Scott breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Charlie coming back from the staff printer, carrying his freshly-printed essay.
“Is it weird that I like handling paper that’s just come out of a laser printer? It’s so warm,” Charlie said as he handed it over. The paper had cooled significantly, but there was still a little heat left in it.
Secretly, Scott liked that, too. “Maybe we’re both weird,” he said. “Because I totally get what you mean.”
Charlie opened his mouth to respond, but then his phone beeped and, at the same moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Pizza!” Charlie enthused, grinning like a little boy. “I’ll be back in one second.”
Scott listened to the sound of Charlie’s footsteps, finally closing his laptop and shoving it aside before sitting back to relax.
An empty library might have been creepy under other circumstances, but with Charlie around, it felt peaceful. It always felt peaceful, but Scott was still processing the fact that Charlie had helped him out so much.
It was good to have someone in his corner. Especially someone who was actually helpful.
“That smells amazing,” Scott said as Charlie came back, pizza, garlic bread, and bottled beer in hand.
“Right?” Charlie smiled as he sat down at the table, passing Scott a beer as he did. “I probably should have asked whether or not you drink.”
“Don’t worry, I do.” Scott cracked his bottle open, happy to let Charlie open everything else. He was still relieved to have finished his assignment with time to spare.
Charlie flipped open the pizza box and tore the bag the garlic bread was in, laying them both out on the table between them before grabbing a slice for himself. Scott could see why he never got through it alone, since the pizza was huge and stacked high with toppings. He’d never seen one this big in his life.
“Do they not make a smaller size?” Scott asked, taking his own slice.
Charlie laughed. “No. You can get it by the slice if you go in, but you can only get a full-sized pizza delivered. I bet you thought I was kidding about not being able to get through it.”
Scott shrugged. “Or that maybe you just had a tiny stomach.”
“I grew up with two older brothers,” Charlie said. “Getting my hands on food at the dinner table was an obstacle, but eating it was never a problem.”
“I’m an only child,” Scott said. “So I wouldn’t know. I used to slip the dogs most of my food under the table.”
“One of my brothers accidentally stabbed the other one with a fork one Thanksgiving,” Charlie said. “We would literally fight over food, even though there was always plenty. One of the perks of running the grocery store, I guess.”
“The grocery store in town? Jules and Sons Grocers?”
Charlie nodded. “That’s us. I’m actually one of the grandsons. My brother, Owen, runs it now.”
“Huh.” Scott thought back to the dark-haired manager who he saw sometimes in the store and realized now that there was a definite family resemblance between him and Charlie. They had the same kindness in their eyes. The same air of warmth about them.
“So is he the oldest?” Scott asked. There couldn’t have been much of a gap between Owen and Charlie, age-wise. Owen was definitely under thirty.
“No, he’s just the most mature. Riley is the oldest. He’s, uh… he’s great, but he’s kind of an acquired taste.”
“Acquired taste?” Scott raised an eyebrow. That seemed like a strange way to describe a person.
“Sometimes he’s the sensible older brother you expect him to be, sometimes he’s dancing naked under a waterfall. Which isn’t bad, but he’s a little… weird, I guess. I always wanted to grow up to be like Riley, but I’m not as brave as he is. He lives in an RV and he never stops travelling. It seems like an awesome life until you realize that there’s absolutely no security in it.”
“You sound like you look up to him, though,” Scott said.
“I do.” Charlie tore a piece of garlic bread off, stuffing the whole chunk in his mouth so that his cheeks bulged like a chipmunk.
It was kind of cute.
“I always wondered what it’d be like to have siblings.”
“I can’t imagine being an only child,” Charlie mumbled around a mouthful of bread. “Everyone took care of me while I was growing up. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am without all that support.”
Scott grabbed another slice of pizza, since Charlie’s mouth was occupied. There were probably drawbacks to being part of a big family, but it would have been nice to feel as though he had people he could really depend on. His parents had been okay, but nothing spectacular. They hadn’t discouraged him from doing anything, but they’d never been all that supportive, either.
Disinterested was probably the word he wanted to describe them. Not in a malicious way. He’d always had food, shelter, and clothing. He’d never really felt like he had to worry about anything when he was growing up.
He’d just felt more loved by the family dogs than by his dad, and maybe his mom, too.
That was probably why he collected dogs now.
“It was lonely,” Scott said after a moment. He wasn’t sure he should have been opening up to Charlie like that, but Charlie felt like a safe person to talk to. Like a bartender or a therapist, Scott felt his secrets were safe with Charlie.
Safer with Charlie than either of those, in fact.
“I bet,” Charlie said. “But living in Hope Springs is like having one big, happy, mildly dysfunctional family.”
“I guess I haven’t been here long enough to feel that yet.” Scott looked down at the table.
Charlie made a soft, sympathetic sound. “I guess it’s hard to be new. I’ve lived here my whole life. My family have been here for generations, and we leave sometimes, but we always come back.”
It would have been nice to have somewhere to come back to. Although Scott didn’t really feel like he was a part of Hope Springs just yet, he could imagine fitting in here. Settling down. Maybe even starting a family or something.
At least being part of one. That would have been nice.
“You should come out to Angie’s tomorrow night. A whole bunch of us get together for drinks,” Charlie said.
Scott hesitated. On the one hand, he liked the idea of getting to make new friends. On the other hand, what if Charlie’s friends didn’t like him? What if they thought he was… boring, or stupid, or something?
“No pressure,” Charlie added. “But I feel like I’m keeping you all to myself and I kinda want to share. People are gonna start thinking you’re imaginary.”
Scott blinked at that, picking a piece of pepperoni off his pizza thoughtfully. Charlie talked about him to other people?
That was…
Flattering, honestly. A little embarrassing, but flattering.
Maybe he should try hanging out with Charlie’s friends. He’d already refused one invitation to socialize this week, and if he kept doing it he’d never make any friends and he’d be lonely forever.
“I guess I could do that. What time?”
“I’m usually there by seven. Sometimes earlier, but I figure you don’t want to walk into a group of total strangers without someone you know present. If you come at seven, I’ll be there.”
“Seven works for me,” Scott said. He didn’t have anything on tomorrow except for a nice, long nap. He’d definitely be finished napping by seven o’clock.
“Great.” Charlie beamed at him. He looked so happy that Scott could hardly believe he’d even considered letting him down.
It was nice to feel wanted. Charlie made him feel that way, like his company was fun and worthwhile.
“How’s Chewie?” Charlie asked after a moment, working his way through another slice of pizza. Scott had only managed to finish two, but he already felt full. This was Charlie’s third.
“He’s great. I signed the papers for him a few days ago, so he’s all mine now. Even after I promised myself I wouldn’t adopt any dogs because if I started I’d never stop.”
“There are worse things to do with your life than adopt a whole bunch of dogs,” Charlie said. “I think it’s adorable.”
Scott shifted his weight in his chair, unsure again if he was being flirted with.
The thing was, though, if that was what Charlie was doing… it was nice. Scott liked being called adorable, even by another guy. Having people pay him compliments felt good.
Maybe he should have put a stop to it, mentioned that Charlie was wasting his time, but a tiny, selfish part of him wanted Charlie to keep paying attention to him. He was afraid that if he pointed out that he was straight, Charlie would stop.
That was the last thing Scott wanted. He wanted to keep having moments like this.
“Thanks,” Scott responded eventually. “Hey, uh. I saw a glimpse of a tattoo on your wrist earlier…”
Charlie grinned, rolling up his sleeve so Scott could see a series of multi-colored dots stretching across the lower part of his forearm, just above his wrist. “Here.” Charlie held his arm out across the table, still working his way through his pizza.
Scott reached out to touch him automatically, hesitating just before he made contact, and then deciding it was okay. His stomach swooped as he touched Charlie’s smooth, warm skin, though he wasn’t sure why.
Charlie had definitely proved that he didn’t bite. There was nothing to be worried about.
Touching him still felt strange, though. Scott found himself hypnotized by the tiny design, tracing each dot one by one while Charlie let him. Charlie obviously didn’t mind being touched.
“What is it?” he asked eventually.
“A subtle pride flag,” Charlie said. “I got it so kids would know for sure that I was a queer adult and they could come to me if they had questions. I don’t know if it’s gonna work, but I wanted to try. Even in a place like this, I wish I’d had an adult I could trust to go to when I was figuring myself out. I had my older brother, but that’s not really the same.”
“So gay kinda runs in your family?” Scott asked. He wasn’t sure if that made sense, but it sounded like that was what Charlie was saying.
“Bisexuality runs in my family. I’m still the odd one out.”
Scott chuckled at that. “You are kinda weird. It’s cool, though. I like weird.”
He liked Charlie. It was hard not to. Scott got the impression that everyone liked Charlie.
“Good, because I get weirder the more you get to know me.” Charlie smiled wryly.
Suddenly, Scott really liked the idea of getting to know Charlie.
“I guess I’ll find all that out,” Scott said. He picked up his phone to check the time, his eyes widening when he realized it was nearly eleven o’clock.
“Shit,” he stood, grabbing his laptop to stuff it in his bag. “I’m sorry to run off on you like this, but I gotta get to campus before midnight. I didn’t realize it was so late.”
He wished he didn’t have to leave. He’d been having a good time just talking to Charlie, hanging out with him like they were already friends and didn’t have to do the awkward initial part where they got to know each other.
Charlie was so easy to be with. Easier than anyone else Scott had ever known.
“It’s okay,” Charlie said. “Thank you for helping me with the pizza.”
“I will totally see you tomorrow night and buy you drinks to make up for leaving like this,” Scott said, throwing his bag over his shoulder. “But I’m only just gonna make it as it is.”
“Scott, I understand,” Charlie said, his tone kind and patient. “It’s okay. I’m not mad, I’m not upset. I could’ve hung out with you for hours, but you need to hand in your assignment. I’ll get to see you tomorrow.”
“Absolutely,” Scott agreed, his stomach fluttering with excitement at the thought. He liked the idea of getting to meet Charlie’s friends. “Tomorrow. Promise.”
“Have a good night,” Charlie called after him as he walked off.
Scott smiled to himself. Charlie was his friend. He’d made a friend and it hadn’t been weird or scary at all.
Now all he had to do was make a few more.