14. Nash

CHAPTER 14

NASH

Nash had grown to love gym days. They'd started out of sheer necessity. After spending hours upon hours at a desk every day, Nash was starting to feel like a potato. Colby practically dragged him to the first few sessions, promising to go easy on him.

It was anything but easy, but Nash liked spending time with Colby at the gym. He was in his element there. Surrounded by people he could help was when Colby was at his best.

Today was no exception. There were a few new faces in his class so he took a lot of time with them during each part of the circuit, making sure they were using proper form so they didn't hurt themselves and were having fun at the same time.

Colby could make anything fun. And even though he liked to protect everyone and take care of them, since Nash had joined the gym and worked out with him for so long now, he must have deemed Nash capable of looking after himself because he'd cooled it with the protective stuff. He also had Milo to distract him. Milo still came to the gym to work out with Colby, but he also respected that this had been Colby's time to hang out with Nash, so even when he was there, he went to great lengths not to monopolize Colby's attention.

Today, Milo was across the room on the treadmill. After Colby's class ended, he came over to where Nash had sat and dropped down on the bench next to him.

"What's new?" Colby asked innocently. Answering just as innocently was the tricky part. Nash never thought he was a very good liar, mostly because he wasn't very skilled at it.

"I'm close to finishing that sci-fi book."

Colby's eyebrows shot up. "Really? You've been working on that since, like, forever ago. That's awesome."

Over the past week, Nash had been inspired. He'd written more on it in a handful of days than he'd been able to do in months. He'd like to think it was all him, but Taylor's enthusiasm had lit a fire under Nash. Damon and Colby had been just as enthusiastic, but it was like Taylor was already invested and he didn't even know much about the book. But his comments about conflict had given Nash the inspiration he'd needed to fill in the last of the pesky plot holes, and that was the driving force behind his recent productivity.

"If you're lucky, I'll let you read it before it comes out," Nash teased. Colby wasn't much of a bookworm, but he didn't hold that against him. Colby was his biggest cheerleader. He didn't have to read his books to support him. They'd talked about this before when Colby had tried over and over to read one of Nash's mystery novels. His Detective Marley series had hit it big, so Nash kept that series alive and well as his breadwinner.

"Are you going to publish it?" Colby asked.

"Maybe under a different pen name. I haven't decided yet. It still needs a lot of work, though, so it won't be any time soon." Nash cracked his water bottle open and took a long drink. "How are things with you and Milo?"

Colby's face went all mushy and soft, and it was kind of endearing. "You probably don't want the details, but things are going very, very well between us."

"I'm glad. You seem happy." Nash leaned against the wall and fell into a comfortable silence with Colby. They'd always been that way with each other, and it was nice to not feel like he had to fill every moment up with something. That they could exist in the same space and that was enough.

Today, though, the silence allowed Nash's mind to wander to Taylor and how alike he and Colby were. Both of them were fiercely loyal to their family and were willing to do anything to help someone. Colby looked more like Ethan than either of his siblings. Jonah and Taylor favored their mom. Not that Nash had met her. She'd been gone a long time before Nash met Colby.

There was a strong enough family resemblance that Nash could tell they were related. He'd never been attracted to Colby, though. Not even an inkling of heat had ever existed between them. There was also the fact that up until Colby met Milo, he'd thought he was straight. Nash hadn't always agreed with that assessment, but it hadn't been his place to say anything.

"You're lost in space today," Colby said, nudging one of Nash's feet with his own.

"Literally," Nash lied. "I was thinking about my book."

"Writers." Colby rolled his eyes. "Always so distracted."

"Only some of the time. And you're one to talk. I know you've been ogling your boyfriend this whole time."

"Who could blame me? He's hot as fuck. Oh, I almost forgot. We're going to this drag show slash going-away party for one of the queens Milo used to work with, and we've been told to invite as many people as possible."

"Going-away party?"

"Yeah, Ina Mood has landed herself an ongoing gig on a cruise ship. She's off to see the world."

"And you want me to come to a stranger's going-away party?"

Colby shrugged. "And maybe bring a signed copy of one of your Detective Marley books. I'll pay for it, of course. But she's a huge fan." Colby nudged Nash's foot again. "Sorry, that's probably overstepping."

"No, it's fine. I'm always surprised when I find out I have fans. It's weird. But I don't mind. I keep a few extras on the shelf at home. Who should I sign it to? No, never mind. I'll sign it there. It's more special that way."

Colby threw his arm around Nash and pulled him into a side hug. "Have I told you lately that you're the best?"

Nash pushed him off and got to his feet. "No, actually."

"Are you heading out?"

"After a shower."

"Need someone to wash your back?" Colby joked, waggling his eyebrows.

"Definitely not." Although if he did need someone to do that, Colby was the wrong Bennett brother. Not that Nash was going to say anything to give away the fact that he wasn't single. Definitely wasn't single. He bit back a smile and waved Colby off. "Go pester your boyfriend. I can tell you miss him."

Colby didn't bother to deny it and got to his feet. "I'll text you the party details, okay? Thanks again for agreeing."

"Not a problem. See you later," Nash said, and Colby clapped him on the back on his way by. Truthfully, Nash needed all the good will he could build between himself and Colby for when he found out about Nash's relationship. If anyone was going to have a meltdown, it was going to be Taylor's overprotective older brother.

Nash tried not to think too much about that, though. For now, he had enough to keep his mind busy between his writing and his boyfriends. He didn't need to borrow trouble worrying about the reaction of his best friend. He had to have faith that it would all work out for the best in the end.

Gym showers weren't Nash's favorite place to be and it was less of a shower and more of a lukewarm, super-fast rinse to get the worst of the sweat off so he wouldn't repel people at the coffee shop.

Part of his writing routine had evolved into including a couple of public writing sessions. It got him out of the house and around people, which helped him feel like he was still part of society and not this guy destined to become a bearded hermit, ordering groceries and never leaving his apartment.

Nash waved at Colby and Milo on the way out and headed to the nearby cafe he'd been a regular at for a couple of years. In the nicer weather, it wasn't a bad walk, but today the autumn wind was cold and biting and Nash decided to drive the distance. Except when he arrived, the lights were off and the open sign wasn't lit. After parking, he got out and went to the door to read the sign taped there.

Closed for a family emergency.

Nash frowned and got in his car. Any other day, he might have turned around and gone home, but today he found himself driving over to the Bennett's diner. He didn't know why he hadn't set up shop there before. Ethan wouldn't mind. Other customers had been known to sit and drink coffee and work for hours on their laptops.

But other customers didn't also show up on random Sundays for brunch, or at Ethan's house for fire nights. Nash had worried about wearing out his welcome, he supposed.

At this time of day, the diner was surprisingly quiet. Nash walked in and took a seat at the family table. He was pulling his laptop out of the bag when Ethan appeared with a coffee pot.

"It's good to see you, Nash. Looks like you brought your office with you."

"I hope that's okay," he said, knowing it was. "The cafe I usually work at is closed for an emergency."

"You are more than welcome to work here whenever you want." Ethan filled a cup for Nash. "Did you want anything to eat?"

"I'd love a BLT, no mayo."

"You got it," Ethan said, going back behind the counter, then disappearing into the kitchen. Sometimes Nash wished the diner's kitchen wasn't closed off from the rest of the restaurant, but it was an old building and it had been that way for as long as the Bennetts had owned the business.

But maybe it was a good thing he couldn't see Taylor from where he sat. Nash had the feeling he might spend too much time making eyes at him like Colby had been doing to Milo at the gym.

Nash opened his laptop and got to work. Ethan appeared with the sandwich a few minutes later and Nash thanked him politely before diving in, eating with one hand and typing—slowly—with the other.

He'd feared the diner might be too distracting, but it was almost like working at home. Sure, it was noisier, but Nash didn't mind. He finished his meal and Ethan refilled his coffee, and it wasn't until Taylor came out some time later that Nash finally looked up from his work.

Taylor dropped into the seat across from him with a plate of fries. "You can have some if you want. You've been here for hours."

Nash looked at the time and realized that he had indeed been there for almost four hours, barely moving in that whole time. He made sure his work was saved before shutting his laptop.

"I didn't mean that you had to stop working."

"I know, but I didn't expect to get as much done as I did." Nash grabbed a fry off Taylor's plate and crunched it. It was salty and hot and perfect, and Nash was suddenly starving. But for more than just the food. Taylor looked hot as hell, even sweaty from work. His cheeks were rosy from the heat of the kitchen, or maybe he was wearing makeup. Nash could never tell.

He clocked Ethan's location and grabbed another fry. "You look incredible."

"Oh, my God, shut up," Taylor whispered, his blush deepening. "I'm disgusting from frying food all day."

"Still hot." Nash shrugged.

"You're impossible."

"I am. What are you doing later?"

"I have a few plants to water, but that doesn't take long."

"Only a few?"

"I used to do them all at once, but do you know how much time that takes?" Taylor laughed.

"How many plants do you have now?" Nash was almost afraid to ask.

"I don't keep track anymore."

"Anyway, if you're free, we could do something later. Maybe a movie at my place. I'll buy us dinner."

"I don't mind cooking."

"I know you don't, but maybe I want to do something nice for you."

Taylor shoved a couple of fries in his mouth and nodded. "Fine," he said eventually. "I'll be there at seven."

He got up from his seat and nudged the rest of the fries toward Nash. "I have to get back to the kitchen. Finish my fries for me. See you later."

Taylor walked away and Nash wanted to follow him, pin him to the wall, and kiss the fry salt off his lips. Why had he said they had to go slow? Nash wanted to pound his head on the table but that would draw too much attention, so he settled for finishing Taylor's fries.

But if he was seriously considering spending an evening alone with Taylor, he might need to have a conversation with his boyfriends first about what speed they were going to take things going forward. Nash wasn't sure how much longer he could keep putting the brakes on.