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Because of a meeting at 8 AM and Nonna's nursing home was closer to the place, Nicky slept on his Nonna's old bunky sofa last night, which his back was grateful for this morning.
"Young man," Nonna said when Nicky came out from the shower. "Come here."
Nicky felt like a little kid when he sat down on the stool in front of Nonna's chair.
"About Joe's invitation for lunch," Nonna said, but when Nicky wanted to say something, Nonna gave him the look that meant she wasn't done talking. "I want you to show up on time and with a smile on your face. And do you know why? Because Joe seems like a lovely young man and because I like him. He has kind eyes."
The door was opened, and Lina entered, which made Nonna stand up.
"Morning, Lina," Nonna said. "My grandson was just about to leave. Have I told you that he met a lovely young man yesterday? I think there is a big chance of a wedding soon. Do you want to help with the clothes again?"
"Nonna, please," Nicky begged. "I haven't even said yes to the invitation yet."
"I have on your behave because you got the habit of overthinking, so Joe is waiting for you at lunch at this address," Nonna replied with a smile as she handed Nicky a piece of paper. "Now, get going or else you'll be late for your meeting and your date. See you tomorrow for dinner."
Nonna used her walker to get Nicky out of the door before he could protest. While bicycling for his meeting, Nicky couldn't help but think if he was ready to date again or not and if Joe was the right one to start with. Nicky had, so to speak, only been out of the closet for less than a year, and he had only been on two unsuccessful dates during that year and dating someone looking like Joe (who was out of Nicky's league) seemed like a big...
"Nicky?" Logan called. "Morning."
"Morning," Nicky said as he stopped his bike. "Ready?"
It helped to talk with Logan before the meeting, and during the meeting, Nicky didn't have the time to overthink about dating Joe. It was first, when he sat on his bike again, that all the thoughts returned. And because he was overthinking, he didn't pay attention to where he was bicycling; he didn't have the time to break before hitting the big old oak tree on the town's square.
"Nicky!" Joe said when he came running. "Thank god you were wearing a helmet. Are you in pain?"
"No, no, I don't think so," Nicky replied. "I think my bike is more in the need of a Doctor than me."
"You can still make jokes, so your head must be ok," Joe said with a smile. "Can you stand for me?"
Nicky took Joe's hand and let Joe pull Nicky up from the ground.
"Oh, that can't be good," Nicky said when he saw the blood on his arm. "I think I need to..."
More Nicky didn't get to say before he passed out. When he woke up, he was lying on a gurney in the Samaritan's tent with Joe sitting beside him.
"Welcome back again," Joe said with a smile. "Could I ask you to drink this cup of water?"
Joe helped Nicky to sit up before Nicky took the cup and drank the water.
"So, sorry, Joe," Nicky said while looking down at the floor. "I feel so idiotic..."
Joe placed a finger under Nicky's chin so that they could look each other in the eyes.
"You got nothing to be embarrassed about. Remember, I'm a Doctor, and every day I have to catch someone, who faints when they see blood," Joe said. "And between us, you're by far the most cutest I have caught in my entire life."
"Thanks, but Joe..." Nicky said. He took a moment to search for the right words. "Joe, it has taken me so long time to come to grips with my sexuality and accept that I'm gay. It is the first during the last year that I have dared to tell people I'm gay. What I'm trying to say is that I lack the confidence you have. And I simply don't know how to flirt with a hot guy like you or how to act when I'm around you."
Joe took Nicky's hands in his.
"Thanks for being honest, Nicky. It's something I appreciate," Joe said. "Let me share a secret with you, Nicky. We're pretty much at the same place in our life right now."
Nicky raised an eyebrow. If you asked Joe, it made Nicky look damn sexy.
"I have only been saying out loud that I'm gay for the last two years," Joe said. "And you're the first guy I have genuinely been interested in. I guess that's why I'm trying to flirt with you, and I hope I haven't failed."
"No, you haven't," Nicky replied. "I can only say the same thing, but I need time to get to know you better first."
"I like that idea very much," Joe replied. "So, should we eat that chicken sandwich while getting to know each other?"
"I think it's a brilliant idea," Nicky replied. "But I need to buy a shirt that isn't covered in blood first, or else there's a chance I might faint again. And then there's my bike. It also needs a Doctor."
"I promise to catch you if you faint again," Joe replied. "I got a clean shirt you can borrow, and then I'm giving you the number to my friend, who promised to find someone who will fix your bike."
"Thanks for the help," Nicky replied. "And yes, I would love to borrow a shirt."
A half-hour later, Joe and Nicky sat down on a bench with their chicken sandwich.
"Now I know you're a chilli lover," Joe said when Nicky poured more of the strongest chilli sauce on his chicken sandwich. "Should I get you another can?"
Nicky laughed.
"Not needed," Nicky replied. "But thanks for the offer."
Joe watched when Nicky started to eat his chicken sandwich.
"Didn't mean to stare," Joe said. "It has to do with my job as a Doctor. Once there was a teenager who ate a ghost chilli on a dare. It was a very long night at work."
"I have eaten ghost chillis but only in sauces," Nicky replied. "I don't dare to bite into a ghost chilli. I value my life."
"Glad to hear it," Joe replied. "So, you know I'm a Doctor. What do your work with?"
Nicky took a sip of the water.
"I decided to do something crazy around the same time I came out last year," Nicky replied. "I quit my old job in the office and decided to gamble on designing rings. Today, I had a meeting with a jeweller who was interested in selling my rings. Thanks to my friend Logan, who is a lawyer, I got a contract."
"Congrats, Nicky, that is fantastic to hear," Joe replied. "Can I see your rings because I love shiny things?"
"Sure thing," Nicky replied before licking his fingers. "Are you like Gollum?"
Nicky reached for his backpack while Joe laughed.
"I have only designed ten rings so far," Nicky said as he handed Joe a small purse. "With two more in the making."
Joe opened the purse and looked at the rings. He might have squealed out loud when he looked at the eight ring. It was a white silver ring with green gems in a beautiful pattern.
"My inner Gollum loves this," Joe said. "Can I buy this?"
"It's a model," Nicky replied. "But I'll make sure you get one of the first ones when I put them into production."
"I keep you to that promise," Joe replied. "Are you on Insta or something? I want to follow you because you just got yourself a fan. A BIG fan."
Joe reached out his phone, and Nicky found his Insta page.
"Aurora Rings," Joe said. "I understand why you call your rings that. They're just as beautiful as the dawn itself."
"Thanks," Nicky replied. He might have blushed just as Joe whistled. "What are you doing?"
"Making sure you sell more rings," Joe replied as he winked at Nicky. "Hi, Maxi. What do you think of these rings? Nicky here made them, and he has an Insta page. You can soon buy them."
When they left the food truck, he had gotten over 75 new followers on Insta, while many more said they wanted to buy the rings.
"You shouldn't have done that," Nicky said. "I mean, I'm glad for the help..."
"Hi, I just showed people something beautiful," Joe replied with a smile. "And I can't wait to get my ring."
Nicky shook his head when he remembered what Nonna had said about a wedding soon. For a moment, Nicky imagined putting a ring on Joe's finger on their wedding day.
"Nothing," Nicky said when Joe saw it. "Shall we get a muffin? I could use some sugar."
"That's a brilliant idea," Joe replied. "Let's buy three each and share."
After getting the muffins, they sat down in the grass with the box of muffins. Joe had chosen chocolate, brownie, and KitKat muffins, while Nicky's muffins were filled with fruit: banana, strawberries, and nuts.
"I was thinking," Nicky said. It was the bravest thing he was about to ask Joe. "They're showing a movie in the park on Thursday to raise money for a youth LGTB centre. Do you want to go with me? As friends."
Nicky wasn't ready to ask Joe out for an actual date, so the movie was a great place to start.
"I would love to," Joe replied. "I'm done working at 7 PM, so what about we meet here again at 7.45 PM?"
"I'll be here," Nicky replied as he took his phone. "Is it ok if I order a picnic basket? The money goes to the youth."
"More than fine," Joe replied. "Just make sure there isn't any pork or cow meat in it. This ugly face is a Muslim."
Joe pointed at his face with a goofy smile. It made Nicky laugh.
"I don't think you're ugly," Nicky said. It took a second before he realized he had said it out loud. Joe just smiled. "Ok, here we go—vegetarian picket basket. Is that ok?"
"Yes, it's," Joe replied. "If you get the picket basket, I'll bring a blanket."
"Deal," Nicky replied. "Can't wait."
"Neither can I," Joe replied. "May I have a look at your arm again? Just to make sure that the glue holds."
Nicky reached out his arm, and Joe checked it over. Nicky could feel the heat return to his cheek when Joe touched his arm.
"You might end up with a scar," Joe said. "But it looks good."
"Glad to hear it," Nicky replied. "About my bike. Do you think I can get it back today? I kinda need it tomorrow."
"Let me make a call," Joe replied. "Or else you can borrow mine."
After making the call, Joe could inform Nicky that they could pick up his bike. While walking, they discovered they had more in common than not. They both loved animals, books, art, and movies. They agreed to show each other their favourite book one day. Both Joe and Nicky wished that the walk wasn't over this soon, but ten minutes later, Nicky had gotten his bike back again together with a new helmet.
"I need to get going," Nicky said. "But thanks, Joe, for today. I really enjoyed the day and can't wait for Thursday."
"I can only say the same thing," Joe replied. "Please be careful while driving home."
"I promise," Nicky replied. "I need to confess something, Joe. I might have put my number in your phone earlier. Hope it's ok."
"It's more than ok," Joe replied. "I'll text you as soon as I get home."
"Can't wait," Nicky replied. "See you Thursday."
"Or sooner," Joe replied mysteriously. It made Nicky raise his eyebrow. "You'll see soon enough."
Joe looked after Nicky until he couldn't see Nicky any more. On the way home, both Joe and Nicky couldn't stop thinking about today and the picnic on Thursday. They both admitted to themselves that it gave butterflies in their tummy to think of the other one.