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He looked at the phone screen and saw two missed calls and a text from Grant. He was more than competent, so Caleb was confident that everything was under control. He’d call once he finished with Dimitri, though.
“Yeah. Looks like I missed a couple calls while I was skating.” He nestled the phone awkwardly against his shoulder so he could unlace his skates.
“Whatever. Let’s get to the good stuff. Who’s the guy? He looked kinda cute from what I could see. And the kiss in a park is so you on the romantic scale.”
Caleb sighed. How did he want to put this? He could talk to Dimitri, no problem. But there wasn’t an actual label to put on what he and Aaron were doing. Plus, there was the problem that this thing was out there in the world. He’d need to let Aaron, and probably Pam, know too.
“Did I lose you?”
“No,” Caleb said quickly. “Just trying to figure out what to say.”
“What?” Dimitri was surprised. “That’s never been a problem before.”
“His name’s Aaron. We’ve known each other for forever. We’ve reconnected since I’ve been here.”
“I’ll say. I thought your first guy was in college.”
“He’s not my first…. He’s never been….” Caleb hated sputtering like this. “He was my tutor, and my sister’s best friend. He’s helping coach the youth team, and we’ve hung out a bit and….” Another sigh. “There’s something there. I can’t figure out how he feels about it, though he did kiss me and we hung out and ended up helping at a bake sale yesterday.”
“That’s way too adorable.”
“Shut up.” If they’d been in the same room, Caleb would’ve shoved Dimitri for using that singsong voice with him.
“You know I don’t do adorable. I’d probably have had his clothes off against that tree and fucked him silly.”
Caleb laughed. “I’ve missed you and that crudeness.”
“Glad to be of service.” Silence took hold for a moment before Dimitri continued. “You should just let it go. You come back to New York in three days, and you won’t have time for him. Take his cute ass to bed so you can say you tried it, and then pack up and come home.”
Caleb couldn’t laugh this time. Dimitri was crude, but he always had Caleb’s back. This time, though, he didn’t much care for the advice. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
“What? Come home?”
“No. Let it go.”
“He’s really cast a spell on you. You’ve never gone on like this about a guy. Not even that model from a couple years ago.”
“No one’s made me feel like this. I almost tried to take him home last night, but I can’t do that until I know it’s something we both want.”
“You don’t think he wants to fuck a hockey star?”
“Dimitri!”
Finally out of his skates, he was able to get the phone back in his hand. He slipped into his sneakers, which he kept laced so he could do just that.
“Sometimes I forget you’re not me. I’m way out of my depth here. Knowing you, though, I think you and your tutor need to get this sorted. Maybe he’s like me and will be satisfied with one sexed-up night.”
Caleb groaned.
“Or, he might be like you and want to settle down after a period of courtship.”
Caleb burst out laughing, not believing what he’d just heard. “Period of courtship? Really?”
“I know how the world works for you romantic types, even if I don’t get it.”
“You’re right about one thing. We need to talk. And now that the picture’s out, it’s going to have to be sooner rather than later.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Dimitri had rarely sounded so earnest.
