Page 56 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

“Are you sure?” She pats his shoulder, hovering over to block the group from gawking at him.

“Yes. Thank you. I'm so sorry.”

She rises to her feet and turns to her crew. “Let’s move on folx.” She spreads her arms and flaps them forward to March on.

Jamie drops his face in his palm. Sitting on the edge of the sidewalk. Brushing asphalt crumbs away from his new designer jeans. Rubbing his ankle until the Jeep pulls up.

Nathan bursts out of the driver's seat and around to Jamie’s side. He moves to crouch behind the wounded cutie, scooping both forearms under his armpits, hugging his chest and lifting him to his feet. “Can you stand okay? Here, put your arm over my shoulders.” He scoots in close to Jamie’s rib.

“I think I’m okay.” His face is still beet red. “I think I just twisted it.”

“Here, sit in the seat.” He hauls the creaking door open with a free arm and guides hobbling Jamie into the cab. Bending to one knee. The nurse is in. He lifts Jamie’s pant leg.

The cold air climbs up his skin but Nathan’s fingers on his ankle send a shiver through his body. It isn’t swelling, but something else starts to. “It’s okay.” He pulls his leg in and twists forward in his seat.

“Okay.” Nathan shuts the door and trots around the vehicle, taking his seat at the wheel. “Let’s get you back home.”

“No no. We don’t have to go home.” He’s humiliated and would love to climb into bed and sulk, but those words just fell out of his mouth. “I’ll be fine. My pride is worse off than my ankle right now.” He’s not going to let this first date in ages be a complete disaster.

“Okay.” Nathan stares forward, looking for a new plan somewhere on the empty street. “Are you hungry?”

“I haven’t eaten today.”

“I have an idea.” He’s excited, fires up the engine and the jeep groans forward. “There’s a great little pizza joint I ordered from them last week. I’ll run in and get us dinner; we can go find a spot to sit and munch.” His smile is proud. “You like pizza?” He’s happy the date isn’t ending.

“Of course!” Jamie drinks in the sweet bear’s considerate check in.

After a quick drive to the west side of the city, they pull into a parking spot in front of Antonia’s.

“Oh, this place is great!”

“What would you like?” Nathan shifts toward Jamie in his seat. Giddy to learn the cutie’s pizza order.

“Hmmm…” Jamie pretends to think but knows exactly what he loves here. It’s his favorite pizza in town. The hand tossed dough and secret recipe sauce passed down generations to the current owner. A great great grandson of Antonia herself. It helps that Tony is a strapping Italian boy with arms like thighs and ass for days. Drools. “A slice of pepperoni.” He reaches for his debit card, tucked into the case over his cell phone.

“Put that away.” Nathan scowls.

“I’ve already wasted your money on the tour tickets. I’m getting dinner.”

Nathan slips out of the jeep. “Oh no you’re not.” Stepping back. “Don’t you worry about that tour. I’m happy we’re spending time together.” He closes the creaking hunk of steel and trots off into the pizzeria.

His ass rivals Tony’s for sure. Filling out the seat of his jeans perfectly. Jamie stuffs his phone away and watches Nathan through the window. Standing at the counter. Glowing under bright kitchen lights. The confident nature reserve bear suddenly seems like a shy boy. Rocking on his heels. Waiting patiently for the food to cook. Glancing back out at the jeep to wave and smile with squint eyes.

He speaks to the cook behind the counter, and then jogs out the door. Mouthing the words “be right back” at Jamie as he runs past the vehicle and across the street into the drugstore.

Reappearing minutes later with a small plastic bag adorned with a generic yellow smiley face. He runs back into Antonia’s to collect the pizzas and two bottles of waters. Then returns to the Jeep, placing the bounty on the back seat.

“Where should we go?” He’s a bit out of breath and takes a deep inhale.

His body heat carries across the cab and swirls around Jamie. Inhaling that citrus musk fragrance.

“There are picnic tables up on the Eastern Prom. It might be chilly, but overlooking the water is nice.” Jamie can’t really think of any place else he’d rather be alone with him.

“Perfect.” The Jeep roars and they back out of the parking spot.

It’s just a ten-minute drive back across the little city, past Jamie’s street and up the incline toward the peak of the peninsula. A row of slanted parking spaces overlook the top of a grassy knoll that leads down to a rocky shoreline split by a narrow sandy beach. A dozen concrete slabs scatter the knoll. Each holding a picnic table and a streetlamp. All but one to the far left are free to nab.

Nathan gathers the dinner from the back seat. “Do you need help?” He pauses to check on Jamie.

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