“If I were allowed to walk, I’d bring your phone over. Instead, I’ll point out it’s going off with text messages. And I definitely won’t look at the screen to see the name. Gabriel might want something.”

Orion laughed at Gramma’s sassy attitude today and wiped off his hands as he headed from the kitchen to the living room. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Gramma.”

“Any time.” She grinned. “You two are getting along fine, then?” There was something mischievous there, but Orion didn’t dwell on it.

“Yeah. Yeah, he’s cool. We never talked much back in—back in school.” He didn’t want to get too close to the failed prom date story, so Orion rushed past that. “Turns out we had a lot in common.” He headed back to the kitchen, phone in hand.

“Non-nuclear families?” she asked.

“Well, it can feel pretty nuclear in here sometimes,” Orion said, unlocking his phone.

Want to come over tonight?

That took him aback, after the last conversation they’d had about the subject. What the hell had changed Gabriel’s mind from wanting to keep him away from his crappy apartment to… inviting him over, out of the blue? Was he that horny?

Or, worse, had something happened?

Orion hummed under his breath. “I might head over and see him. Maybe I got through to him.”

“No doubt you did.”

“About that jerk ex of his,” Orion said quickly, trying to compose a response. Keeping his facts straight was going to prove difficult soon.

“Mmm.”

Sure, what time?

The response was instant. Any time you want.

OK, let me cook supper for Gramma first. Then I’ll come right over.

Eating there or not? I can make something for you :) Gabriel offered, even adding an emoji for him.

Orion smiled at his phone, then realized the omelet would burn if he didn’t pay attention. “Oh. Yeah. I hope nothing happened.”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Gramma assured him. “Is that omelet done? Smells it.”

“Thirty feet away, you can tell when I’ve let the omelet overcook,” Orion lamented. “If I get half your sixth sense by your age, I’ll be a happy man. Okay, is your TV tray table clear?”

Orion could almost hear her grin in the way she said, “It might well happen. Comes from raising my four boys.”

This was also straying dangerously close to dating talk, so Orion shut it down by making an elaborate ceremony of presenting the omelet and telling her not to do the dishes or anything once she was finished.

“Oh, get out of here and go see that sweet young man,” she shooed him off when he stopped grinding pepper across her plate.

“Yes, ma’am.” He bowed and shot a grin at her, then fled for the door before she could find anything else sassy to say to him.

It was so good to be home.

* * *

By the time he made it to Art’s house, Orion hadn’t quite lost the smile on his face.

Whatever the reason for inviting him over, Gabriel had still done it despite his reservations.

Orion had already decided a basic rule for himself: no commenting on anything about the place, positive or negative. Anything negative would obviously be a dick move, and anything positive would just seem like he was trying too hard.

Still, he couldn’t help seeing Gabe’s reasoning as he pulled into the muddy front yard. He hoped four-wheel drive would get him out again.

Art’s house was one of those knocked-together houses that had started off as a nice little bungalow, had a second story added some years ago, and had never been refinished all at the same time. The front yard was scruffy and overgrown.

There was a clear dividing line in the side yard, marked by the neat path toward the back of the house. On one side only, the grass was cut. A few solar lamps were stuck into the ground, though the evenings were getting long enough that he didn’t need them to light the way.

The backyard was similarly divided—most of it was rundown, but around the rusty tin can of a shed were neat patches of grass, a few planters, and even a wooden garden ornament.

It was plain as daylight to Orion’s eye that someone much more conscientious of his living space lived here. Plus, he was already standing in the doorway, waiting to greet Orion.

“Hey! Sorry I took a few minutes to get here,” Orion said, raising his hand in a wave as he approached.

“No problem. I figured it would be longer.”

Orion grinned. “An omelet saved the day.” As he reached Gabriel, he wasn’t quite sure what to go for—a hug? A handshake? Probably not a kiss in plain view of the house.

Gabriel must have felt like he was under scrutiny living here. Was he out to Art? Orion couldn’t remember.

His thoughts scattered the moment Gabriel was there, like magnet shavings being tossed around by Gabriel’s mere presence.

Goddamn, but it was good to see him again. Orion made a decision, ended the internal struggle, and leaned in for a quick hug.

Gabriel hugged him tightly in return and finally drew back. “I think it’s sweet you take such good care of her. So, uh, come in. Your supper’s ready. And mine.” He sounded nervous as he laughed, ushering Orion inside.

The place looked like a student pad but smelled amazing. The tablecloth and cushions couldn’t conceal the fact that it was a plastic lawn table and folding chairs, and the kitchen seemed to be just a few cabinets shoved up against a wall. He saw an old oven and found himself kind of glad it wasn’t in use—it didn’t look like it would pass a fire inspection. Instead, there were two pots balanced on a two-burner hot plate on one of the counters.

“That smells divine,” Orion groaned. “I didn’t realize I was hungry until I walked through the door. Goddamn.”

“Compliment accepted, but wait until you taste it first.” Gabriel laughed. He moved his laptop from the kitchen counter to the couch and gestured around. “This is it. The bathroom’s through there.”

Other than that door, everything else seemed to be one big, square room. Like Gabriel had said, basically a shed. Plywood walls were probably keeping the insulation out of sight. They’d been whitewashed, but not enough to hide what they were.

Kind of like Orion felt. He was an impostor now, a city boy in too-new jeans and plaid shirts that didn’t quite fit. But so far, Gabriel hadn’t called him stuck-up like several women he’d dated had, so he’d take that as a win.

He just wished he could rescue Gabriel from this place. The farmhouse was plenty big enough for two. Or four, and a dog. He dismissed the thought quickly, but it made his heart race.

“What is supper?” Orion followed up while he glanced around the rest of the living room. Old couch, old TV, lots of bookshelves, a desk against one wall, and a neatly-made bed against another. That was about all the space in this place accounted for.

“Biscuit dumpling stew. I know it’s been a warm day, but…”

“Oh, man. No, that sounds great.” Orion could almost taste the biscuits now, and the beef melting in his mouth.

“It’s ready, if you want to take a seat at Chez Gabe.”

“Chez Gabe-ara?” Orion smirked. When Gabe blinked at him, he added, “Guevera.”

“Oh my God. Don’t tell me you like puns. I might have to kick you out now,” Gabriel groaned.

Orion laughed. “I hate puns,” he promised solemnly, crossing his heart. “Until after supper. Then I’ll tell you how I really feel about them. But I’m not taking the chance of missing this.”

“Dunno what to do with all this flattery.” Gabriel shook his head as he carried over two bowls of stew and biscuits, still steaming hot. “I might get carried away.”

“That’s what I’m hoping. At least to the corner,” Orion said with a smirk, glancing over to the bed.

Gabriel looked startled, then laughed. “The way to your dick is through your stomach? Good to know.”

“And my heart.” Orion said it before he really thought about it, and then he paused. His cheeks immediately heated up. He hadn’t meant to, well… put that on the table.

Gabriel just smiled and let it go, picking up his spoon and stirring his stew. “So, how was today?”

It was a strangely domestic moment for this place—nearly as far from domestic as you could get, though clearly made up as carefully as possible by Gabe, given what he had to work with. It fit all definitions of homely.

“It was good. I mean, long… but good. Had some family stuff to sort out.” Uncle Pete hadn’t been around that day as he figured out the divorce settlement, so Orion had jumped into his role. Sunday meant dividing up tasks for the next week’s veggie deliveries, helped out by Uncle Fred, who would pass the orders along to the harvesting arm of the business.

It worked smoothly when it worked. Almost smoothly enough to make Orion consider staying around and helping out where needed, pinch-hitting…

But no. He had a life elsewhere.

“I’m sorry,” Gabriel frowned, glancing up quickly. “For family stuff. But sounds like… not bad?”

“Not for me. Everyone will be fine,” Orion assured him with a smile. “Mostly Gramma getting up to her usual tricks. We’re trying to come up with active things she can do to keep busy without the boring stuff—she’d never take over accounting.”

“No,” Gabriel agreed. “She did enough of that in her day, she used to tell me.”

Orion laughed. He’d heard her say that about a few parts of the business, and who could blame her? She’d worked hard enough to hire people, and she really should have been retired by now, except for her work ethic. “Exactly.”

“She’s smart as hell. I wish I could be her when I grow up,” Gabriel admitted, smiling at him.

“I know what you mean.” Orion slowly worked on his stew. “She saw I wasn’t cut out for the farm early. Wouldn’t let me get involved much. Made me study and get good grades and get a good job…” he trailed off, then bit his lip. No need to dump his worries on Gabriel. “And I know she worries about you, too.”

Gabriel looked startled. “Me? Oh… you mean… about Chad?” The name sounded bitter even as he said it.

Orion looked up at him quickly. “Did something else happen?”

“Nothing major.” Gabriel sighed and lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “He’s jealous of you now, I think.”

Orion snorted. “Gee. I wonder why.” It sounded weirdly egotistic, so he clarified, “Maybe he’s figured out what he’s missing out on.”

“Me?” Gabriel asked, sounding tentative. He was clearly unused to compliments. Chad didn’t seem like the compliments type. If he was, it was probably only to exploit Gabe. What a dickbag.

“Of course you,” Orion said, gently but with real warmth. He wanted Gabriel to know he was gorgeous and deserved a hell of a lot better than Chad. Even if Orion couldn’t be the guy Gabriel deserved.

Gabriel stared at his bowl hard, his cheeks bright red. “Oh,” he murmured.

Orion gave him a minute before he cleared his throat and set his spoon down. “Can you look me in the eye?”

His head still lowered, Gabriel gradually glanced at him, then straightened up again until he looked more confident. “Yeah. Why?”

“Not just so I can tell you how cute you are when you’re shy,” Orion winked, grinning as Gabriel visibly fought to keep looking at him. “Okay, sorry. But can you look me in the eye and tell me that you’re not even a little afraid of Chad?”

Immediately, Gabriel’s eyes flickered down to his bowl. Then, he winced.

“I thought so,” Orion murmured. He pushed his empty bowl back and reached across the table to rest his hand on Gabriel’s. “I want to help.”

Gabriel was quiet for a few long moments before he brought his other hand over to rest it on top of Orion’s. “How?”

It’s not immediate rejection. We’re getting somewhere. Orion fought back the impulse to feel triumphant, because Gabriel wasn’t going to like this. “It’s time to stop running away. I’m trying to help. I can’t protect you in a literal shed, man.”

“I know.” Gabriel pulled the top hand back to his lap, but let Orion keep holding the other. He hung his head. “Sorry.”

“It’s nothing to apologize for. But, you know, I’m not gonna swap the closet for a shed,” Orion teased gently. “I need more space for what’s growing between us.”

It was a joke to take his mind off the discomfort and embarrassment, and… well, a way of testing the waters. Orion didn’t know how else to do it except to come out and ask, and that didn’t seem cool when their original bargain had been so clear-cut. Hell, it could be taken sexually if Gabriel wanted to avoid acknowledging the chemistry between them.

And it worked. Gabriel’s head snapped up and he stared at Orion again, his mouth open. Then, seeing the way Orion was smiling, he gradually smiled back. “Closet for a shed… ha ha.”

Orion squeezed Gabriel’s hand and then let go, stacking up the dishes and moving them aside so he could fold his hands on the table. “If you were living with me, I could help a lot better.”

Gabriel stared at him for a second. “If I were… I can’t do that. I don’t want to bother you.”

“Forget any reason you’re going to give me about being a burden or unwelcome,” Orion told him firmly. “I know it’s a big thing, but… you know how much space I have, and how little I’m home. We’d hardly be in each other’s way, you know? But if he’s coming here to visit Art and spy on you…”

Gabriel’s expression crumpled. “I know.” He rubbed his face, thinking it through. Orion’s heart sank when he shook his head. “But I can’t abandon this place. I barely pay rent. It could get me out of the situation quicker.”

“When you move.”

“When I move,” Gabriel echoed, nodding firmly.

If you move. If he doesn’t drag you back into his shitty little games. Orion bit back the thoughts, knowing it was jealousy and not professional concern speaking for a moment there. “You wouldn’t have to pay rent. I swear it’s no problem. That end of town being all farmland, nobody’s renting out there except crazy people like me. The place was dirt cheap.” By my definition of cheap, he didn’t add. Gabriel was already staring at the table, probably comparing numbers in his head.

“I don’t think I can. The offer is really nice, though,” Gabriel told him. “I appreciate it.”

There was nothing Orion could do to force protection on someone who wouldn’t take it, but he had one more trick up his sleeve. “He’s got DUIs. An assault charge that was dropped. An unregistered gun, I’m pretty sure.”

No hint of surprise crossed Gabriel’s face, which worried Orion more than anything else. “Yeah. But he’s not hurting me. He hasn’t before. He’s not that kind of guy, I promise.”

Orion sighed and nodded. “Was that what you wanted to see me about?”

“Yeah,” Gabriel admitted, then rose to his feet. “And so you know where I am, and… you know. Could drop by, sometime, if you wanted.”

At least it was a half-open door—he was welcome over here sometime. Orion wasn’t going to risk backsliding on this progress by pushing him further on the subject of Chad. He fought down his emotions like a pro and rose to his feet, too. “Thank you. Supper was great.”

Gabriel nodded slightly. “Thank you.”

“I’d better get back and finish my chores for tonight,” Orion added, frowning apologetically. He was tired to the bone, and he still had to clean up—to Gramma’s standards, not his own—and then head to his own house for a short night of sleep before he rose at farmers’ hours and did it all again tomorrow. “Call me anytime. If you need anything at all.”

Gabriel didn’t miss the implication. He nodded once, then leaned in and up for a kiss.

Before he knew it, Orion had his arms around Gabriel’s shoulders, their bodies tucked together as they slowly kissed.

Gabriel finally pulled back, looking dazed but smiling broadly. “I’ll make supper every night if I get a kiss like that.”

“We could arrange that,” Orion winked. He was treading a fine line, but his charm pulled it off.

Gabriel just laughed and shook his head. “Go on, then. I don’t want to keep you away from Cora.”

“I’ll come over again this week,” Orion promised, and he meant it. He’d have to rearrange things somehow, but he’d do it. That way, Gabriel felt more comfortable having him around here.

Now to figure out how the hell to protect Gabriel in a tin can of a house.