me back into shape before throwing me back out again.”
Tyler grunted, finally leading them down a narrow path. “And do you think that’s possible?”
“Can he straighten me out?” Nate asked with a tinge of bitterness to his voice.
Tyler wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a comment about Nate’s father’s reaction to the whole gay thing, or if it was just annoyance that his father was constantly in his life, controlling him. Either way, he couldn’t help his sneer.
“I’m asking if you think you need to be straightened out,” Tyler clarified.
“Well, I am certainly making a botch of things. Perhaps I could do with a bit of straightening,” Nate said with a heavy sigh.
Tyler snorted. “I tried that out recently, didn’t go too well.”
Nate’s head jerked toward him, eyes widening. “What?”
Tyler snorted. “I was, uh, seeing this girl up in Greenford. Her name was Jessica.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that you…” Nate began, hesitating as though trying to find the words.
Tyler knew what he was thinking and it made him laugh. “Yes, I date women, or really, tried to date the one. Didn’t work out. Not because I’m not into women, but because it didn’t work with her.”
“I see,” Nate said slowly.
Tyler winked. “Still into guys though, bisexuality is a thing.”
Nate scowled at him. “I’m fully aware of the existence of bisexuality Tyler, thank you very much.”
Tyler laughed again, knowing he was starting to get under Nate’s skin. It was no different than when they’d been younger. Nate would practically puff up like an indignant bird, and he would get a tone of indignation in his voice, almost haughty in its manner. Some people thought it made Nate sound snooty. Tyler had always found it endearing.
Nate cleared his throat, looking away. “So, it didn’t work with this girl? Jessica?”
Tyler looked away briefly, feeling the familiar stab of betrayal in his chest. He took a moment to respond, watching the park around them. There weren’t many people around, a couple of joggers on one of the far paths, the sounds of kids from the nearby playground, and a couple of overly dressed guys on the path far behind them.
“No. Turns out that being faithful has different definitions to different people,” Tyler said.
Nate hummed thoughtfully. “And so, single, you decided to come back to Port Dale.”
“For the summer.”
“I see.”
He almost asked what was going on in Nate’s head but stopped as he saw some color creeping into the man’s cheeks. For a moment, he completely forgot his annoyance and the faint stab of pain at the reminder of Jessica.
Was Nate glad he was single?
“I think Clay wants me to sow my wild oats while I’m here,” Tyler said, watching Nate carefully.
Nate glanced at him, raising a brow. “You have wild oats to sow?”
Tyler snorted. “No. I’m not very good at the whole party and casual sex thing. I was getting ready to leave the club when I ran into you.”
“Literally, I might point out,” Nate said evenly.
“I apologized for that.”
“Repeatedly.”
“Exactly.”
“Unceasingly.”
“Is this where you just say the same thing in a different way until I dump coffee on you?”
“It was a great deal of apologizing.”
Tyler raised his coffee cup in an obvious threat. “Quit.”
Nate watched him with an unimpressed expression, taking a slow drink from his own cup. “You won’t dump that.”
Tyler glanced at his cup, thinking of the heavenly liquid of sweet chocolate, bitter coffee, and tart berries waiting inside it. “No, no I won’t.”
“I know neither of us are back due to circumstances we would have chosen, but I am glad to have reconnected with you,” Nate said as they continued walking.
Tyler beamed, knocking his shoulder against Nate’s. “Me too. I missed having you in my life, Nate.”
“Nate. Do you know how long it’s been since someone called me that?”
“Uh, I’m not supposed to answer that am I?”
“The last time was when you called it me it, three years ago while yelling at me.”
Tyler wrinkled his nose. “Not the best last memory to have.”
“Maybe not, but it’s...nice to hear again. Even Sonia calls me Nathan, but you were the only one to call me Nate.”
“Ah, I liked her. She still in your life?”
“She is now that I’m back in Port Dale. My father reassigned her from the kitchens to keep an eye on me. Why? I don’t know. I assume because he thinks she’ll report to him, which she won’t.”
Tyler frowned. “Report to him?”
“Oh, my father has been keeping a very close eye on me ever since,” Nate cleared his throat.