Chapter 11
Nolan left Toni to her note-taking and made short work of the bike ride home.He was relieved to find that Cam wasn’t there.He tried to watch TV for a bit and then attempted to do some research online,but he ended up pacing around the apartment and running his recent conversations and interactions through his head.He was shocked when he looked out the apartment window and noticed the first hint of dusk appearing.The thought of spending another sleepless night stuck in his own head was too much for Nolan and he quickly packed an overnight bag and hurried out to his car.
It was no surprise he soon found himself sitting in his car in Rick’s driveway thirty minutes later.There were lights on in the house,but Rick’s truck was gone.
After weighing his options,Nolan decided that it was probably for the best that Rick wasn’t there.He did want to check out the shed before maybe driving out to see if he could spend the night at his parents’house.He was relieved to see the outside lights were on in the back yard.The shed itself looked great.It had siding and shingles.Even the trim work was done.A quick peep through the window revealed that the lawn mower and tools had even been moved in.
“Turned out nice,didn’t it?”
Nolan gasped and spun around to see Rick standing a few feet behind him.He was wearing an old band T-shirt,some basketball shorts,and tennis shoes.In his hand was a pizza box.
“Didn’t mean to scare you.I saw your car out front and figured you were out here checking out your handiwork.”
“Oh,yeah.I really wanted to see how it turned out.It looks great.”Nolan hugged his arms to himself.He was trembling.
“You look cold.Come on it and split this pizza with me.”
“I could eat.”
“It’s Hawaiian,your favorite.”
“Oh,I could definitely eat in that case.”
Nolan was soon seated at the table as Rick sat a plate in front of him and one across the table for himself.“You want a beer?”
“You got a soda or something?I’m kinda done with beer for a hot second.”
“Gotcha.Two sodas coming right up.”
The pizza was hot and delicious,but it was largely shared in silence before Nolan said,“Rick,I’m really sorry about how I acted.”
“Man,you don’t have to be sorry.That was super awkward.”
“Yeah.I was just surprised.”
“Cam should not have said those things.”
“I’m glad he did,actually.It really opened my eyes.”
“Oh?”Rick’s eyes sparkled in an unspoken joke.
“It never occurred to me that you could be gay.”
“And why is that?”
“I have known gay guys before and none of them act like you.”
“And how do I act?”
“Like,I don’t know.Like a normal person.”
Rick let out his first genuine laugh of the night.“Gay people are normal people.I guarantee you have met loads more gay people than you realize.Campiness is part of gay culture for sure,but there are gay firemen and businessmen and cashiers.There’s no one way to be gay.”
Nolan sighed.“I know.I’m not trying to be jerk.I’m just being honest.I didn’t know you could be masculine and gay at the same time.If I’m being really honest,you’re the manliest man I’ve ever met in person,and you’re,like,into dudes.”
Rick’s crooked grin slid across his face.“Thanks,I think.”
Nolan watched as Rick leaned his head back to finish the last of his soda.His stubble-covered Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
“Is it true that you want to fuck me?”
Rick choked and spat his soda all over the table,splattering Nolan in the process.He stood up,still coughing,and got a dishtowel and threw it in Nolan’s direction.“Sorry,dude.That really caught me off guard.”
Nolan was chuckling and wiping his face.“I didn’t expect that.But no,really.Tell me.”
“Cameron just said that to make it awkward between us.”
“Oh.Well,I’ve done a lot of thinking.I decided that’s it would have been pretty cool if you did like me like that.”It was Rick’s turn to be stunned into silence.“‘Cuz if the coolest guy I know thinks I’m hot,then I must be pretty damn appealing.”
Rick leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest.“Well,that is a pretty cool way to look at it.If we’re being one hundred percent honest,sure.You’re fucking hot.But I’d never put the moves on you like that.I would rather be friends than mess it up with some pathetic gay guy crushing on a straight dude sort of thing.”
Nolan studied Rick’s face,his square jaw,his kind eyes.He found his expression open and honest.He did not see any traces of Rick trying to manipulate him or convince him he was thinking something he was not.Before Nolan was a man standing bravely in his truth.It took a moment for Nolan to name the feeling that was rising within his chest.He realized he was proud of Rick for saying what was on his mind.His throat constricted with admiration before he laughed and shook his head,clearing away all the heavy thoughts.“Hey!Show me what you’ve done with the garage.Let’s behave like men and lift until we’re too tired to be awkward.”
Rick laughed and pushed himself up from leaning on the counter.“Awesome idea.”
Things in the garage had changed drastically.A weight bench,a treadmill,and a punching bag had been set up in one half of the garage with free weights,exercise balls,and resistance bands thrown in at random spots for good measure.On the other side of the garage sat a vintage Jeep with the hood up.