Page 44 of Daily Grind
They pushed off and continued down the trail.
Chapter Nine
Rob had biked oftenwhile he lived in Chicago, but less so during the CirroBot transition to Pittsburgh. Felt good to be back in the saddle on a long ride. Couldn’t beat the company, either. More and more, he found himself relaxing around Brian, his presence a joy and a balm.
Though, knowing Brian had played in the house Rob owned was a bit unsettling. Hell, he was practically neighbors with Brian’sparents.
At least he had renovated the place to within an inch of its life. Except for the layout and the lovely woodwork, nothing of its former “glory” remained. That would make taking Brian upstairs later much easier on his mind. Having sex with him in his formerbabysitter’shouse was odd, indeed.
He’d put his stamp on the place, though. Intended to put down roots. Even claimed belongings from storage. He had ahomeagain.
Rob watched Brian’s back as they biked along the Monongahela River and his heart did a little tumble in his chest that had nothing to do with exertion. Maybe someone to share it with, in time.
That exchange at the fountain, the look in Brian’s eye—fear and wonder—they echoed in Rob’s head. They’d been serious from the get-go, but there was a difference between dating because the person was fun, the sex was great andhopingsomething might come of it—andrealizingsomething might come of it. Wanting that.
A voice in the back of his head reminded Rob he’d been serious about someone before. He didn’t often think about that fucker anymore. They’d started out in similar circumstances—a chance meeting, an instant connection. Great sex, some common interests, but in the end, Greg had been after one thing—and Brian didn’t want that from Rob.
What Brian wanted from RobwasRob. Perfect. Almost too perfect.
Brian sat up on his bike and glanced back, teeth flashing as he spoke. “Gonna take the bridge.”
Rob pulled up in tandem, since there wasn’t anyone else on this part of the trail. “The Hot Metal Bridge?” This part of the trail he knew fairly well. He’d used the Hot Metal to go to the South Side Works and into the South Side proper often enough.
A nod. “Figured we could head to the Waterfront and keep going or turn around, depending on how we feel.”
He’d gone to the Waterfront once or twice to see a movie. Big shopping complex. “Sounds reasonable. Especially since we don’t have to fight that hellish traffic on the roads.”
Brian smiled. “Thank God for bike trails.”
They returned to single file when they came up to some runners and headed over the incredibly sturdy bridge. The trail opened up again, and he scooted up next to Brian. “What’s the story behind that bridge anyway?”
“Oh, it carried hot metal.”
That made no sense. “What?”
Brian slowed to a stop. When Rob settled next to him, Brian waved toward the South Side Works on one side of the river and an office park on the other. “This was all part of the J&L Steel Mill. They literally had cars on tracks that hauled hot steel from one side of the river to the other.”
Rob stared at the bridge. “You’re shitting me.”
“Nope. When we get back, I can show you photos on the Internet.”
He put a hand on his hip and tried to picture that. It explained why the bridge was so massively over-constructed on one side. “There’s a lot of history here, for such a young place.”
He grinned. “You probably have dinnerware older than this country.”
Rob huffed a laugh. “No.” The humor fled. “Growing up, all our industrial history was laced with pain when the mines closed.” Much like his past in England. He fiddled with his brake lines, pushing them back and forth. “There’s still quite a lot of pride here for that past.” He gazed at the office buildings. “And so much for the present and future.”
Brian studied him. “Losing the mills was awful for the city, but a bunch of good heads got together and laid the seed for what Pittsburgh is today.” He shifted his bike around. “I almost left. I’m glad I stayed.”
“I wouldn’t have met you.”
Brian furrowed his brows. “Probably not.” He clasped Rob on the shoulder, leaned over, and kissed him—just a quick touch of lips. “But I’m here. You’re here.” The next kiss was longer and deeper.
Brian couldkiss. Passionately, sweetly, as demanding as fuck. All three at once. Every time those lips met his, Rob’s world tilted.
Brian broke away. “Shall we keep going?”
“The ride? Or… ?”
