Chapter Thirteen
Blake tucked his hands into his pockets as he stepped out onto the street, enjoying the way the rare winter sun warmed his back. He felt better this morning than he had done in a while. The world seemed brighter, the air smelled sweeter.
He’d needed to have that talk with Rusty. They knew where they stood now.
“Is that my jumper?” Rusty asked as he followed Blake out, falling into step beside him.
“It’s a sweater,” Blake corrected. “And it’s mine. You just stole it.”
“Borrowed,” Rusty said. “I gave it back.”
“Three years later.” Blake was trying to sound annoyed, but the thought made him smile. Rusty had remembered the sweater, and it had obviously been well-loved in the meantime. It had been stretched out to fit Rusty’s broader shoulders, but that only made it more comfy.
“It’s a nice jumper. The color suits me.”
Blake laughed at that. It had been a deep cobalt blue once upon a time, but it’d faded to a lighter blue with hints of purple that suggested Rusty had washed it with something red.
It didn’t matter. If anything, that made it even better.
At least Rusty was wearing an appropriate number of layers today. Blake could see that his jacket was stretched tight over them, but at least he wouldn’t be cold.
“The color does suit you,” Blake agreed. “If you behave, I’ll give it back to you before you leave.”
He’d probably get more use out of it than Blake would, even if it was really comfy. It smelled of Rusty, too, warm and resiny with a citrus top note.
Rusty cleared his throat. “So, uh… where are you leading me?”
“To real coffee,” Blake said. “You were whining on Sunday about drip coffee. There’s a bakery with an espresso machine in town.”
Rusty’s eyes lit up. “You do love me,” he enthused, grinning broadly.
“You made me breakfast. I’m providing coffee. Gotta keep us even.”
Rusty chuckled, changing his position to walk just a little closer to Blake’s shoulder.
For warmth, probably. That’d be it. Rusty had made it clear that he wasn’t interested anymore.
Which was fine. They’d both moved on, and it’d only been a vacation thing to start with.
It was nice to be close to him, though. Blake didn’t have to pretend to himself that he wasn’t enjoying it.
As they rounded the corner to the street the bakery was on, Jude came into view in front of them. Blake smiled broadly at him, excited to get the chance to introduce him to Rusty.
Kayla even waved at him this time. Blake’s heart soared as he waved back, unable to stop himself from grinning at her.
“This has to be Rusty,” Jude said as he approached. “He’s everything you said he was and more.”
Rusty offered Jude his hand, smiling a bright, warm smile at him. One hundred percent charm, like he always was when he met someone new.
A tiny part of Blake was proud to be seen with him. Even if everyone present knew he wasn’t really with him.
Jude shook his hand, the faintest hint of pink coloring his cheeks. Rusty had that effect on a lot of people. “Nice to meet you,” he said, and then crouched down to meet Kayla’s eyes. “And who are you?”
“That’s-” Jude began, only to be cut off by Kayla squeezing his hand.
“Kayla,” she said, smiling at Rusty.
Something inside Blake pulled tight, his heart suddenly too big for his chest.
Rusty was clearly good with kids. Kayla had been so shy yesterday, but here she was, beaming at Rusty like he was already her favorite person.
“I’m Rusty,” he said. “Is Jude your dad?”
Kayla nodded eagerly. “Got two,” she said, holding up two fingers.
Blake glanced at Jude, who had tears in his eyes. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but Jude waved away his concern with his free hand.
“I tear up every time she calls me dad. I’m not over it yet. I love her so much.”
Blake felt everything in him soften, a warm, happy wave washing over him at Jude’s obvious, overwhelming joy at having Kayla.
“So you should,” Rusty said, offering his hand to Kayla. She shook it without hesitation, still clinging tightly to Jude with the other one. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sweetheart. I like your jumper.”
Kayla blushed, almost the same shade as the bright red sweater Rusty was complimenting.
She probably had no idea what he was talking about, but Rusty seemed to have that effect on literally everyone.
When Rusty stood, he took Blake’s hand. The surprise made Blake’s heart pound in his chest, Rusty’s warm skin and callused fingers both strange and familiar against his own.
Blake realized a moment later that while he knew that Jude knew what was going on, Rusty didn’t.
He wasn’t inclined to tell him right away.
“Oh,” Jude said. “I was hoping to see you again, because I realize now that I forgot to tell you why I’d been thinking about you while we were busy catching up. I wanted to offer you a job.”
Blood rushed in Blake’s ears as he blinked at Jude, unsure how to respond to that.
“I have a relatively successful graphic design company now,” Jude said. “It’s just me, but… I could really use a second pair of hands, especially one with painting experience, which is kind of my weak point.”
Blake raised an eyebrow.
“I can slap paint on a canvas to fill in the shapes I’ve already drawn there,” Jude said. “But you can paint. You know it’s a different skill.”
Blake swallowed. He didn’t know what to say, here, but a part of him was thrilled that Jude was saying this in front of Rusty.
“I… wow. This is a huge offer.”
“You really don’t have to make a decision now,” Jude said. “But it is a serious offer. I probably can’t pay you quite what you make now, but I could definitely pay you enough to live comfortably here. That would be my one condition. We don’t have an office, but I’d want to meet most mornings for coffee and planning purposes. And you’re definitely welcome to a desk at my place, if you need somewhere to work.”
“You’ve thought this through, huh?” Blake asked. He could tell that Jude was serious by the amount of detail he was giving.
“I have. I’ve been thinking about bringing someone else in for a while, and my first thought was you. I didn’t expect to see you back here, but now that you are… just, think about it, maybe?”
“I’ll think about it,” Blake promised.
He doubted he had the courage to go through with a big life change like that, but he liked the idea all the same. Getting to do what he wanted to do—and with someone he knew he could trust—was a dream come true.
Blake just wasn’t entirely sure he had the kind of life where he could afford to dream.
“I’ll let you two go,” Jude said. “And see you tomorrow, at the wedding.”
“Absolutely,” Blake promised. “I hope Kayla’s coming too?”
Jude chuckled. “She picked out a dress a while back and I don’t think anything would stop her. You’ll see.”
“Can’t wait.” Blake beamed, moving out of the way so Jude and Kayla could get past him.
He watched them go, Jude’s offer bouncing around in his brain.
“He seemed okay,” Rusty said. “Cute kid.”
He hadn’t let go of Blake’s hand yet, and Blake didn’t really want him to. It was nice to feel wanted.
“She’s adorable. And he’s married to his childhood sweetheart now, and I’m so happy for him,” Blake explained. “He deserves it. He’s had it rough.”
“So is he an ex, or…?”
“An old friend. We kissed once when we were in college. It was awful. Like kissing a brother.”
“I can honestly say I’ve never had that experience,” Rusty said, wrinkling his nose.
“Well, count yourself lucky.” Blake smiled wryly, pushing open the door to the bakery.
The smell of sugar, coffee, and freshly-baked bread filled the air around him immediately. He couldn’t help taking a deep breath, breathing in the warm, comforting scent, and grinning at Marcus.
“If you’re coming to check on that cake again, it’s still there,” Marcus said.
“I’m here for more of your coffee,” Blake said. “My husband is picky.”
“Oi,” Rusty said from behind him. “Not picky. Just used to a better caliber of coffee.”
“You sound like you’re from Melbourne,” Marcus said.
Blake turned to stare at him. “How did you know?”
“The accent plus the coffee thing? Kind of a giveaway.”
Rusty grinned at him. “I like this man, and I trust him to make decent coffee.”
Marcus seemed pleased by that. “Oh, I’m gonna rock your world.”
Blake looked between the two of them and sighed. They were like mirror images of each other. Not physically, but in terms of flirting with everyone they ever met…
Rusty had found his long-lost twin.
“Do you want a cupcake?” Blake asked, eyeing the beautiful pastries he’d noticed yesterday but hadn’t been in the mood for.
“What’s a cupcake?” Rusty frowned, his brow furrowing deeply.
“It’s… do you not have cupcakes in Australia?” Blake stared at him. Didn’t everyone have cupcakes?
Rusty paused for a beat before breaking into a broad grin.
“Asshole,” Blake murmured. “Well, I’m having one. I deserve it for putting up with you.”
“I had you for a second,” Rusty said.
Blake sighed. Rusty had convinced him, just for a moment, that he’d never heard of a cupcake.
He wasn’t mad about it. Not really. It was hard to be mad at Rusty.
“You two sit down,” Marcus said. “I’ll bring coffee and cupcakes over. Which ones do you want?”
“The most chocolate one you have,” Blake said. “And whatever Rusty wants.”
“Surprise me,” Rusty said. “I trust you to pair your own cupcakes with your coffee.”
Marcus snorted, but a tiny smile turned up the corner of his lips.
“Teasing tourists is an Australian tradition,” Rusty said as they sat down. “I can’t help it.”
“You’re the tourist, here,” Blake said.
“The principle remains the same.” Rusty’s chair creaked as he sat back in it, stretching his legs out under the bright yellow table.
Marcus’ bakery was a comfortable, inviting place. Blake could imagine early morning meetings with Jude here.
He’d promised to think about the offer, and he would, but he expected to say no. It was such a big risk, and Blake had never been a big risk taker.
“You were good with Kayla,” Blake said as Marcus brought their coffee and cupcakes over. “Something I should know?”
Rusty shrugged. “I’ve got a lot of little cousins,” he said. “I like kids. Other people’s kids, anyway. I’m not sure I’d want to own one.”
Blake laughed at that, taking his coffee cup in both hands to warm them up. He was waiting eagerly for Rusty’s verdict on the coffee.
“This smells good,” Rusty said, practically pressing his nose to the rim of the cup. “And in a proper latte glass. Definitely makes a good first impression.”
“It’s not wine,” Blake pointed out.
Rusty shook his head. “Nah. Wine’s all much the same. This is coffee, and it’s important.”
He took his first sip, humming softly and closing his eyes. “First decent cup I’ve had since I left home,” he murmured after a moment, turning to nod and raise his glass to Marcus.
Marcus smiled over at him, looking pleased with himself.
“Thanks for bringing me here,” Rusty said. “I didn’t think you were really listening when I was complaining about the coffee.”
Blake shrugged. “I listen.”
“I’ve noticed,” Rusty said. “It’s nice to have someone around who does, for once.”
Blake sipped his own coffee, not entirely certain he had a good response for that. His first instinct had been to tell Rusty he was welcome to stick around, but he knew that saying that aloud would be a bad idea.
Even if it was true. Having his company on a more permanent basis wouldn’t have been the worst thing. Rusty got Blake, in a way no one had before or since.
Of course, they’d only spent a handful of days with each other so far. Maybe that was why it seemed like they got on well.
They’d recovered quickly from their first fight, though. That seemed like a good sign.
“So are you gonna take your mate up on his offer?” Rusty asked between mouthfuls of coffee.
“I don’t know,” Blake said, feeling that was the most honest answer. “It’s… generous. And tempting. But… I don’t know.”
“What’s stopping you?” Rusty asked.
“My life?” Blake shrugged. “It’d be a huge change, I’d be moving back here, I don’t know if I’m cut out to do this as a job, what if it ruins my friendship with Jude?”
He hadn’t put any of those questions into words yet. He definitely needed someone to talk to about this, and if Rusty was willing to listen, then Blake intended to take advantage of that.
Not take advantage. It didn’t feel like doing that at all. Rusty was listening eagerly, and with interest.
Blake suddenly understood what he meant about it being nice to have someone who did that.
“You seem happy here,” Rusty said. “And it’s a nice little place.”
“It is,” Blake agreed. “I guess… I just don’t know. I need time to think about it.”
“Well, if you also need to talk about it, I’m listening,” Rusty said. “I do want you to be happy.”
“I want you to be happy, too,” Blake said, unable to stop himself from smiling.
“This coffee is making me happy,” Rusty said. “And I’ll be right. Always am.”
Blake licked his lips, not sure that was entirely true, but not wanting to argue with him. If Rusty wanted to open up to him, he would. On his own terms, in his own time.
“Cupcake’s good,” Rusty said through a mouthful, licking his lips.
“You have frosting on your nose,” Blake pointed out. It was adorable, but he wasn’t sure Rusty would appreciate having that pointed out as well.
“It’s icing,” Rusty said.
“Listen,” Blake began, a smile tugging at his lips and ruining the authoritative tone he’d been going for. “You’re in America now. The thing you’re wearing is a sweater, and the stuff on your nose is frosting.”
Rusty raised an eyebrow. “You’re so cute when you’re annoyed,” he said.
Blake blushed, looking down at his own cupcake and peeling the wrapper off. Rusty had a way of disarming him, and he hated to admit it, but he liked that.
It was nice to have the seriousness of his world broken up by a man who was apparently incapable of being serious.
Well, no, that wasn’t fair. Rusty did have a sensible streak, and at his core he was a solid, reliable man, wise beyond his years. He’d never once broken a promise, and judging by what Blake knew about his family, he was carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders.
He just didn’t take anything that didn’t require seriousness seriously.
He still had frosting—icing, whatever he wanted to call it—on his nose.
“Are you gonna clean your nose, or not?” Blake asked, realizing that he’d opened himself up to hearing or not.
“You can lick it off if you want,” Rusty grinned at him, but grabbed a napkin before Blake would have been forced to respond.
He… probably wouldn’t have licked Rusty’s face in public. The sting of his earlier rejection was fading, though, so no guarantees he wouldn’t have done it in private.
Rusty was hot. There was no point in pretending otherwise.
“You wanna do the honors?” Rusty asked, offering Blake the napkin.
Blake sighed, taking it from him and wiping the little peak off the end of Rusty’s nose across the table. “You’re like an overgrown toddler,” he said, though Kayla had been much neater about eating her cupcake.
Rusty beamed proudly, straightening himself up as though that was the highest possible praise. “I get that a lot,” he said, apparently thrilled that Blake thought so.
“It… wasn’t a compliment,” Blake said, though part of him envied Rusty’s ability not to let life get to him. To play, even though they were both too old for it.
Well, not too old. Too mature, in Blake’s case. He’d often thought of that as a good thing, but seeing how carefree Rusty was made him question it. Maybe a little immaturity was called for sometimes.
“I took it as one,” Rusty said. “I guess I could get a business suit and a sensible pair of Oxfords, maybe some rimless glasses to perch on the end of my nose and read the financial times with, but… I’m not ready for that, yet. I don’t think I ever will be.”
Blake wet his lips, picturing Rusty in a mid-grey fitted suit, blue shirt, subtly patterned tie, sitting back with thin glasses to read the newspaper.
It wasn’t a bad look. Not at all. Rusty could have been a gorgeous grownup.
But the overgrown puppy vibe had its appeal, too.
“You’re getting all hot and bothered picturing me in business wear,” Rusty said, incredulous. “You pervert.”
Blake rolled his eyes. “I appreciate a well-cut suit, is all,” he said. “Newsflash, I’m super gay and you’ve got really square shoulders.”
Rusty grinned at him. “Sounds like a kink to me.”
To his horror, Blake blushed. It wasn’t—or at least, he didn’t think it was—but the thought was enough to make his cheeks burn anyway.
“You’re so mean to me,” Blake said, knowing it wasn’t true. It’d taken him a while to work it out, but gentle teasing was Rusty’s way of showing affection. He didn’t actually have a mean bone in his body.
Blake figured that was a cultural difference he’d just have to accept.
“You need to worry if I stop being mean to you,” Rusty said, confirming what Blake had just been thinking. “I’m mean because I care.”
Blake sighed. At least Rusty was admitting that he cared. That was nice.
He turned his attention to his own cupcake, taking a bite and making a soft, happy sound. Marcus was good. He was going to hover by the wedding cake and wait for it to be cut.
When he glanced up, Rusty was staring at him with his jaw hanging open, eyes glazed over.
Blake smirked, licking his lips slowly and watching Rusty’s eyes follow his tongue. “Now who’s got a kink?” he asked.
Rusty blinked at him, coming back to himself all of a sudden. For once, he was blushing. And it was a full-face thing on him. Blake could barely keep his joy to himself.
“Not a kink,” Rusty said. “Just… super gay.”
Blake chuckled. “You keep telling yourself that,” he said, getting back to his cupcake. He didn’t make any attempt to hide how much he was enjoying it, licking the frosting off eagerly and then sucking on his fingers when he was done.
He didn’t dare look Rusty in the eyes again, but the way he was shifting in his creaky plastic chair told Blake he was having the desired effect.
The tiniest spark of arousal made him want to squirm, as well, but he forced himself to sit back and sip his coffee as though none of that had been an intentional show for Rusty’s benefit.
“So, uh,” Rusty began, his voice rough. He cleared his throat, pausing before started again. Uh, what time’s this dinner… thing?” he asked.
Blake had never really seen him flustered before, but he liked it a whole lot. It was good for his ego to know that he could turn a man like Rusty on just by eating a cupcake.
“I think we’re sitting down at six? Maybe a little later. You’ve got time to go do stuff, if that’s why you’re asking,” Blake said, keeping his tone soft and even, pretending as though he still had no idea what was going on.
Rusty shook his head. “Thought I might go exploring a bit, is all. You could always show me the sights.”
Blake smiled at the thought. He could go for a quiet day with Rusty, teasing aside. “I think that could be arranged. Finish your coffee and I’ll take you on the tour.”