Page 11 of Ethan

It was during those times when my friendship with Owen was tested.

At least from my perspective. No matter how hard I pushed to cancel movie night, Owen would show up on my doorstep. He never told me to look on the bright side or snap out of it. He just held me in his arms. Let me cry if I needed to, kissing my head, and making me cups of tea.

My intercom buzzed. Owen was always on time. 7 pm. We started our movie nights early. I liked to be in bed no later than 9:30 pm unless I had arranged a hookup for later.

A guy has needs.

Tonight, I'd be foregoing a quick fuck. Having Daniel come into the shop today had thrown me off. Quite unexpectedly, I found myself not wanting to sleep with anyone until I figured out what Daniel was looking for … if anything. He'd been nervous as hell today. Charismatic as ever, of course, but there had been tension behind his eyes. It had been a big step coming to see me.

Then he had praised me, and I'd just about melted.

Never in my life had I reacted that way to a few simple words. Daniel expressing his pleasure with what I had done with my business gave me tingles up and down my spine.

I'd come close to whimpering.

The absolute desire to nuzzle my face under his chin, inhaling the scent of him and his approval had been strong. Replaying his words made me feel warm and safe inside.

Owen knocking on my door broke my thoughts.

I let him in. "Welcome, sir."

Owen held up a red chip bag. "I come bearing snacks."

"Then I shall love you forever." I tousled his tidy ginger hair, messing it up.

"What are we watching tonight? It's your choice this week."

We flopped down on the couch. I grabbed the clicker and turned on the television. I called up a streaming service. "There's a new movie out. Looks hilarious. Sharks in Paris."

Owen groaned. "Classic Ethan movie."

"It'll be good for a laugh. We watched your depressing movie last week."

I tore open the chip bag and grabbed a handful of the powdered cheese-covered, triangular corn chips. I'd already put two bottles of diet cola on the coffee table for us.

A few minutes after the movie started, Owen rearranged himself on the couch, putting his feet in my lap. I stared at him. "I'm not rubbing your feet until I finish eating these chips."

Owen grinned at me. "I can wait."

The movie was gruesome in a hilarious way, it was so unbelievable. Somehow these sharks had adapted to living in fresh water beneath the streets of Paris.

The semblance of a plot dragged on.

I wiped my hands reasonably clean on a sheet of paper towel and pulled off Owen's socks. He groaned as I started rubbing one of his feet. "Daniel came to the coffee shop to see me today."

Owen lifted his head from where he was reclining on the couch. "Really?"

"Yeah, showed up this afternoon looking all kinds of gorgeous."

"To see you?"

"No other reason for him to be there. He seemed nervous."

"Did you get a chance to talk to him?"

"I took a break. Chatted with him for a while." I moved to Owen's heel, digging my thumbs into it. He rested his head back on the cushions behind him.

"I think he'll come back," I added.

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