Drayton’s was a block off the busy Mass Street traffic, and on a warm midsummer Friday night, it was filled with people eager to relax and imbibe — married couples who had wrangled babysitters for one evening’s escape, groups of recent college grads flush with proper paychecks, professionals still in business suits letting deep glasses of wine loosen their neckties. This was not a place to bring kids, but it definitely was a place to bring a date.
Paul gave his name to the hostess, then paused. “Is there any way we could get a table on the outside patio?” He cut his eyes to Ace in time to catch a delighted smile.
“It might be a few minutes longer,” the hostess warned.
“We’ll wait,” he decided.
They each picked up a glass of wine from the bar and settled into a plush loveseat in an open, artful — and rapidly filling – waiting area. Paul bravely draped an arm along the back of the seat and encouraged Ace to settle in closer to him.
“How did you know I wanted to sit outside?” Ace smiled.
“Your face is easy to read,” Paul said. “It’s one of the best things about you.”
“That I’m easy?”
“I meant your face,” Paul said, serious. “Your lack of artifice. How deep your eyes are.”
The eyes in question melted a little further.
“And, also, you’re easy.”
Ace jabbed him in the side and grinned.
As they waited for a table, Paul spotted a handful of familiar faces, mostly past or current patients. The sight of Dr. McDonnell with his arm around a handsome man caused a few double takes.
Paul thought about ignoring them all — good and bad — and focusing on his date, but he wanted everyone to know that he was comfortable with himself. He wanted them to see it in his eyes.
So he tugged Ace a little closer and kept his eyes roaming about the waiting area.
“You know, you’ve got to let everybody else take baby steps with you, too,” Ace said softly.
Paul frowned in confusion.
“It took you most of the summer and thirty-six years to get to this point,” Ace said. “Your patients might need some time, too.”
“And if they don’t want the time?” Paul pulled his arm away and shifted to face Ace on the loveseat. “If they already know what they think? If they immediately find a new chiropractor?”
“Then you didn’t want them as patients in the first place,” Ace said firmly. “I know you can’t always pick your clients, but wouldn’t you rather not have to give adjustments to known homophobes?”
“True.” It sounded so simple when Ace framed it that way, but Paul knew that fewer patients could mean trouble for his practice. “And if a majority of my clientele turns out to be homophobic?”
Ace shook his head with a quirked grin. “I think you underestimate the population of Lawrence, Kansas. This isn’t the back woods, you know. It’s a college town. A pretty cool town even without the university influence, actually.”
Before Paul could counter with another worst-case fear, the hostess called his name to show them to a table.
It was an ideal night for sitting outside for dinner, the heat of the day having melted away with the sunset. In another month, when August had the land fully in its grasp, even the evenings wouldn’t be safe for such casual dining. Everyone would huddle in air-conditioned buildings for safety, leaving nature to those that could handle the heat. In other words: cicadas.
But tonight they could share the outdoors with bugs of lower volume and let the wind ruffle their hair and tease them with the aromas of other diners’ meals.
Paul wanted to capture this moment and return to it every day. This is what life could feel like when he wasn’t afraid. He could eat a meal with the man he loved on a pleasant evening and not let fear ruin it. He didn’t have to feel — or be — alone.
“Mmmm, perfect,” Ace hummed as he settled into his seat and looked around. His face glowed with happiness, and Paul was surprised to find that his man could look even more beautiful than before.
Paul realized he wasn’t the only one experiencing new territory tonight. As much as this date was an exercise in pushing Paul’s boundaries, it was also a long-overdue moment for Ace, who had to suffer through years of hovering near closets.
“Last time I was here with my friends Olive and Vince, I had some kind of decadent duck thing, and I nearly died of happiness. I made some embarrassingly loud happy noises,” Ace said, scanning the menu. “I hear they change the menu a lot, but I really hope they kept that one.”
“You should definitely have something that causes happy noises,” Paul smiled.
Luckily for Ace, the decadent duck was on the menu, so they both ordered it and made almost-orgasmic sounds when the first taste hit their tongues.
As they ate, they talked about everything and nothing. Paul gave updates on Steven and Holly’s wedding plans, and Ace told stories of his travels and the places he’d lived. It was easy to think they were the only ones in the world.
Until the world interrupted.
An older couple was slowly progressing toward the exit when the gray-haired woman caught sight of Paul through the restaurant’s large windows facing the outdoor patio and lit up in a smile. Valerie Martinson, one of Paul’s first patients in Lawrence, changed course and headed for their table, with her husband in tow.
“It’s my favorite chiropractor, out of the office and out on the town,” she announced. “What’s the occasion?”
“Mrs. Martinson, how’s your back tonight?” Paul said, taking her hand in a gentle handshake.
“Oh, still going strong, my dear,” she said. She turned to Ace and said, “I always feel years younger after I see Dr. McDonnell, you know. My George gets so jealous.” She leaned down closer to Ace. “And if I were a few years younger, he’d have good reason to be.”
Ace grinned up at her and whispered, “Me too.”
Paul looked over to the George in question, whose face was twisted in a half smile, half grimace. George must have added up Paul plus Ace and became supremely uncomfortable with the result.
Valerie had done the same equation, but hadn’t quite reached the sum. “So, who’s this young man here?”
Paul cleared his suddenly tight throat. “This is my boyfriend, Ace Hoffman.”
Ace gently shook Valerie’s hand and offered to shake George’s, but the older man stepped back like he suddenly smelled something foul.
“Oh!” Valerie chirped. “Why, I had no idea! This is –” She stopped and looked at her husband. “Well, what a surprise! Isn’t it a surprise, George?”
George grunted his agreement. “We need to go, Valerie.”
“Right. Mustn’t interrupt their date.” She squeezed Paul’s hand briefly. “It is so good to see you out.”
Ace coughed on his drink. She didn’t mean it that way, of course.
Paul swallowed roughly. “So, will I still see you for your appointment next month?” he asked softly.
“Valerie!” George called sharply from a few steps away.
Valerie leaned in to Paul. “Absolutely,” she whispered.
Paul smiled in gratitude, then caught George’s persistent scowl over Valerie’s shoulder.
Ace nudged his foot under the table, which brought Paul’s attention back to his date.
“Well,” Paul sighed shakily, “that was –”
“Not half bad,” Ace finished.
“Which half were you watching?”
“The half that wasn’t a grumpy old man.”
“I hate to break it to you, but I treat a lot of grumpy old men.”
“Well, while you were focused on George’s sour puss, I’m seeing all kinds of smiles being sent our way,” Ace said. “Actually, a couple of them worry me. I’m going to have to fight some guys off, I think.”