Page 14

Ruben

I hurried home to shower and change before going to Max’s. I wasn’t sure what I expected to happen tonight, but I was excited about it, and I was dressed and ready to go far too early. Finally, after wandering around my house for ten minutes trying to stay busy, I gave up and drove to Max’s.

I pulled up out front and sent him a text.

Ruben: I’m way too fucking early but I’m here.

Max: Why aren’t you in here with me?

I smiled before shoving my phone in my pocket and hurrying to his door. I raised my hand to knock, and the door flew open. Max gripped the front of my shirt and pulled me in for a kiss, swirling his tongue with mine and making me forget how early I was. “Wow.” My breath came out in stuttered pants, and I forced myself to release my grip on Max’s hip.

“I’ve been wanting to kiss you all day, and when you leaned in before you left, I thought for sure you were gonna go for it right in the parking lot,” he rambled.

“You make it hard for me to control myself,” I whispered before backing him into the house with a kiss of my own. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, but to be honest I’d be happy to stay at home,” he said and batted his lashes.

“While that is incredibly tempting, I want to take you out on a date. Come on, it’ll be fun,” I said, not sure if I was trying to convince him or myself because staying home with an uninjured Max sounded pretty good.

“Fine, but we’re coming back here after,” he said and started turning everything off. He kissed my cheek as he walked past me to the door then stood there holding it open. “Ready?”

I stepped closer to him and rested my hands on his hips as I met his eyes. “I’m ready,” I whispered before kissing him and forced the thoughts out of my head that said I might be ready for more than dinner.

He held my face in his hands with a touch so gentle it was hard for me to imagine those same hands bashing another player in the chest with his stick during a game, but I’d seen it with my own eyes. Max was extremely gentle, but he also could hold his own against anyone. Clearing my throat, I forced my eyes away from him and took his hand as he locked his door.

“So, where are we going?” he asked as the ride I’d arranged arrived.

“Well, you mentioned Italian so I thought we could go to a place I used to go to years ago,” I said and took his hand again after we were both situated in the car. “It’s a steak and seafood place but it’s owned by an Italian family, so it’s old school where you get antipasto salad and there’s a pasta course before the main.”

“Oh, that sounds good. What’s the name of it?”

“Rudy’s Hideaway. Have you heard of it?” It was an older family-owned restaurant that had been in Sacramento since the seventies and not much had changed except the prices. My family used to go there for special dinners out, but we hadn’t for years. I wasn’t sure what had made me think of it, but I hoped Max liked it.

“I don’t think so, where is it?”

“Off of Highway 50 and Hazel. There isn’t much else around there,” I said and watched as the driver exited the highway and drove the short way to the restaurant entrance. He let us out just outside the door and Max glanced up at the giant lobster sign before the two of us walked in. “Hello, we have a reservation for Franklin, Ruben Franklin.”

“Oh yes, dinner for two,” the host said before leading us back to the quiet table I’d asked for. Not much had changed at this place since the last time I was here. It was still dimly lit with small candles on each heavy oak table and right now, I didn’t mind that at all. “How is this?”

“Perfect,” I said as we pulled out our chairs and sat. We were literally in a corner, but it felt so intimate and private that when the host walked away and we both leaned closer to speak, it felt like we were the only two people here. I reached across the table and took his hand while we looked at the menu. “This is the exact same menu as it was when I was a kid.”

“Really?” he asked and looked again at it.

“Exactly the same.”

“What’s good?” he asked.

“Everything.” I squeezed his hand, and he looked up at me and grinned.

“Then I think I’ll have the surf and turf. That sounds so weird.” He grinned when he looked up from the menu and met my eyes.

I thought about it, and he was right. “It does. I wonder who thought of calling it that?”

“Probably a brainy lobster fisherman after a few beers,” Max said, making us both laugh just as the server came to our table.

“Good evening, gentlemen, can I get you something to drink?” the young woman asked.

“I’ll take a lager,” Max said before she gave him a few choices.

“And for you?” she directed at me.

“I’ll have the same.”

“Are you ready to order?”

“I think so,” I said and looked to Max.

“I’m ready. I want the surf and turf, medium rare with a baked potato.” After we’d ordered we chatted about the game today before our drinks arrived, and we never let go of each other’s hand the whole time. It was so nice to just sit with him and talk.

“The game might have sucked today, but I’m glad you got out of this one without any injuries,” I said and even if it was a little boring today, I’d take that over having to patch up half the team any day.

“Hopefully I never need crutches again.”

“I hope not.” That bruise was nasty, and he really had been lucky, but resting it that night had helped even if he didn’t play the next day. I was beginning to realize if we were going to have more than one date, I was going to have to lock away my personal feelings anytime he was injured but in the short time we’d been alone, I knew that wouldn’t be easy.