I picturing you in a cute little suit with a neat waistcoat?”
Robin gaped in mock horror. “Okay, when did you see that photo?”
Dean laughed. “My mom probably has similar photos of me someplace.” He inclined his head toward the framed photo. “Adrian is going to send me a couple of tickets for the opening night.” When the thought occurred to him, Dean rejected it, until a little voice in his head gave him a dig. Why not? “Why don’t you come with me?”
Robyn’s eyes were huge. “Really?”
“Why not? You’d have to ask your parents, I guess.” Robin might be eighteen, but he still lived under their roof.
“They’d be okay about it, if I was going with you.”
The more he thought about it, the more Dean really liked the idea. “I’ll let you know when I get the tickets.” His phone buzzed in his back pocket and he took it out to peer at the screen. “Excuse me. I have to take this call.” Dean walked into the kitchen and clicked on answer. “Hey, Kris.”
“Dean? I really need to talk.” The note of panic in Kris’s voice was obvious.
“Are you okay?”
“No, no I’m not. Are you home?”
“Yes, but—”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He disconnected.
Dean shook his head before turning toward Robin. “I’m about to have a visitor. A friend. It sounds like he has problems.” He was a little concerned. Kris wasn’t given to moments of drama like this.
Robin nodded. “I’ll go.”
Dean didn’t begrudge helping out a friend, but Kris’s timing left a lot to be desired. “Hey, you don’t have to go right this second. Wait till he’s here.”
Robin walked slowly toward him. “About today… You know, the whole ski instruction bit… I’m sorry I lied to you. I should’ve known better.” The note of contrition was genuine, and Dean regretted his blunt reaction.
“Well, you got to spend time with me after all, so I guess it worked out okay.” Robin’s serious expression touched him. “Hey, no harm done, okay? We had a couple of hours skiing, and it was a great morning. And you might be spending more time with me if we go to NYC. Have you been there before?”
“A couple of times when I was younger. The city seemed enormous.”
“It is. But there are some fantastic places to see. You like art, don’t you? How about a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art?”
Robin’s eyes sparkled. “I’d love that.”
Another idea occurred to him. “Can you ice skate? There’s the rink at Rockefeller Center.”
“I’ve never done that.” Robin’s lips twitched. “Honestly.”
Dean had to smile at that. “Then we’ll do that. I’ll find us a hotel. Maybe Adrian can recommend a place. He lives there now. We’ll make a weekend of it.”
Robin nodded eagerly. “Sounds like an adventure.”
It occurred to Dean that he wanted to spend time with Robin as much as Robin wanted to spend time with him.
A car pulled up outside, and Dean went to the door. “That’ll be Kris.” When he opened it, Kris launched himself into Dean’s arms.
“God, I’m such a mess.” Then Kris stiffened as he looked over Dean’s shoulder, and he quickly disentangled himself. “Oh. We’re not alone. My bad. I should have asked, shouldn’t I?”
Dean gestured to Robin. “This is my friend, Robin. He’s going to make my new canoe.” Robin’s eyes shone, and Dean loved the sight.
“I’d better go,” Robin said. “Can… can we do this again?”
Dean grinned. “Are we talking ski instruction, or lunch?”
Robin laughed. “Lunch. And maybe some more skiing—without the instruction, this time.” He grinned. “You never know. I might show you a thing or two.”
Dean chuckled. “I don’t doubt it.” He grabbed Robin’s coat from the hook by the door and handed it to him. Robin got into his boots, fastened them, and with a nod toward Kris, he left. Dean watched him wheel his bike down the path toward the sidewalk.
“He’s cute.”
Dean turned to Kris. “And you’re a mess, apparently. Want to tell me why?”
Kris nodded. “Only, can we do it by the fire? I’m freezing my nuts off here.”
“Sure.” Dean glanced down. “Once you’ve taken your boots off.” As he closed the door, he recalled that some people didn’t need telling.
Then it occurred to him he was sorry Robin had gone.
“Is there a reason for this meet-up?” Diane asked as Dean passed her a martini. “Not that I’m complaining, you understand. Hell, we could be here to raise a glass to it being December first for all I care.”
“Maybe it’s because Dean changed the