He shook his head as the rain changed to a downpour and he gave up any attempt to stay dry. Chad walked past the drugstore and considered stepping inside for shelter, but decided against it. He didn’t want to run into anyone he knew and explain why he was walking in the rain.
The night sucked and he had only himself to blame. Chad trekked home, a miserable mess, trying to sort out his feelings. He knew he’d made an ass of himself and owed Jeff an apology.
When he got home, he stripped in the living room and took the clothes to the laundry room before grabbing a clean towel to dry off. He walked through his kitchen and straight upstairs, ignoring his growling stomach and slipping into bed.
He grabbed his phone from his nightstand at least ten times to text Jeff, but never followed through. Hesighed. Jeff had made it clear they weren’t dating. Chad should be glad. He should be, but he wasn’t. He was dejected and moody.
Lying in bed, he realized it was the first night in weeks that he wasn’t throbbing and aching for release. Yet Jeff still consumed his mind. It wasn’t just a physical need anymore. Chad was so confused about his feelings and knew Jeff deserved someone who knew what he wanted.
He ended up torturing himself for hours as he imagined Jeff and Steven together.
* * * *
By the time dawn arrived, Chad realized he’d probably had only about an hour of sleep. It was going to be one hell of a day.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, trying to work up enough desire to get in the shower. He was an absolute mess.
The doorbell rang and he checked his phone for the time. Who the hell would be coming over at six in the morning?
He pulled on a pair of sweats before making his way down to the front door.
When he swung it open, he found himself face-to-face with an angry Jeff.
“What—”
“No!” Jeff ordered as he pushed his way in. He kicked the door shut and glared at Chad. “You’re going to listen to me.”
Stunned, Chad stood rooted. He nodded and pressed his lips together.
“You were an ass last night.”
Chad was in full agreement, but he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to say anything yet, so he only nodded.
Jeff pointed a finger at him. “You are taking me out to dinner tonight. Got it?”
Chad’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard.
“Seriously, Chad. I’m done waiting for you to figure out what you want.”
“I—”
Jeff held up his hands. “Stop. I’m going to clarify things for you right now. You want me. Me!”
Chad smiled. Jeff was hot when he was mad. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes flashed. He nodded again.
“Tonight. Pick me up at my apartment at seven. Make reservations. Not kidding, Chad,” Jeff ordered, his hand on his hip.
Chad nodded a third time.
“Good. Glad we got that out of the way. No more acting like an ass.”
Chad grinned. He hadn’t blown it after all. He hadn’t lost his chance. But he was still afraid to speak.
Jeff took a deep breath. “I have to get to work. And I barely slept last night.” His eyes narrowed on Chad. “And you look like shit so I am assuming you didn’t sleep well, either.”
Chad shook his head, but couldn’t quite rid himself of the grin.
“Good.” Jeff reached for the doorknob. “Have a good day,” he said as he left.
Chad’s grin spread into a smile. He was pretty sure he heard Jeff muttering the word “ass” as he made his way to his truck. The man was a spitfire.
* * * *
“Hey, what’s up?” Lydia asked as she walked toward his desk.
Chad gave her a weak smile. “Nothing. Just…sort of lost in thought.” Planning this date was giving him a headache. Well, “planning” wasn’t the right word—he had no idea where to start.
“I can see that, Charming,” she said with a chuckle. “You looked pretty out of it.”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, do you mind if I ask you a question?”
He shrugged. “Shoot.”
“Your name. Charming. Did you get a lot of flak for that growing up?”
Chad grimaced and rolled his eyes. “God, you have no idea. Kids teased me in elementary school, calling me a Prince, a Knight, a Disney Prince. You name it. Then as I got a little older, if a girl liked me, she would call me her Prince Charming. It was brutal.”
“Guess they didn’t know back then you were looking for your own prince?”
Chad let out a laugh. “Nope. Not until I was older. God, I desperately wanted to change my name, too. I considered shortening it to Charm, but my sister was adamant that I not change it. She felt it was important to keep it as is.”
Lydia smiled and started to giggle before slapping her hand over her mouth.