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A shadow cuts the sun over their tiny little table and a plate is half-assedly slid in front of Adam. He looks up.
And is met, locking eyes, with their waitress with the red lipstick — bright enough to pop out against even the brightest morning sun Missouri could give them — tightening her lips back, like she's testing him, as she places his mug of coffee next to the plate, a few droplets swishing over the rim.
Adam gets to watch her give his companion's treats with as much care as she could present the action of putting down a plate and cup. Bending over, smiling and all. She even turns his cup for the latte art to face him.
Adam waits for the nice young lady to leave them alone.
After a few words exchanged between them, a giggle, and a lingering stare from her, she quirks her glossy velvet lips and struts down the rest of the patio that's surrounding her with the similar tables and chairs.
They're outside of a cafe that Adam's forgotten the name of since he's gotten the text to put in his GPS. One of those local places that aren't too popular to be filled up, but still make the effort to prioritize their aesthetic — their “homey” vibe — so the people that do stay are able to romanticize it. This.
Fairy lights and shrubbery. Piano jazz and pastries. It's arranged so artifically, but that's Adam being negative. He's not allowed to say he's too old for it becuase the target audience for it's right in front of him.
Nick smiles at him then down at his cup steaming up at his face, clearly content he's actually ringed Adam into this. “Y'know, I never want to ruin it.” He hooks his fingers around the handle and holds it to his lips, saying before he sips, “It's always so pretty, is it bad to feel bad?”
“For the coffee or for the girl?” Adam taunts, leaning over the table to hush, “If only she knew better; she would never think you'd be the type to like it up the ass.”
He smiles when Nick chokes. Nick sputters and forgets to keep his fingers straight, spilling small specks of his cappuccino over his jacket. “For fuck's sake.” But it's his fault for wearing the full three-piece when they don't have work for another few hours.
“You're a bit old for jealousy,” Nick gets out once he's recovered. “I try not to be too mean to you nowadays, but — dare I say — it's kind of an ugly look for you.”
“And she's a bit too young for you.” Adam picks up his own coffee — black, because it is the strongest impact he'll get here without alcohol. That and it also is not worth it to drink in the mornings; he's learned that well. “I like to think territorial is a better, more mature word for it.” He downs about a half of the short mug in two gulps, taking the bitter and heat down his throat. He wipes his mouth and snaps. “Eyes on me, buddy, let's keep ‘em there.”
“Very ugly.” Nick sips again, keeping eyes half-lidded on Adam. "But I didn't invite you to squabble."
Adam rests his chin in hands to get a good look at his eyes. He's more knocking his foot against Nick's than playing with it.
Not never to squabble, but it sure is in the package. That, Adam's doggone charm, and the fact that Adam can make him forget a night's wrongs in under half an hour — He's the perfect man to settle down with if you gave him a chance. All of that wrapped up with a nice cute ribbon: the way Adam holds himself.
So Nick's invited him for the half of it, because he knows that's the half he'll get, thinking to bring him out here this early in the morning.
The general drafts are one of few events scattered across the calendar that they're in the same area at the same time for more than one night. With them being over, they wouldn't be seeing each other for a month at most, so Nick rolled the ball. Adam received a text just a few hours earlier, Nick saying that he's still around today for the off-show drafts after Raw. He'd treat Adam for coffee, maybe? To talk, some discussion. Banter, like — it'd be quick, he said.
It could be quick, he added. And sent the location.
Adam was toeing on his shoes in-between red lights before he knew it.
Bing, bang, boom, that was the prologue. Real kicker is that they haven't talked a lick of business or brands not once since Adam's pulled his chair back.
So yes, Adam's here to rile him up. That's still the first half of it though. The other’s to make the effort to keep the ball's momentum going, but Nick's not aware of that yet.
Thus, to make him aware.
Nick's ordered himself a croissant. It's plain looking and small, but puffy. Looking like the second most fun thing for Adam to bite, but Nick's just inspecting around and under it, like it's an artifact, before Adam grunts, “Just put the damn thing in your mouth already.”
Nick gives him a snarky look. “Just making sure it's safe to digest.” He smirks. “Americans, just like the rest of your food, you never can never trust if they're really that good enough for you.”
Adam returns an unimpressed look. “You picked the place.” It practically sang Nick's name upon parking along the curb, finding Nick with his face buried in the menu.
“It was the only place in the area that didn't look like eating a single chocolate chip would make my daily calorie intake.”
As if Nick couldn't risk more beef on him, his biceps are straining his sleeves. “Which you already read that it doesn't. Now bite, pretty boy.”
Nick winks, keeping eye contact as he sinks his teeth in to tear off a piece. His brows raise up, telling everything they need to about the taste. Then a moan. Adam was unaware he was gawking at the sight until Nick licks the crumbs at his lips, swallowing. His small eyelashes flutter under the sun, so damn beautiful in a way that men their ages rarely get to appreciate.
What the hell?
Adam brings the donut he's ordered to his nose for a sniff, to occupy this feeling of sunshiny serene. A wide, flat one with vanilla icing and lightly drizzled chocolate. The chocolate overpowers his nose immediately, aroma so sweet he can smell the word rich. He rips off a chunk and finishes it quickly.
Ain't half bad.
He downs down the powerful lingering chocolate with more coffee. “And I'm plenty good for you.”
Nick genuinely chuckles at that. “Oh yeah, you do all that and more don't ya?”
“I can, I believe I treat you very, very well when you let me.”
“When I'm not in your way.”
Which is true, Adam does tend to put work over before he ever knows it. “Plastic flowers are still flowers,” he says.
“But they're never as good as the real thing, are they?”
Adam tsks, eyes resorting to look at Nick's lips. And his stubble — he's just shaven. Bet he could smell the aftershave, were he closer.
So he's scooting his chair over so he can, Nick gives no protest against it. The red-lipped waitress hears the commotion and makes another round to their table, clearly making her snark show clear seeing that Adam's a lot closer. She darts her attention to Nick when Adam gives her the same, then she's smiling. “Any problems here, sir? Are we all enjoying out food?”
"Just dandy," Adam says.
“I'm all good, honey," Nick fixes, "appreciate it.” He supplies the words with a wink.
This time, she shows teeth in her smile and waltzes off with more pep in her step.
Adam leans in. “You're really starting to hurt my feelings.”
Nick closes in as well. “Then I'd say make yourself useful over here before I get taken away.” He gives Adam his own wink.
Adam rolls his eyes, but he was already caught in the trap anyway. He scoots his chair closer, takes Nick's chin and brings him closer. Nick squints like he's unamused, but he bites from his hold, Adam keeping a hand under his chin so nothing else falls on his clothes. He even brings Nick's cup to his mouth and watches him drink it down. The process isn't hot, but they're in their own little world out here.
“And are you happy,“ Adam flows on — he wipes his mouth with a napkin, “with the draft?”
Nick licks his lips. “You know, being a GM, I've come to realize I never feel like it's enough at the end of the night. Or several nights along a few weeks.” Adam feeds him another bite and finishes it as quick as it starts. “It's a back and forth, I get that, it's supposed to be. It never feels like a loss until the next one, so I guess losing or gaining never feels,” he trails off, snapping his fingers, “what's the word?”
“Unfulfilled?”
“Yeah, sure.” Adam feeds him one more bite. “And annoyed. You've got me beat in the lead, I must admit. A little upset with some of the names you've snagged from me.”
“I probably could've stolen a few more, the way you're thinking like that.”
“And that's just you isn't it? Always keepin’ me on my toes. There's no reason we can't share but you still keep me in check.”
“Friendly competition's what makes the business fun."
"I like it."
The waitress has long left them to be, probably noticing the show Adam's made. She walked her way over, turning on her heel seeing Adam feeding Nick the last of his pastry, the bit was over, but Adam honestly enjoyed it.
Adam was ready to give him the last of his drink before Nick stops his hand, checking his smart watch. “Oh boy, look what you've turned this into.” Adam snorts, trying to wipe his mouth, but Nick holds his hand over his to keep it at his thigh. “I have a meeting with the board in two hours and all we've talked about was, really, nothing.”
“I don't have a meeting in two hours.”
“I'm barely supposed to be here, remember?”
Nick finishes his coffee, Adam finishes his donut. They let the jazz fill their silence, but it just ain't right. Nick didn't sound too upset to be leaving, and Adam's put in so much work.
But Nick does for him. Nearing the end of the tension between words, Nick declares, “I'd like to see you more, Adam.” He plays with his lapels, pretending to smooth them flat. “Outside of business, sometime soon.”
Once again, Adam knows what to make of it, having been decided. Without a second thought, his mouth offers. “Go home show's less than a few days, and neither of us have to attend Backlash, as far as I'm aware.” He sure hopes he sounds suave. “How's about you come down to Sacramento and stay for a few days?”
Nick pretends to think about it, so long that Adam actually almost regrets asking. “I think that'd sound alright.”
Almost.
He scored.
So it's set, Adam'll show him. Show him how good he could treat Nick and leave him wishing for more like a ring rat.
Adam didn't realize he's been looking at Nick so long that Nick's looking at him the same. The threat of a promise set in stone, they're both excited.
Adam grins. “Unfulfilled, you said?”
“You said, but, yes.”
Adam's smile says everything it needs to. “I'll show you.”
He leans in for a kiss, which Nick accepts with a hum. Right on the mark, he smells his aftershave. All husky and smoky, filling up his nose as he tastes coffee.