The Fault Next Door

Chapter 34

Nolan was thankful Ryder hadn’t really been hurt. Jim was recovering, and Dave was still in jail. It sucked that Ryder had to work in an environment where he couldn’t trust the men who clocked in around him. It seemed like the world was getting worse instead of better. There wasn’t much he could do about the violence. He just had to be prepared to defend himself if it came to that.

Thursday afternoon, once the clinic had cleared out, Dr. Moore asked him over for dinner that weekend. Nolan hadn’t met Wade yet and was looking forward to meeting him.

“Is it okay if I bring someone?” Nolan asked.

Dr. Moore nodded. “Yes. That will be great. Wade loves entertaining.”

Nolan was a little worried about Ryder’s first real outing as a same sex date. Though they weren’t really going out in public. Still, it was new and different, exciting even. He hoped Ryder saw it as something fun and not something to worry about.

They arrived at Dr. Moore's place right on time. Nolan saw that he hadn't needed to worry, though. Ryder and Wade, Dr. Moore's husband, got along very well once Wade revealed how much he enjoyed yard work. Ryder and Wade were out in the backyard talking about grass and lawn care. Wade was amazed that Ryder was a professional when it came to grasses and lawns. They spent about thirty minutes outside discussing different types of grass.

“That’s nice.” Dr. Moore came up behind Nolan and handed him a glass of wine. “I like that he has someone he can talk to here. That’s one reason it took him so long to agree to live here.”

Nolan nodded. "I'm glad they have something in common. He had a job working at a stadium taking care of the lawn for a professional team."

“That’s impressive,” Dr. Moore said. “I know you have a contract that is valid for twenty more months. Do you think you’ll stay?”

Nolan nodded. “I’m going to try. I will encourage him to apply to places where he’ll be happy.”

Dr. Moore nodded. “Well, I’ll be happy if you stick around for a while. You’re easy to work with.”

“I try. I like the environment. It’s not too much, and about when I’m bored and ready to do anything to have something to keep me busy, a new patient stumbles in.”

“It is that type of place. So far, I’m happy here. I don’t know how long I’ll last, but I hope it’s for more than two years.”

Ryder and Wade came back in, both of them smiling wide. "We figured out we both like hockey, and we are both Boston Bruins fans."

“Wow, that’s great,” Dr. Moore said.

“I was worried I wouldn’t have anyone to watch the game with here,” Wade said with a wide smile.

Nolan smiled and shook his head. “I didn’t know you liked hockey,” he said to Ryder.

“We were a little busy doing other stuff than talking about sports.”

Everyone laughed as Nolan moved closer to Ryder and kissed him on the cheek. He was glad they had people to hang out with where they could be themselves. They were growing closer every day. They still weren’t telling people that they were in a relationship. He’d run into a few people who were rude, but most people just didn’t seem to care that he was gay.

Dinner was great, and Ryder was having a good time. They didn’t stay too late and promised to get together again soon. Nolan was happy to have a couple they could spend time with, and he was happy that Ryder didn’t seem uncomfortable around gay men.

That night, as they were lying in bed, Ryder got up on his knees and held onto Nolan's hands. Nolan rose, going up to his knees, too, so they were almost at eye level. He felt special being with Ryder, like maybe he could have a future with a man again.

“What’s this about?” Nolan asked.

“I don’t want another day to go by without saying this.”

Nolan nodded, watching Ryder as he drew in a deep breath and then blew it out. This was going to be big for Ryder. Nolan was glad Ryder was opening up to him. It seemed like everything was easier now, deeper, too. Maybe Ryder's parents finding out about him being gay and Ryder being with him had let something loose inside that allowed Ryder to be himself.

“I have feelings for you. Not just friendship or dating feelings. I have the rest of my life feelings about you.”

Nolan squeezed Ryder’s hands. “I’m falling for you, too.”

Ryder’s lips spread into a wide smile. “How did we get like this?”

“Like what?”

"I've known you for so little time, and yet I'm ready to declare my love for you. It took me years with Amy."

Nolan smiled and leaned in, brushing his lips against Ryder’s mouth. “It’s because you already know what love feels like.”

Ryder nodded. "I do know that this feels like love. I want us to really be together. I think we should pick a house to live in. I don't think you should sell your house yet unless you really want to. I just think it would be good to keep it because it can't have gone up that much in value."

Nolan chuckled. “That house is very close to yours, and I don't really want some stranger living only a few feet away from us. And yeah, it hasn't gone up that much in value. I'd do better to keep it for a little while and then sell when we're ready to move."

Ryder’s forehead wrinkled. “Move?”

“One day, you’re going to want to go back into caring for the lawn at a stadium or some other place like a golf course or maybe a botanical garden.”

Ryder shrugged. “Maybe.”

“I’ve only been here a few months, so I still have almost two years left on this contract. We can’t move yet, but I don’t want you to think we’re stuck in this town forever.”

Ryder pulled Nolan to the mattress and adjusted so he was hugging Nolan from behind. “Do you really think I could go back to it?”

Nolan nodded. “If you want to, then yes. I think any team would be lucky to have you.”

Ryder’s lips thinned and his eyes got a distant look in them. “I don’t even know where I’d want to work.”

“Well, you have time to do some research.”

Ryder moved fast, rolling him to his back and straddling his waist. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Nolan asked.

“Being patient. For not giving up on me when I had given up on us and everything.”

Nolan lifted up and kissed Ryder on the lips, pulling him down with him. He rolled Ryder to his back and straddled him. "I believe in you, and I believe in us."

Ryder settled beside him. “I think we’re going to have a long relationship.”

Nolan kissed the side of Ryder's head. He felt it, too. They were good together. They might have people against them here, but hopefully, they would find a place where they really fit in.

He'd thought he would never find happiness again. He'd moved here ready to accept that he wouldn't date anyone for years. The real shocker was finding someone he could fall in love with. He'd thought love was gone from his life and he'd never achieve this kind of happiness again. But he had done more than achieve happiness. He was thriving in happiness.