Wallet, keys, phone—it all went into Kyle’s pockets, which made him grin deliriously. This skirt had pockets.

It was hard finding clothes that worked for him. Women’s jeans fit his narrow hips better than some men’s jeans and gave him room for his ass, and as a bonus, they rode his hips lower. That showed off more V if he had a crop top on. On the flip side, there was no extra room downstairs. Crowding there got uncomfortable fast.

Kyle had the confidence to wear a lot of skirts and dresses, but many cuts relied on chest padding he didn’t have. Others pulled too tight around the waist at the wrong point, or around the thighs, which would result in really showing off his bulge—sometimes welcome but not always the look he wanted.

And shirts—fuck, he’d been self-conscious about his wide shoulders and defined biceps some days. Some sleeves pulled tight or looked wrong. Shirts also had the no-boobs problem.

This was his weekend to have Kevin, and when he’d told River he was looking for something purple to wear out with his son, River had conjured up this piece of pure magic a day later.

He could kiss his best friend sometimes. If they’d ever felt a spark of chemistry, they’d have made goddamn perfect boyfriends. As it was, they settled for fiercely vetting each other’s boyfriend choices, but River didn’t have someone like he deserved right now.

And Nic was a sweetheart, like River, in his own way. Kyle half-wondered if Nic’s liking for femme guys extended to drag queens, but that sent a weird prickle through him. Probably just because they weren’t the kind of friends who shared guys—at least, on purpose. Accidents happened in this one-degree-of-separation world.

As Kyle climbed into the car, he grinned again as he had to reach into his skirt pocket for the car keys. A purse wasn’t his style. He hated carrying things for longer than he had to; he’d just put one down and forget it.

By the time he got to Evie’s house, Evie shooed him inside and straight for the kitchen counter, handing him a cup of coffee.

“I, uh—Kevin?” Kyle questioned as he found the mug of coffee scorching his palms. He set it down and blew into his hands, then picked it up gingerly again.

“He’s getting ready. He can’t choose tights. He got a run in his favorite black pair last week,” Evie told him with a sigh. “I have to pick up more. Cute skirt, by the way. You two will match.”

“That’s the plan. We’ll get tights for him if we’re near a store this weekend,” Kyle promised.

“Mmm.” Evie leaned onto her elbows and folded her hands, propping her chin on them.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Kyle knew damn well why, and he couldn’t keep up the innocent pretense longer than a few moments before he cracked and grinned.

Evie clicked her tongue. “Of course I saw you two leaving together. So?”

“I…” Kyle glanced down at his coffee, watching the ripples settle in the mug, then looked up at Evie.

Her dark eyes were wide and curious, hopeful but not pushy. She clearly wanted good news, but the truth, too. She’d sniff out anything else too fast anyway. She knew Kyle better than he knew himself some days, and that was saying something.

“I almost… I’ve got some…” Kyle shifted the mug to hold it by its handle so he could wave with the other hand. “Almost feelings for him.”

“Oh, shit,” Evie whispered, then smiled gently. “This happens now and then, though, right?”

Kyle cast his mind back. He’d gotten little crushes here and there on guys he’d fucked, but usually before he fucked them. They didn’t usually keep his interest afterward. But it had taken every ounce of strength not to let Nic flirt with him longer.

Not to lead him on.

“I wanted him to stick around this morning.”

Evie whistled under her breath. “I knew there’d be something there.”

Kyle’s cheeks were hot. He sipped his coffee and set it down, then pushed her shoulder, trying to get her to stop grinning like the cat that got the canary. “Don’t go get worked up. I turned down a date.”

“What? Oh, God. Kyle. Why?” Evie groaned. “Is it the coworker thing?”

“I… Yeah. I don’t know how to handle working with him if I’m seeing him, too. You know. There’s no rules against it, but…” Kyle waved a hand. It was paper-thin, as excuses went.

But there were other, more solid reasons, when he took the time to think of them. Focusing on his work and his son, for example. Kyle didn’t know what it said about him that those were the last concerns to mind. Normally, they were the first.

“I think I want him,” Kyle murmured, then smacked his head gently against his coffee mug. “Fuck.”

Evie squeezed his arm and rubbed lightly. “It’s good, honey. Even if things don’t go somewhere… it’s nice to like someone. He’s totally into you, too. He was looking at you like his hero last night.”

The memory of Nic’s wide eyes following Kyle’s every move at the club led to memories of Nic’s wide eyes and eagerness to please in bed. But he wasn’t desperate; his self-confidence was fucking hot as hell. Even being turned down had clearly disappointed him, but he hadn’t tried to coax him, nor had he changed his mind on what he wanted just to suit what Kyle wanted to hear.

Nic might be shy and awkward sometimes, but he was a man, not a boy. Kyle needed someone with a strong will and straight priorities, like Nic. And Nic was smart as hell, and funny, and his heart was definitely in the right place. And open and generous in bed… God, their sex was hot.

The fact that Kyle was even thinking all this was damning. He didn’t get attached so fast—he just didn’t.

“Fuck,” Kyle whispered again. He let himself start thinking about what-ifs. “Denver would be okay, I think… I don’t know about his boss.”

“Nic comes off as professional,” Evie told him gently. “I only know him a little, but I’ve heard other people talking about his work on the project. Greg will be okay with it.”

“Yeah, but…” Kyle trailed off, casting his mind around for excuses. Again, Evie was silent to let him think through it.

He couldn’t get the image out of his head: Nic’s mournful expression for a few seconds before he covered it up with graceful acceptance.

Maybe Nic had clued into something Kyle hadn’t. Nic was exactly his type, and from how Nic had acted around him, he was into him, too. He’d asked him out, for God’s sake.

But he wasn’t in the market for a relationship.

His son’s footsteps shattered his thoughts, and Kyle grinned as he turned to Kevin. “Hey, gorgeous! Love the dress!”

“Thank you, Daddy. Wanna go to park? Ready to go? I’m ready!” Kevin bolted for the door.

The dress was a cute purple A-line dress, simple but elegant. From the closet, Kevin grabbed bright yellow shoes. When Kyle saw them, he raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth, but Evie kicked him, silently forbidding him to say anything.

Oh, great. He likes Crocs.

“That’s all you,” Kyle told her under his breath.

“Probably,” Evie giggled. “Sorry.”

Kyle dramatically groaned, then came around the coffee to sweep Evie into a tight hug. He kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Eve.”

“Always, Kyle,” Evie promised gently and squeezed him back. “Go have fun.”

Kyle smiled at her and turned to his son. “Okay, buddy. Time to head for the car.”

“Are we going to the park?” Kevin was still bouncing up and down on his toes, even in those horrible Crocs. “I wanna go to the park. Mommy said if it’s a nice day we can go to the park and it’s a nice day. It’s sun.”

“It is sunny,” Kyle agreed, his eyes sparkling already as he smiled fondly at his son. “Yeah, our first stop is the park.”

Kevin’s cheer lasted all the way to the car as he hopped over to it. Kyle had to sprint after him to stay between him and the road.

It was going to be a great weekend.