird sometimes.” Leo smiled crookedly. “Especially with Victor around. I’m not hanging out with him again. Jesus, the guy is self-centered.”

“Told you so,” Dustin couldn’t resist muttering, and Leo laughed.

“Yeah, you did. I’m thinking you’re a lot smarter than you let on. Drink?”

Dustin blushed and shrugged. “Water’s fine.” Alcohol might help him extend the invitation, but he wanted a clear head to talk about… everything else surrounding it, too.

“So,” Leo said when he came back with a couple glasses of water and settled next to Dustin on the couch. “Next week. Valentine’s Day.”

Dustin exhaled so deeply his lungs almost hurt. “Oh, thank God.”

Leo laughed richly. “What? Was it bothering you, too?”

“Yes! I’ve been trying to ask for, like, a week,” Dustin admitted, his cheeks hot. “But I thought it might be… I don’t know. Weird.”

“Because we’re not officially boyfriends, but we were talking monogamy already, and… in that awkward in-between stage?”

Dustin stared at Leo. “Don’t beat around the bush.” He laughed, though, to show he didn’t mind. “I like that we both think similarly. It’s like you’re writing a report.”

“They’ve got me well-trained already.” Leo shook his head. “So, speaking of those problems… I guess we start with the boyfriend thing?”

“I’ve been wanting to ask.” Dustin sighed. “But with you being… I don’t know… not gay?”

Leo chuckled quietly. “I never said, did I?” He looked like he knew exactly what he hadn’t said. “Okay. I always called myself straight, but not because I was hiding. I’ve dated women. I didn’t mind them. I didn’t particularly want to spend my life with any of them, but it wasn’t like I knew they weren’t for me.”

“Right. Which I did, pretty early,” Dustin smiled.

“Exactly. So then… I don’t know. You came along, and I saw you and it just felt right. And I figure, fuck it, life is too short to worry about other people’s bullshit boxes. Since then I’ve been thinking bi is the right word for me. I don’t mind women, I don’t mind men. I want a person I can… I can talk to, I can trust,” Leo said, his words becoming more halting, but no less sincere.

Dustin slipped his hand into Leo’s and set aside his glass of water. “No, I get it,” he assured him. “I mean, I know I’m not attracted to women, but I feel that way about men. I’m not just going to date anyone.”

Leo lit up. “Yeah! Nobody ever says that, you know. I mean, not the guys I hang out with.”

“My friends are pretty cool. Actually, if you wanna meet them soon… but we’ll finish this conversation first,” Dustin laughed.

Leo pretended to gulp. “Uh oh. Friend vetting.”

Dustin grinned. “Nah. You’ll be fine,” he assured Leo. A guy as easygoing and coolheaded as Leo could get along with them, he was sure. Hell, if he could get along with Victor, he could get along with anyone. As long as he could stand a little teasing.

“But yeah, nobody says they’re waiting for the right one. They just seem to kind of dive from relationship to relationship,” Leo said slowly. “Most of my friends, anyway. I never wanted that. I’ve always had… a strict career, and things I want to do. I guess I felt lonely sometimes, but I just knew I should wait.”

Dustin felt a pang of sympathy for him when he admitted loneliness. “Me too. I mean, I’ve waited because… Well. I’ve been scared for a long time of getting my heart broken by some loser like I did in high school,” he breathily chuckled, ignoring the sting of painful truth. “But also, same thing. Hooking up with men is one thing. Dating means… I want to actually like you.”

“And you don’t like a lot of people?” Leo grinned.

Dustin blushed. “Uh. If you wanna put it that way…”

“You seem a little… reclusive?” Leo guessed. “You know. Shy, quiet, would rather keep to himself than hang out with idiots.”

Dustin laughed at this sharp perception. “I guess you could say that, too.”

“I respect that,” Leo added. “I’ve been a bit too quick to accept friendship in the past.” And the present.

Dustin scooted over until he leaned into Leo, and Leo wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I need people around, I think.” Leo shook his head. “It sounds dumb, but since I moved here, I’ve been… wilting, a little. Talking to you has helped a lot. I’m starting to make friends again.”

“You seem brighter,” Dustin offered. That was what had annoyed him so much in the lab earlier that week: the prospect of hanging out with Victor had clearly annoyed Leo, but he’d also been brighter and more energetic. Goddamn extroverts.

“Yeah.” Leo gazed at Dustin, then bit his lip. “So, uh. The whole… seeing other people thing.”

“I haven’t hooked up with anyone since you,” Dustin said frankly. He didn’t see the point in beating around the bush. “I could, but the sex with you is good, and I’ve been bored with assholes who can’t bother to put effort in lately.”

Leo laughed. “Yeah. I… Well. You’ve shown me totally new things.”

“Like bottoming?”

For a moment, Leo looked shy. It was an adorable look on a man big enough to snap him like a twig. “Yeah, like that.”

“Did you like it? You seemed to,” Dustin told him.

“It’s good. It’s really—I mean, I see why you like it now. I think I’d still rather be inside you, but… it’s a different orgasm. I’ve… uh, played around a little more since. With myself. I haven’t hooked up with anyone else,” Leo added so hastily that Dustin grinned.

“So, if we’re not fucking others, we might as well date,” Dustin stated.

Leo started to laugh.

“What?”

Leo cleared his throat, trying to look innocent. “Nothing.”

“Tell me,” Dustin said with a vaguely threatening glare, walking two fingers along Leo’s ribs. “Or I tickle.”

“Good luck with that,” Leo snorted and batted his hand away. “I was just thinking that you’re very… um… practical.”

Dustin bit his lip, his hand resting on Leo’s leg now. “Is that bad?”

“No! God, no. I lo—I mean, it’s adorable,” Leo said, with maybe more enthusiasm than he meant to let slip, judging by his blush a moment later. “I don’t think romances built on, like, fairytale dreams will last.”

Dustin glanced away. “No. They don’t.” If his experiences had hardened him, at least it wasn’t unattractive to a practical guy like Leo. Maybe he had a chance after all.

Leo’s tone was soft. “I like that about you, and I like you. If you’re willing to take me on board given that I’m, uh, new to all this guy stuff…”

“You’re not bad at it,” Dustin winked. “I’ll date you. But I don’t want to pressure you just because there’s a holiday coming up. We’ve still hardly even seen each other, you know?”

Leo hummed, rubbing Dustin’s shoulder. “Okay. There’s an idea: actually seeing each other more. Talking to each other outside work, texting. Trying this out as a romance and not just a friendship.”

Dustin swallowed hard. There was the commitment, and the potential heartbreak, in a sentence. His voice almost wavered, but he kept it steady with all his willpower. “Are you serious about this? Me?”

“Yeah. Are you?” Leo asked, his gaze searching Dustin’s.

Why wouldn’t I be? Then, Dustin realized that Leo might just be thinking the same thing himself. He half-grinned. “Fair enough. Yeah. I am, too.”

“Then we’ll try dating—going steady? And if things go well, we can talk about being boyfriends and… you know, how to handle work…” Leo shook his head. “And family, and all that shit.”

“Going steady,” Dustin repeated. That sounded nice. Sweetly old-fashioned, even. “Yeah. Let’s do that. And Valentine’s Day… I have something to ask you.”

“Go for it.”

“Do you wanna be my plus-one? And meet my brothers?”

Leo gazed at Dustin, and the anxiety in his eyes was enough to warm Dustin’s heart. “You think they’ll like me?”

“Why do you ask?” Dustin realized a moment later where it was coming from. “Oh. Because of them scaring off my beaus before?”

Leo crookedly grinned. “Not that I can’t hold my own, but if they’re protecting your virtue…”

“They’re much too late,” Dustin snorted, squeezing Leo’s thigh meaningfully. “And no, they won’t test you like they’re, I dunno. Creepy fathers.” He laughed. “They know I’ve got good judgment. I think they’ll be happy I’m not just withering away waiting for a Prince Charming.”

Leo leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Then sure. Let’s go be each other’s Prince Charming.” The next sentence out of his mouth made Dustin fall for him perhaps more than anything else, especially spoken with that crooked fuck-’em-all attitude. “Why the hell not?”

I need to learn to live a little. Dustin straightened up, his heart racing. Push my boundaries. Choose for myself. He’s right. “We’ve got nothing to lose.”