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Nate took their menus. “How about I make the choice easy for you two and put together something special. Some dishes with the very best our kitchen has to offer. If you’d like, I can suggest wine pairings as well.”

“I don’t want to put you out. You seem busy enough already.” Caleb gestured at the full restaurant.

“No trouble at all for an old friend. Make yourselves comfortable, and Javi’ll take care of you guys.”

“Thanks, Nate.”

Caleb sat as Nate retreated to the kitchen, and once Javi went to get the wine Nate suggested for the scallops, they were alone again and wasted no time digging in to the food.

“Seems like he’s doing really well for himself.”

Aaron nodded as he savored the food. “Another success story for Foster Grove. He’s made a real go of it.”

Caleb enjoyed the look of pleasure across Aaron’s face and tried not fixate on it. He struggled to control a moan as the scallop melted on his tongue. The taste was incredible.

“Does everyone end up coming back here?” Caleb asked once he could speak.

“I don’t know about everyone. I’m glad I did. I needed the change.”

“I figured you’d become, like, totally a West Coast guy.” Caleb added just a bit of valley speak, which caused Aaron to choke on his water.

“Okay, promise not to do that again.” Aaron laughed between a few more coughs. “There was a lot to do in LA, and my parents loved to come out, but….” He shrugged. “It was time to get out. You must think I’m crazy for giving it all up. You love New York, all the people, the excitement?”

“It took me a while to get used to the constant buzz of activity, but I do a lot traveling during the season so I’m not always in the middle of it.”

“Now that sounds exhausting,” Aaron said as Javi returned with a bottle of wine.

Caleb sampled the pinot gris, which tasted amazing, and Javi poured them each a glass and then left. “I can’t complain.” Caleb smiled. “I get to play for a living.”

“And you have an assistant to do all the stuff you don’t want to do.”

“I try not to use him as just a gopher. Yes, he makes sure that the fridge has food when I come back from the road and that my bills get paid on time. But he also manages my social media, handles appearance requests, coordinates with my agent on the business side of things, and makes sure I don’t miss anything I agreed to do.”

“He staying up here during your rehab?”

Caleb shook his head. “Grant went back to the city this morning. His boyfriend opens in a play tonight, and I swore that I wouldn’t let him miss it.”

“Sounds like you’re a good boss.”

“I try. It would’ve been easier on him if I’d stayed in the city. He’s fielded a lot of calls about why I left. Does it mean I’m hurt more than I let on? Will it throw my rehab off schedule? It’s been worth it, though, since I got to help out the school, see Pam, and reconnect with you.”

“Why don’t you come home more often, then?”

Caleb considered that while Aaron took another bite of the scallops. “That might be the million-dollar question. It’s an easy drive. I could get a place here—either buy something or build new.”

Aaron nodded while Caleb finished his scallops just as Javi brought the next course. Nate had outdone himself. Everything placed on their table looked tantalizingly delicious, worthy of a cover on an upscale food magazine. They both eagerly dug in.

“Did you know there are lots for sale near the pond where you played hockey?” Aaron asked between bites of food.

“Really?” Caleb quickly swallowed so he could talk. “A house with a view would be so perfect, especially if I ever had a kid. It’d be cool to—” Caleb stopped and mentally kicked himself.

“What?” Aaron asked when it was clear Caleb wasn’t going to continue his train of thought.

“Talking about kids seems, like, I don’t know….”

“It’s fine. Remember me? Grade school teacher? I like kids. Nothing wrong saying we both want kids someday.” Aaron added a shrug. “Friends can say that to each other.”

Friends.