Imposter in Zebra-striped Briefs (7 page)

David made it halfway down the hall when he heard a door open behind him.

“Hey, wait up a sec.” David turned to see Josh, Nathan’s neighbor, make his way towards him. David tensed, feeling like this wasn’t going to be a ‘how are you doing’ conversation. Josh didn’t even have shoes on so he must have heard him leaving and rushed out. Josh matched David in height. He could see why some folks might be intimidated by him. David waited for Josh to speak.

“I know I’m overstepping my bounds here but Nathan’s my friend and I got a pretty good idea of who you are. Don’t fuck with his head, okay? If you want to mess around and dip your toe in the gay pool, more power to you, but don’t make him think it’s more than that just to get some.”

David instantly wanted to tell him to go fuck himself and mind his own business but he knew Josh was a good friend of Nathan’s. He was actually kind of glad Nathan had friends that looked out for him like this, even though he didn’t want to be the one people protected him from. “I’m not messing with his head. I think it’s more the other way around.” David chuckled to himself over how true that statement was. “I never had any intention of dipping anything, anywhere, until I met Nathan.” The look on Josh’s face made him realize how that sounded. “That’s not what I meant, I mean he’s different than anyone I’ve ever met before. I don’t know what’s going to happen, I wasn’t expecting this, honestly I’m not a hundred percent sure how to react to it, but I’m not messing with him.”

Josh must have been satisfied with David’s response. “I hope you get it figured out. You have a good night.” And with that Josh turned and slowly made his way back to his apartment.

Chapter 12

Monster-in-law (
Nathan
)

THE NEXT
day Nathan made the mistake of texting Josh on his way to work and telling him David had fallen asleep on him, then got up and left. That had been the longest, most torturous two hours of his life. At first he was going to wake him up, but when he tried to move, David nuzzled into his neck, tightened his arm around Nathan’s waist, and said his name so quietly on an exhaled breath Nathan thought for sure he had imagined it. So Nathan had sat there, pretending it was real, that his boyfriend had fallen asleep and he would eventually wake him up and take him to bed. But of course that was not what happened. But he had asked to see him again, so that had to be a good sign.

When Nathan got back home Josh was still out with Brandon and his mom, picking up supplies for the dinner that night. Somehow Josh had managed to text him
all day.
He said Nathan needed to be better prepared in case he ended up in a similar situation in the future, and then something about slacking on his mentoring duties, and instantly started to send Nathan video links that made Nathan wonder if he was really trying to help or just messing with him. Thankfully he was working alone in the lab. It started with three video tutorials on giving the perfect blow job and one article about the power of going commando. He caveated the link with the text
Tell David he can thank me later
, making Nathan chuckle in embarrassment. Nathan set his bag down next to the couch, and headed to the kitchen for a snack to tide him over until tonight.

Ding…. He heard his phone go off again as he was grabbing an orange from the fridge. Nathan set the orange on the counter and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

Maybe I’m jumping the gun here. What are you into?

Nathan wasn’t quite sure how to answer that. He leaned back against the kitchen counter and stared at the keypad for a second before responding.
Guys?

Ding….
I’m literally shaking my head at you right now….

Ding…. Josh instantly followed up his last text.
I meant what turns you on about a guy. Eyes? A nice ass? I need to know what I’m working with here.

Nathan felt like the entire world could see his words as he typed his response.
I think men’s feet are sexy.

Ding… Josh responded, apparently not fazed at all by Nathan’s answer.
All right then, let’s start at the toes and work our way up.

This was followed by multiple sexual tutorials Nathan was shocked were even allowed on the internet.

When his phone rang instantly after the last text about the how-tos and possible health hazards of rimming, Nathan knew it was going to be Josh.

“I’m not going to give him a rim job,” Nathan whispered into the phone. Even though he was at home alone, he was too embarrassed to say the words too loud.

“Excuse me?” His mother’s appalled voice washed over him like a bucket of ice-cold humiliation.

Nathan closed his eyes and prayed that didn’t just happen. Maybe she would ignore the beginning of the conversation like she ignored everything else she found displeasing.

No such luck. Thirty minutes later he was still being lectured on what living in “Satan’s playground” was doing to him, and if he did not pack his stuff that instant, he was no longer a part of the family.

Nathan heard a knock on his door, and swore he would hug whomever it was who was saving him from this.

“Aurora.” Nathan paused as she kept talking over him. “
Aurora
, someone is knocking on my door. I’ll have to call you back.”

Nathan barely got the door all the way open before Josh was walking in. “You have got to let me hide out over here for a while,” he said, breezing by Nathan.

“I’m not sure I’m even talking to you right now.” Nathan immediately decided against hugging his savior. He crossed his arms and glared at Josh, who was walking over to the couch and making himself comfortable.

“Why are you mad at me?” Josh looked completely perplexed as he leaned back on the couch and took in Nathan’s angry stance.

“Because you were sending me all those links, I thought it was you calling me earlier, and I started talking right away about not rimming people, and it was my mom, not you.”

Josh chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m so glad you moved here.”

“Well, I’m glad you find this funny. I was horrified. I’m pretty sure she’s going to try and get me placed in a mental facility, but whatever. Who are you hiding from?”

“My future mother-in-law. I’ve been with her
all day
,” he said, laying his head back on the couch, looking exhausted.

“You don’t like Brandon’s mom?”

“This is the first time I’ve met her. We’ve talked on the phone a few times, but all of ‘her’ does not come across on a phone line, apparently.”

“You’ve lost me,” Nathan said as he sat down next to Josh.

“Everything about her is just
a lot
. Her hair, her clothes…. I swear her dress is made out of an old lady’s couch upholstery, and her accent! Everything is ‘shugah’ and ‘honey,’ and she will not stop hugging me and pinching my cheeks and asking me questions and trying to plan family trips together.”

“You’re not questioning marrying Brandon because of his mom, are you?”

“Oh, hell no. Like, I get it. Brandon’s Southern, so it’s not like I was completely shocked, but Brandon’s mom is
real
Southern. I guess it’s different coming from someone other than Brandon. Brandon was the first person I ever let into my life like that, I fought it the whole way, and his mom comes in and tells me she loves me two minutes after she walks in the door. And I can tell it bothers Brandon that I can’t embrace his mom.”

“I wish I could help. I’m not really someone people come to for advice. If you haven’t noticed, I have the social skills of a toy poodle that pees on the floor when people pet him.”

Josh laughed at Nathan’s visual.

“Have you talked to Brandon about it?” Nathan asked, turning toward Josh.

“No. I’m just trying to make it to the wedding, and then I won’t have to see her again for at least six months.”

“I think you should talk to Brandon. It seems like he’s really close with his mom. I would hate for this to come between you two.”

“Okay, but if it doesn’t go well, you owe me your couch for the night,” he said as he got up and walked out the door.

Nathan went back to his unpacking and trying to figure out what he was going to wear to dinner that night. He was more than a little curious about Brandon’s mom now. It definitely wasn’t going to be a boring night, that was for sure. His life sure had changed in the few days he had lived here, he thought with a smile. He opened up another box and started sorting his books on the shelf. He hadn’t read anything in a week, which was totally out of character for him. Maybe he would spend today reading. He didn’t have any major plans until Josh and Brandon’s dinner party.

He was browsing through his selection of historical novels when a knock hit the door a few minutes later. He was suddenly sick to his stomach. Had he given Josh bad advice, and now he’d been kicked out of Brandon’s place? He fretted all the way to the door.

He wasn’t sure if seeing David standing in his hallway made his stomachache worse or better.

“Hi.” David stood with his hands in the front pockets of his loose running pants.

“Hi.” Nathan stepped back, out of the way of the entrance, holding a book close to his chest like a protective shield. Nathan was positive he had never seen a better-looking man in his life. The fact that he was here to see Nathan blew him away.

David grabbed the door and closed it while stepping in front of Nathan, leaving him pinned to the wall. It was like déjà vu, yet so different because this was David.

“I’m sorry for falling asleep on you the other night.” David looked like he was going kiss him. Nathan wanted it so bad, but he was not going to be the one to make the first move this time.

“Apology accepted.” Nathan’s voice came out softer than he had intended.

“Sorry, I’m saying this wrong.” He ran his fingers through his sandy-blond hair, suddenly changing from sweet to frustrated. Nathan swore David took another step closer, if that was possible. Their chests were almost touching. “I’m still kind of freaking out, to be honest.”

“I’m sorry.” Nathan hunkered down into himself, not really sure what he was apologizing for. His mind was suddenly flooded with memories of the bullies in high school.

“Hey.” David cupped the side of Nathan’s face, making Nathan look up at him.

“I’m not trying to scare you. I still can’t stop thinking it would be so much easier if I could walk away completely and pretend I had never met you. It’s not like we would probably ever run into each other.”

“Um, yeah. We can do that,” Nathan agreed, not wanting to show how much that thought hurt. He looked at the floor again, dejected.

“But that’s the problem. I can’t,” David said, dropping his hand in defeat. “I can’t stop thinking about you. Everything about you intrigues me. The way you look at me makes me feel….” David paused, at a loss for words. “Fuck. I can’t even explain it. I’ve never wanted to give a guy a romantic compliment before, so I’m not sure if I’m doing this right, but you’re beautiful,” he said softly, placing a hand on the side of Nathan’s neck, caressing Nathan’s collarbone with his thumb, causing Nathan’s breath to deepen in his chest, suddenly making him feel a bit dizzy. David trailed his thumb up Nathan’s neck and raised his chin, making Nathan meet his gaze again. “Remembering how good your skin felt, how soft your lips were. Thinking how great it felt to wake up lying with you. I’m driving myself crazy.”

Nathan didn’t know what to say to that.

“I don’t understand any of this, but I need to see if it was a fluke, or the liquor, or if it really was that amazing.”

David leaned in and tentatively grazed his lips across Nathan’s. Nathan let the book he was holding fall to the floor, and clutched David’s hips as David caressed his bottom lip with his tongue to get him to open up.

After a few minutes, David let up. He stared at Nathan for so long Nathan started to fidget, unable to meet his eyes any longer.

“It wasn’t the alcohol,” David said. “I’m probably going to freak out again before I figure this out.” David stopped talking and kissed him again, this time slower, tasting him.

“Um, that’s okay.” Nathan ran his fingers over his lips, not sure what else to say as David stepped back.

“Do you have plans tonight?” David asked reaching up, and brushing Nathan’s dark, wavy hair out of his face.

“No,” Nathan said, still trying to gather his thoughts after that unexpected yet breathtaking kiss. “Oh, wait.” Nathan rubbed his forehead, instantly trying to think of a way to get out of the rehearsal dinner, but knowing he couldn’t skip out on something that important. “I have Brandon and Joshua’s rehearsal dinner tonight.”

“Oh, okay,” David said, shoving his hands back into the pockets of his track pants. “Maybe I can see you another night?”

“No.”

“Oh, okay,” David said, looking confused and rejected.

“I meant no, it doesn’t have to be another night. Why don’t you come as my date? They told me to bring one. And you have kind of already met.” Nathan watched for David’s reaction optimistically as he partially held his breath.

“Date?” David looked unsure and maybe a little queasy about Nathan’s use of the word “date,” which was a little confusing to Nathan after what they had just done.

“Sure, that sounds good. What time do we need to be there?” David finally said.

“Not for a couple hours. We could watch a movie or something.”

“I promise not to fall asleep on you this time,” David said, squeezing Nathan’s hip and guiding him to the living room.

Chapter 13

The rehearsal dinner (
Nathan
)

“ARE YOU
sure what I’m wearing is okay?” David motioned to his Nike track pants.

“I think you look amazing.” Nathan said, blushing at his admission and grabbing a bottle of wine off the table. “They said it was casual.”

They made their way across the hall. Standing at the door, David grabbed the bottle of wine out of Nathan’s hand.

“Here, let me take that.”

Nathan glanced at David questioningly.