Page 65 of Mr. Naughty List
RJ narrowed his gaze. “You know there was never anyone else you were going home with tonight.”
Aaron shivered against him and angled his body in to snuggle closer. “I know.”
RJ unzipped his leather jacket and pulled Aaron close to his chest, kissing the top of his head as he tried to wrap the leather around the both of them. The fizzy, thrilling rush of whatever was happening between them—and whatever else was going to happen tonight—propelled them through Market Square.
“Mr. Danvers!”
Aaron stiffened in RJ’s arms. They stumbled to a halt, and then Aaron slowly turned to the patio area outside the Tomato Head restaurant. RJ didn’t release him and was surprised when Aaron didn’t shrug him off or leap out of his embrace in a panic either.
“I knew that was you, Mr. Danvers.” A young man, probably a college freshman by the gawky look of him, so not that much younger than RJ to be honest, slipped from the crowded patio full of people eating pizza.
Wearing a black apron around his waist, the guy looked like he was on the waitstaff there. He had a hippie, maybe-he’d-showered-this-week-maybe-not look about him. Typical for the Tomato Head servers. The kid smiled widely at Aaron and put out his hand.
“So good to see you, Mr. Danvers. It’s me, Ephraim Freemont?”
“Right. Of course. Sorry. It’s been a few years. I remember you now. It’s wonderful to see you.”
“It’s great to see you too. I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say hi.”
“Hi.” Aaron smiled and stepped away from RJ a bit. He put out his hand to Ephraim to shake. Ephraim clung to Aaron’s hand longer than necessary, and seemed tempted to go in for a hug, but restrained himself.
Grinning, he looked toward RJ. “Yeah, so, uh, I saw you walking here with your boyfriend and I just wanted to tell you I’m proud of you.”
Aaron tilted his head, bright eyes dulling slightly. “Thank you? For what?”
“For being out now. That’s awesome. So many kids need to see that, you know? That teachers can be out, that people they look up to and admire are gay.” Ephraim lifted his hand for a high five. Aaron gave him one but looked more confused than anything.
“Ephraim! They need you in the kitchen!” Another member of the waitstaff called to him.
“See you, Mr. Danvers. And thanks for being brave.”
Aaron stared after the kid for a minute, and then turned to RJ with a stunned twist to his features. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re his hero. For tonight anyway.” RJ shrugged. He was used to being someone’s temporary hero. Admittedly rarely for being gay, more often for being the guitar hero of their dreams. As a teacher, Aaron couldn’t be entirely unaccustomed to the feeling, could he?
“I don’t know about that.” Aaron started off toward his apartment again. The teasing, fun spell between them felt suddenly irreparably broken. RJ didn’t know whether to thank Ephraim for the truth bombs exploding in Aaron’s mind right now or smack him for ruining what had been a very long set-up to a very fun game.
RJ walked beside Aaron, but reading the signs Aaron was giving off, he kept his hands to himself for now.
“I don’t want to hide,” Aaron said, as they crossed the street and entered the light-filled path of Krutch Park. “I’m not embarrassed to be gay,” he said urgently. “Or I guess, well, Ishouldn’tbe.”
“No,” RJ agreed, reaching out for Aaron’s hand and tugging him to stop.
They faced each other with the Christmas lights brightening their faces. Other walkers passing them on the path. RJ tightened his hold on Aaron’s hands and waited. He could feel the words bubbling up in Aaron. He just needed to wait and hear them out.
“Tonight felt different for me,” Aaron said slowly, glancing down at the ground before meeting RJ’s eyes again. “Tonight, I pretended that I didn’t have to hide. I didn’t quite believe it, but I pretended it was true.”
“You were gorgeous, babe,” RJ said softly, not wanting to be overheard by the passing families. He wasn’t ashamed either, but this moment felt fragile. “The men flocked to you.”
Aaron nodded, eyes distant, remembering. “I felt gorgeous. I wanted them to see me, RJ. I didn’t hide.”
“No, you shone. Like a star. Brightest light in the room.”
Aaron shook his head, a shy smile blooming. “That was you.”
“No, Aaron. That was you.”
Aaron snorted, but suddenly moved closer to RJ, burying his head against RJ’s chest. RJ wrapped his arms around him, and they held each other in the park.