Even though Nicholas had been expecting them - indeed, he'd been pacing around for the last hour, looking outside every few minutes - he still jumped when he heard the car pull into his driveway, and his heart began to beat faster. Faster still as he heard Sören and Anthony's voices outside.
Nicholas stepped onto the front porch. "May I assist you with your bags?"
"We're good," Sören said, wheeling a suitcase around as Anthony closed the trunk.
"Sorry we're a little late," Anthony said. "We ran into traffic leaving Boston."
"I assumed," Nicholas said with a small, polite smile. "As you know, Boston is rather well-known for its bad traffic..."
"That's one," Sören muttered; Anthony grinned.
Nicholas knew that the "as you know" count was teasing rather than malicious - the feeling of discomfort was looking at Anthony smiling like that and not wanting to find him so handsome.
Nicholas had fancied Sören Sigurðsson since they'd met in Reykjavik in 2017, but Sören had just gotten out of a bad relationship and Nicholas felt it was the wrong time to try to make his feelings known. Even as time wore on, Nicholas had concerns about Sören thinking him too old... or thinking he was a "chaser" with a trans fetish. Nicholas just saw Sören as male. A breathtakingly gorgeous man who was incredibly talented, funny, and sweet.
But most of all, when Sören talked about his roommate Anthony, Nicholas saw the flush on his cheeks, the sparkle in his brown eyes, the shy little smile... the way he bit his lower lip. It didn't take a genius to figure out Sören was in love with this Anthony, but Nicholas had assumed that the feelings weren't reciprocal, since they were just roommates.
Until yesterday, when Nicholas finally saw Anthony in the chat app... and saw the gift Anthony had given Sören. Nicholas felt like the offer of a three-day weekend at his home in Concord was paltry compared to an Australian boulder opal the size of Sören's thumb. Between that and the way Anthony looked at Sören, it was obvious the pining was mutual. Which was why Nicholas had extended the invitation to Anthony as well. Nicholas's offer of Sören spending the weekend with him hadn't been entirely innocent - he'd been hoping to set a romantic mood with home-cooked dinner, and the jacuzzi, but it would be up to Sören, not wanting to make the younger man uncomfortable. Now that Nicholas saw the writing on the wall - just even in the short walk up to the front porch, the way Anthony and Sören kept looking at each other was unmistakable - Nicholas would be a gentleman and step aside, and see if a weekend getaway in the natural beauty of Walden helped push them towards each other. Maybe he might even help, setting a candlelight dinner for both of them.
Nicholas smiled fondly as the meowing cats were let out of their carriers. "I've set up food and water and a catbox for them," Nicholas said.
"Oh, we brought supplies. You already had them here? Do you have a cat?" Anthony asked.
"He went into renal failure three years ago." Nicholas frowned and lowered his head. It still hurt, but he was getting closer to wanting to adopt a cat. Much closer, as he watched the tuxedo and grey tabby sniff around.
"The grey one is Seamus, and as you know, this is Snúður," Sören said, picking up the tuxedo for a moment to give him kisses. Snúður meowed and hopped down and resumed exploring. Sören had spoken often of Snúður and shown Nicholas pictures from his cell phone.
Nicholas stooped down to let Snúður sniff his hand, and Snúður allowed pettings. "Why hello there. Aren't you a handsome boy." Nicholas's face burned, not able to resist the glance up at Anthony, who was looking around, taking it all in. If Nicholas was casting the next Bond, it would be Anthony. He and Sören looked good together.
The thought of Anthony and Sören making love in one of the guest bedrooms made Nicholas's cock start to stiffen. Don't make this more awkward than it already is, Nicholas chastised himself, as if his cock was capable of listening to a lecture. Nicholas stood up, reflexively tugged on the hem of his shirt, and with a clear of his throat he put out his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you in person, Anthony."
"Likewise." Anthony's grip was firm without being overpowering. Their eyes met. Anthony's eyes were a lovely shade of moss green.
Nicholas cleared his throat again. "I'll show you to your rooms."
It was already dark outside - Sören had warned Nicholas that Anthony had court today and was getting back later than usual from work, and then they'd hit traffic out of Boston. Nicholas, too, had a long day. He hadn't slept well last night, laying there awake thinking of Sören - relieving himself twice - and he truly felt all of his fifty-four years as he led the way down the hall, even though he was still fit and active for his age. Each one of the steps down to the guest bedrooms where Sören and Anthony would be staying - and if all went according to plan, making love together - felt like he was walking on Death Row to the execution chamber.
Nicholas hadn't been this much in love with someone since Mark, his ex, who'd just abandoned him one day without warning. It had taken Nicholas years to even consider being in a relationship again, and of course he had to fall for someone almost half his age who was taken with someone who looked like a James Bond candidate.
Thanks, I hate it.
Both the guest rooms were the same size. Sören took the one adjacent to Nicholas's room, and Anthony took the one across from Sören's room. After their bags were in and they'd had a chance to change out of their street clothes - and Nicholas tried very, very hard not to think about either of them in a state of undress - they joined him on the back porch for a nightcap.
Nicholas lived on a cul-de-sac and there were woods in his backyard. He had lived on this land since the 90s, after he himself had visited Concord to walk in Emerson's and Thoreau's footsteps, as an idealistic Gen Xer convinced humanity needed to connect more with nature to save the planet and themselves... and he'd decided to stay. He'd stayed even after Mark left, even as the memories still haunted him. It had been a long time since Nicholas had entertained an overnight guest, let alone two of them. Yet, even as much as it made him ache to "do what he must do" and try to help Sören and Anthony acknowledge their obvious feelings, he was still glad of the company, out here in the dark under the new moon, on one of those muggy end-of-summer nights. It felt good to share this piece of paradise with other people for a little while.
"It's nice," Sören said, looking around. "Even in the dark."
"Especially in the dark. It's peaceful." Anthony raised his glass of cognac. "You have good taste in property, Monsieur Decaux."
"Please, call me Nicholas." Nicholas nodded solemnly and sipped at his glass. "This is nothing compared to Walden Pond. Since it's the end of summer, there won't be as many tourists."
"Good," Sören said. "Last thing we need when we're trying to relax is screaming kids."
As if on cue, there were meows from the other side of the glass door. The three men turned around to see the two cats standing on their hind legs, paws against the glass, meowing frantically, very upset that the humans were out.
"Awwwwww, babies," Sören said. "We'll be in soon, OK?"
"Spoilt," Anthony said, waving at Seamus, who yelled louder. "Spoiled little brats."
"I can tell they're very well-loved," Nicholas said - which just made him like Anthony even more, as much as he didn't want to like his competition.
"They're good kitties." Anthony gave a wry smile. "Seamus kind of saved my life. From Churchill's black dog, and all."
"Ah, melancholy." Nicholas nodded. That was something he too was familiar with. They deserve to be happy together. "May this weekend bring you yet further renewal."
Anthony held out his glass, and the three men clinked glasses.
Nicholas sighed, and looked up into the black sky, the shadow of the new moon... the twinkling stars. There was less light pollution at Walden at night, of course it was also closed at night. He and Mark had sometimes gone there afterhours anyway, parking at a distance and walking in through one of the trails. Nicholas leaned against the railing and looked at Sören and Anthony, who kept looking at each other between sips of their drink, then looking away.
Sören looked more tired, even though Anthony had the longer day... and the wistful expression on Sören's face went right to Nicholas's heart. He felt those flutters and a frisson again as he thought to himself, He walks in beauty like the night.
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