Something So Strong

~~~~~Chapter 3~~~~


“Man, good grub, that was awesome!” Nick pushed away his almost empty plate and rubbed his stomach as he leaned back. “I’ll have to remember this place.”

Jake watched, one eyebrow raised, as Nick stretched his arms over his head and out to the side. “They do put on a nice spread here, for dessert you should try their Zabaglione.” He recommended.

“Their who?”

“It’s an Italian dessert, really delicious.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to remember that one.” Nick confessed, a confused look on his face as he tried to pronounce the name of the dish.

“Well then, I might just have to order it for you next time.” Jake chuckled.

It was Nick’s turn to raise an eyebrow, but he kept his mouth shut. That almost sounded like a come-on, but Jake couldn’t have meant it that way.

“So…you wanted to know more about the Heal the Bay organization?”

“Oh…yeah.” Jake twisted as he leaned back in his chair, hooking one arm casually over the backrest. “It sounds like they do good work.”

“They do.” Nick agreed, enthusiastically. “I really enjoy working with them, because they truly believe in what they do and they follow up on everything they do.”

For the next hour or so, Nick and Jake discussed the pros and cons of the organization and their charity functions. At any other restaurant two guys talking and smoking numerous cigarettes without ordering anything else off the menu would have been kicked out. But these two particular men were attracting a great deal of attention and more business than the little place normally saw in a day, so they stayed put.

Jake smiled as he handed back the autograph he’d just signed for a young teenage girl. “Thanks for asking, love.” Then he laughed as he heard her shriek when she joined back up with her group.

“That ever get old for you?” Jake asked Nick.

“What, the fans?”

“Yeah. You must have a ton, you’ve signed a few things this afternoon.”

“I love my fans, but they get a little, well…some of them, get a little…”

“Nuts.” Jake helpfully finished for him.

“Yeah, like, you’ve met me. I’m just normal. But they act like…” Nick shook his head. “I dunno, man.”

“We’re all normal, Nick. But they think we’re kings because we get to do things that they don’t. We get to experience so many things that they never will. They live through us.”

“I never thought of it like that.” Nick admitted.

“It’s the only thing I can come up with.” Jake shrugged. “I mean, would they like me so much if they saw me first thing in the morning, my hair all over the place, my breath smelling like dog butt…”

Nick giggled at that. “You must wake up like I do.”

“How many dogs you have?”

“None right now, I had pugs though.”

“No way!” Jake slapped the table with his palm. “I have a puggle, he’s the cutest thing.”

As they launched into another in depth conversation, the manager smiled and sent over complimentary drinks. This was going to be a good day.

“I had a great time today, Nick. Thanks for joining me.” Jake took Nicks hand in his and shook it, offering a gentle squeeze before he released it.

“I did too. I’d love to go surfing again, you’ve got some good tips.”

“Ah, no problem. I’ve been surfing for awhile, love to help out.”

They piled their gear into their respective vehicles and shook hands once more.

“I’ll be seeing you around, I guess?” Jake questioned.

“Actually, I was wondering…” Nick scuffed the toe of his sneaker in the sand. “Heal the Bay is having a meeting tonight, a dinner kind of thing. You don’t have to be all fancy or anything. Would you like to come?”

Jake’s heart leaped into his throat. He had caught on to the subtle flirting, thank God! He was beginning to think he was going to have to throw him down on the hood of the car and just kiss him and get it over with.

“I’d love to, what time.” Jake tried to keep his voice even, and not betray the excitement he was feeling inside.

“Oh…let me get my book.” Nick ducked into his vehicle. “It’s at 6:30pm.” He yelled, leaning out the window.

“Great, I’ll be there.” Jake waved as the engine started up and the car pulled away. Slowly the vehicle backed up and over to where Jake was still standing.

“I forgot, you can bring someone if you want. That girlfriend of yours, you know?” Nick winked at him. “She’s one hot chick. Anyway, it’s alright if she comes too.” Nick waved and drove off leaving Jake feeling more confused than ever.

After getting home and showering, Nick stood naked in front of his closet, trying to decide what to wear for the evening. He wasn't that concerned with the people from Heal the Bay - they'd seen him in cut-offs and ripped shirts, soaking wet after a clean-up. But since Jake was going to be there, he didn't feel like he should look like trash.

Jake. What the hell was going on with that anyway?, he wondered. He seemed like a great guy. had potential to be a good friend. They talked easily, had at least a few basic things in common - god knew he'd had friends for years that he had way less in common with. And there was something about Jake that just made him seem like . like he was interested.

Interested in what, Nick wasn't sure. There were a few moments over their extremely extended lunch that he couldn't quite figure out what exactly was on Jake's mind.

There was something about the way Jake had looked at him - more than once - that made Nick a little. nervous. He wasn't used to guys looking at him that way. actually, he wasn't really sure any GIRLS looked at him that way. And he was used to a lot of looks. All kinds of looks. The ones that said "I want to eat you alive", the ones that told him his future children were already named, the ones that suggested he'd be dead if he looked at someone's girlfriend again.. all of them. He recognized them. But something about Jake's expressions he just couldn't decode.

He decided not to worry about it - he was probably imagining things anyway.

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Nick was milling around the small banquet room, waiting for one of the HTB board members he recognized to show up when he saw Jake strolling into the room, looking around. He was dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt, partially tucked in and partly hanging out, like someone had been tugging on it. wanting to help him get it off.

Nick caught himself mid-thought, wondering exactly where he'd been going with that. He had no time to process the thought any further, as Jake appeared next to him, saying 'hello'.

"Hey man, glad you could make it. Everyone will be glad to see they've got a famous face here." Nick said, smiling.

"They've already got you," Jake pointed out, returning Nick's smile with a grin.

"Not the same." Nick made a point to glance around Jake. "Your girl couldn't make it, huh?"

"She's, uh, not my girl anymore." Jake told him.

"Oh. I didn't know. sorry."

"It's okay. I think it's really over for good this time. We've tried over and over. it's just not working. she's not what I need." Jake said, letting his voice drift off, like he was wondering what it was he did need.

"I feel you there, man. I did the same with a girl, too. You know it's not right, but you just keep going back over and over because it's what you know." Nick sympathized.

"When maybe you should realize it's time to try something new, right?"

Nick studied the look Jake was giving him - it was that same expression he couldn't quite figure out. "Yeah. maybe it's time for something new."

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All through the dinner and the director of the board's speeches, Nick couldn't help himself from glancing over at Jake. and every time he'd sneak a peek. Jake was looking right back. just the littlest hint of a smile playing on his lips.

It disturbed Nick just a bit that he'd noticed Jake had nice lips. he figured they'd be what one of his gay friends - a former BSB dancer - would refer to as "DSL" - dick sucking lips. He'd tried to push that thought far, far away. what the fuck was he doing thinking like that anyway?? But then he'd noticed something else. his eyes. The things he'd heard about his own eyes made just a little bit more since when he'd seen the way that Jake's own deep blue eyes caught and reflected light.. and it WAS really cool. It made him want to keep looking at them... in them.

"Dude, are you alright?" Jake asked.

"What?" Nick picked up his glass of water and took a long drink, wondering where the hell his mind has just gone.

"You looked kind of.. panicked or something."

Nick about choked on his water, apparently his reaction to his thoughts had showed very clearly on his face.

Jake reached over to give Nick a pat on the back, and let his hand linger, sliding down Nick's back before he withdrew it.

Nick coughed, "No.. fine.. I'm.. good...I'll, uh, be right back."

He jumped up from the table and went off in search of the bathroom. What WAS this? He knew guys had been attracted to him before - he wouldn't have known about DSL if he hadn't been told he possessed them, also - but this... was weird. He didn't really know WHAT to think of some of the looks and attention he was getting... but more than that.. he didn't know what to do with the way he felt about it.

He pushed open the door in the bathroom and went to stand over the sink, looking in the mirror. Okay, no big deal. This was not a problem. He hugged and kissed Howie and Kevin and the other guys all the time. He was a touchy feely kind of guy... so Jake was, too. Nothing wrong with that? He took another look in the mirror. Was he the kind of guy that another guy would want to flirt with?

He smirked at his reflection. He was the kind of guy that anyone would want to flirt with. Feeling much more confident, he went back to the table, dropping into his chair beside Jake and giving him a smile.


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