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Tommy didn’t think this is how his morning was going to go, that’s for sure. But he’s sitting across from a gorgeous man, holding his hand in the sun. It’s a beautiful day and he wishes he didn’t have to go to work later.
“So,” Evan says, squeezing his hand again. “You mentioned that we don’t know really anything about each other. Tell me something about yourself.”
Tommy grins, relaxing even more. He’s glad they met early because he really doesn’t want to leave. “What do you want to know?”
Evan tilts his head, considering. He bites his bottom lip in thought and Tommy thinks he looks so cute that he could kiss him again. And he would, but he wants Evan to take the lead there.
“Should I go with a cliché? We, uh, mostly talked about work that night.”
Tommy shrugs. “It would be a good start.”
“Okay. Favorite movie?”
“Love Actually,” Tommy says instantly because it always will be. He’s a sucker for a good romantic comedy, especially Christmas-themed.
Evan looks delighted. “Really?”
“Yep. Hugh Grant? Hot.”
Evan throws his head back and laughs and damn, Tommy knows he’s already so gone on this guy. He shakes Evan’s hand a little because they haven’t let go of each other yet. He’s so amazed at the change in Evan from their first date to today. There are no nerves, he’s not looking around like he’s afraid he’s going to be caught doing something he’s not supposed to...or being someone he’s not supposed to be.
“What’s yours?” Tommy prompts, delighted at Evan’s delight.
“I like movies,” he starts, “but I actually really love a good documentary. All the National Geographic ones….I’ve gotten Chris into some of the Disney ones too.”
“Interesting,” Tommy says truthfully. He wasn’t sure he expected that. Evan seems to sense this.
“Not what you were expecting?” he asks with a little grin.
“I don’t know what I was expecting,” Tommy admits, because it’s true. What little he has learned about Evan has surprised him in some way or another. Why should something as simple as a favorite movie be any different?
“I wasn’t expecting a rom-com to be yours, to be fair,” Evan volunteers. “But I like it.”
“That’s fair,” Tommy answers. “My turn. Q-word on a shift. Favorite thing to do with that time?”
Evan’s eyes light up even more and Tommy didn’t think that was possible. “You believe in the Q-word curse too?”
“All sensible people should,” Tommy says sagely.
Evan snorts a laugh. “Please, please tell that to Eddie because he basically thinks we’re full of crap.”
“I could say it one day,” Tommy answers. “But that would be punishing you and I don’t think that’s entirely fair.”
A beautiful blush works its way onto Evan’s cheeks. “That’s very kind of you, thank you.”
Tommy squeezes his fingers this time. Somehow, their hands have shifted a little, so Evan’s fingers are wrapped around his palm. He couldn’t tell when it happened. “Favorite thing to do?”
“Right,” Evan blinks and considers this before saying, “I like to cook with Bobby, actually. I’ve gotten pretty good at it and we also kind of use it as a time to talk about things. He’s basically my surrogate father.”
Tommy considers whether he should ask the obvious question, but decides against it for now. Instead, he says, “I’m not much of a cook, I tend to rely on takeout or those frozen meals.”
“Ugh,” Evan says, looking comically disgusted. “No no no. Can’t do that. Let me cook for you sometime.”
Tommy smiles. “I would love that, Evan.”
“Good,” Evan answers brightly. “I know you said when I called that you have to work at 11, but can I ask you one more question?”
“Isn’t that the name of the game?”
“Now that you mention it...” Evan bites his lip again and Tommy finds that he really does want to kiss it. “I was wondering why you call me Evan. I’m sure you’ve heard the others call me Buck.”
Tommy frowns. “Does it bother you?”
“No!” Evan answers quickly. “Not at all. Not when you say it. I just wondered.”
Again, Tommy senses something behind that, but it seems far larger than they can get into now. “When you walked into my hangar with Chimney and Eddie and Chimney introduced you guys, I looked at you and thought you were the most attractive man I’d seen in a long time.”
The blush that spreads across Evan’s cheeks in that moment is incandescent. Tommy wants so badly to reach across the table to pull his face to his that he shifts in his chair minutely. He hopes Evan doesn’t notice. He realizes in that moment, too, that their fingers are now entwined.
Evan blows out a breath. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
Tommy grins. “Thank you?”
With a shake of his head, he laughs again. “Thank you. But what does that have to do with my name?”
Tommy shrugs. “Eddie and Chimney both called you Buck. Hen did it in the helicopter after….maybe I thought calling you Evan would make me stand out a little.”
“Did you…did you get any sense about me even then?”
“About your orientation?” Tommy asks and Evan nods. “Man, that would be amazing if I had that type of power, but no. I had no idea until that night in your apartment.”
Evan nods. “I didn’t know, you know.” He explains gently. “I just….there was something about you and I didn’t understand why I felt that way. Did I want you because you were spending time with Eddie? Did I want you to spend time with me instead? And if I did, in what context? Until you kissed me, then everything sort of fell into place.”
“I know,” Tommy says gently. “I got that eventually. Can I ask you a serious question?”
Evan looks nervous now but he nods. Tommy almost backs down at the sight of those nerves, but they feel different now so he decides to go ahead anyway. “What changed between that night at the restaurant and now?”
Evan bites the inside of his cheek and Tommy glances surreptitiously at Evan’s watch. Both of their hands are entwined, one set on top of the other. He doesn’t want to rush him, but he suddenly finds that he really wants to know this. They have about half an hour before he really should go.
“It was never about you,” Evan answers hesitantly. “I mean, it was, but...Eddie is my best friend. He welcomed me into his and Christopher’s life without reservation and I was afraid that would change. Irrational, I know. I did know that, but-” Evan shrugs a little. “-this is all very new to me. It's a lot of change, you know?”
Tommy leans forward in his chair and squeezes Evan’s hands again. “I know. I know that, trust me. And you can process this however you want and need to. You have to do it your way or living the life you want will never happen.”
“That makes sense. When I told him…”
Tommy raises his eyebrows and can’t help but interrupt. “You told him?”
“I did,” Evan answers with a small, happy smile. “It went great. He’s the one who told me to call you. I told Maddie first, then him. Two of the most important people in my life. I really, really want to do this with you, Tommy. I just maybe will need you to be patient with me.”
“I can do that,” Tommy says resolutely and he knows that’s absolutely true. He’s not going to give Evan up now without a fight.
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
Evan shakes their hands then lets go and Tommy almost feels bereft. “Can I walk you to your car?”
Tommy takes his phone out and looks at the time. He’ll be cutting it close, but it’ll be fine. “I would love that.”
“Cool.” Evan stands up and grabs both of their coffee cups, throwing them into the nearest trash can before, without any hesitation, grabbing Tommy’s hand again and intertwining their fingers. They smile at each other and start walking.
Before Tommy knows it, they're at his car and he’s loathe to let go. “Can I text you if it’s Q-word tonight?”
“Yes, absolutely,” Evan answers. “I’m off today so I’ll be around.”
“Good.” he blows out a breath. “I really sh-”
He doesn’t get the rest of his sentence out, because before he knows it, Evan’s lips are on his.
The kiss is almost a mirror of their first, soft and sweet and Tommy loves it. Evan’s hands are on his shoulders and his own have made it to Evan’s waist and when it ends, Evan leans his forehead against Tommy’s and looks at him shyly. “Sorry. Been wanting to do that all morning.”
Tommy grins happily. “You never have to apologize.”
“Awesome,” Evan breathes and he kisses him sweetly again before he backs away. “If I don’t let you go now, you’re going to be very late.”
“Yeah,” Tommy agrees. “Have a good day off.”
“Have a good day at work.” Evan reaches out and straightens the strings on his hoodie. “Be safe.”
“I will.” he opens the driver’s side door and gets in. “Hey, Evan?”
“Hmm?” he's tucked his hands into his jeans pockets and looks as reluctant to leave as Tommy does.
Tommy feels like he’s going to burst he’s so happy. “I like you.”
Evan’s smile is gorgeous. “I like you too.”
Tommy winks at him and gets in his car, starting it up. As he drives off he thinks that no, this isn’t how he thought his morning was going to go. He wishes he could stay with Evan all day but knows that real life has to do its thing.
But now he has a little something to tide him over until next time.