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Charlie Spring led a quiet life. He worked from home, starting at 7:30am, finishing around 4pm. Lunch according to his meal plan. Running after work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, film night with his friends on Saturdays, gardening on Sundays. It was a nice life. Unassuming, just him and his cat Patroclus. Bit boring maybe. Honestly, the moving van up the street last week had been the height of excitement this month. He should probably start dating again but he wasn’t that bored. Yet. Maybe he’d just switch up his coffee routine.
–
See, not even 9am but Charlie’s already brewing his second cup. Look at him go! Not set in his ways at all, completely mentally limber. Tomorrow he’ll run his usual route in the opposite direction and nothing can stop him.
Fresh cup in hand, Charlie aimlessly looks out of his kitchen window over the front yard he’s genuinely proud of. The towel-sized lot is an organised chaos, a riot of flowers with an emphasis on insect-friendly varieties. Charlie takes a deep, contended breath and almost chokes on his coffee. Casually strolling by is one of the most attractive men he has ever laid eyes on. Tall, probably even taller than Charlie, and built. The sun is putting highlights in his hair. Charlie squints but can’t quite make out the colour. Is it blond? Ginger?
Charlie has never seen that man before. He’d remember. Dayum, that man is cute.
Damn, that man has a child attached to his hand. *sad violins*
So, he’s straight and married. Because of course he is. People their age aren’t single. Well, except for Charlie himself, of course. Bollocks.
The next morning, Charlie takes his coffee break a little earlier, again. So sue him. Just because the guy is married with a kid doesn’t mean that Charlie is not allowed to look. And he’s in luck, father and child walk by again. The boy is cute, too. He’s apparently telling a story, judging by the sweeping gestures. Hot dad is smiling fondly at his offspring.
Are three days in a row already a new routine? Either way, Charlie is nicely settling into it, when the boy suddenly stops in front of his yard and points something out to his dad. Charlie kind of freezes, clutching his mug to his chest. Maybe they won’t see him, if he doesn’t move.
No such luck. The boy looks up, breaks into a smile and waves with all the unwarranted enthusiasm only children can muster. Charlie is mortified at being caught – relax, they don’t know that you’ve been low-key stalking them – but there’s nothing to it. When a child waves, you wave the fuck back, so he does. It probably looks super awkward, at least it feels super awkward.
The dad points toward the garden and his lips move. Charlie opens the window.
“My son loves your garden. It’s beautiful!” the man repeats in a voice as smooth and warm as honey. Charlie is doomed, his gay panic is mounting.
“Oh. Thank you,” he says lamely. Quick, make conversation. *tilt*
Charlie’s brain is absolutely useless, unexpectedly having to deal with the handsome stranger.
“There’s a dinosaur in your garden!” the boy exclaims excitedly. Oh, yeah, Charlie likes to make things interesting by hiding unexpected items in between the plants. One of them is a purple plastic dinosaur, the size of a kitten.
“Oh, is there? Where?” Charlie feigns surprise.
“Right there!” The boy somehow manages to point with his whole body.
“Awesome!” Charlie exclaims. “Do you happen to know what kind of dinosaur it is?”
“Yes! A triceratops.”
“That’s absolutely right!” Charlie smiles so widely, his dimples pop out. “Triceratops are my favourite dinosaurs.”
“They’re okay,” the kid allows. He must be around six years old. “But I like velociraptors better.”
“My favourites are stegosauruses,” his father supplies. “Or is that stegosauri? What’s the plural of stegosaurus?” His perfect eyebrows draw together in mild confusion. *swoon*
Charlie has a hard time not to bite his lip. The adults share a lovely “language is wild – what can you do” shrug.
Suddenly, hot dad’s face falls. “Oh no, I forgot the time! Joey, let’s go, we’re cutting it close for school.” Hot dad and cute kid (Joey, apparently) wave and peel away from Charlie’s fence.
Well, wasn’t that something. Charlie is still smiling about the encounter two hours later, when his eye catches his Yoshi figurine. Hm, another dinosaur – it’s perfect. He steps outside into the weak spring sun and carefully places the toy in a plant pot. He can’t wait for tomorrow to see if Joey (or his father) will notice the toy. Tomorrow seems like a long way off.
But… presumably they will come by his house again on their way home? It’s worth a try. That’s why after lunch, Charlie sets up camp in his kitchen, to the major irritation of Patroclus. Charlie assures his cat and himself that he is not creepy, he’s merely trying to establish a good relationship with his neighbours, that is all.
True, he has never invested that much effort into a good relationship with Mrs Gruntley from next door, but in his defence, she’s not a very nice person, whereas hot dad seems to be wonderful, as does his child. At this point, a tiny sigh escapes Charlie’s lips. He is allowed to dream, okay? It’s fine. Harmless.
Shortly past four, his prayers are answered as he can hear a child talking that sounds a lot like Joey. Charlie has left the window ajar but stays seated. He doesn’t want to seem too eager, even if he maybe is a bit too eager. Or because he is way too eager.
His heart starts beating faster when the voice stops in front of his house and he can make out the top of a head on the sidewalk. Charlie gets up and opens the window all the way. (Hot dad is definitely ginger and his mini-me qualifies as a full “carrot-top”.)
“Hi there, neighbours! On your way back from school?” Not Charlie’s best work, but it should be enough to get the conversation going.
“Yes, I’m all done!” Joey is bouncing up and down. “We didn’t get any homework. I love the new school!”
“You don’t like homework then?” Charlie asks.
“Nobody likes homework.” Joey states it as an immutable fact of life.
“Oh, well,” Charlie chuckles, “I kinda liked it.”
“Wot?” Joey’s dad looks surprised. “Were you like a proper little nerd then?”
“Erm, I guess?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I quite like nerds.” At that, hot dad blushes furiously. Hm… because he feels like he stepped in it or…
“I guess I was. Still am, truth be told,” Charlie giggles. Hot dad starts to look slightly unsteady on his feet. Is this… Are they flirting?
“Dad! Look! There’s Yoshi! Like, from Mario Kart.” Joey has grabbed his dad’s hand with his right and shakes it vigorously, while his left points to the new addition in Charlie’s garden. “It's so cute!”
“Yes, very cute,” Joey’s dad confirms. He turns his attention back to Charlie. “I’m Nick, by the way. We moved in down the road last week.”
“Hi Nick, lovely to meet you. I’m Charlie.”
“Hi Charlie, lovely to meet you, too.” Nick shifts the weight of his bulky frame around, seemingly running out of things to say. “Erm, we better get going, I guess.”
“Yes, of course. Joey’s mum is probably waiting for you, right?” God, Charlie is cringing inside. He is so obviously fishing.
“Ah, no, no mum,” Nick is quick to correct. “Well, obviously Joey does have a mum but she lives in France and has not been waiting for us to come home for quite some time now.”
“Oh, sorry, to bring that up then.” Not sorry to hear that, though, not at all. Charlie’s face wants to break into a wide grin at this but that’s probably not appropriate.
“‘S okay. We split about two years ago. Plenty of time to get used to it.” Nick stares at his feet for a moment, before he adds, “There’s no one else waiting at home, either.”
There’s no holding back now. Charlie beams at Nick.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Nick clears his throat. “Anyway, we should get going. It was really nice talking to you, Charlie. See you tomorrow?”
“You know where I live,” Charlie chuckles. “It was really nice talking to you too, Nick and Joey.” The pair trod off and Charlie decides to just leave the window open.
–
To keep things interesting, Charlie continues to switch things around in the front yard. An astronaut, an ornamental cabbage, a small family of orange monsters, a garden gnome playing the drums.
His chats with Nick and Joey become the high point of Charlie’s days. He likes to hear the tidbits of their lives’ story and catalogues every little detail in his mind. They moved here from Newcastle. Nick prefers tea to coffee. Joey’s mom is French. Nick worked at a huge newspaper and is now an editor at a digital news outlet. Joey wants to become an astronaut when he grows up. He enjoys reading Eyewitness books and has 100 of them (by his own account, about 20 by Nick's account). Nick used to play rugby (that explains the arms).
Charlie can feel himself grow fonder of both, father and son, with each encounter. It’s not just that Nick is really easy on the eyes and kind (so very kind), Charlie also genuinely enjoys Joey’s chatter. He has always liked children but he’d been aware that as a gay man they might not be in the cards for him. Charlie has made peace with that but there is a tiny bit of wistfulness bubbling up in him at each window chat.
Until three weeks in, when it’s not a window chat. Instead, Charlie’s bell rings. He opens the door to a bouncing Joey – on his own, no Nick in sight anywhere.
“Joey! Hiya, everything okay? Where’s your dad?”
“Oh, he’s gotta work longer today so I’m to go home and wait for him. But I thought I’d just visit you and wait here.” Joey beams at Charlie. One of his bottom incisors is missing and it’s utterly charming.
“Erm, I don’t think your father would like it if random people keep you with them without him being asked.”
“But you’re not random people! You’re Charlie!” How is Charlie supposed to say no to logic like that?
“Erm, I guess. Why don’t you come on in.” Charlie opens the door all the way and steps to the side. Joey bounds over the threshold with the exuberance of a puppy dog and floppy hair much like his father’s, sitting down at the bottom of the staircase to take off his shoes.
“Any chance you have your dad’s number on you?”
“Yes, it’s in my pencil case.” Joey sets his shoes aside and rummages around in his backpack. He pulls out a Ninjago-themed case and opens it to a phone number written on the inside of the lid.
“Perfect, thank you.” Charlie takes it. “I’ll let your dad know that you’re here. Would you like anything to drink? Water? Orange juice?”
“Orange juice, please.”
“Okey dokey. You can just go sit down in the living room and I’ll be right back with your juice.”
Charlie retreats into the kitchen and saves Nick’s number into his contacts. *Yay!* Alright, now, what is he going to text?
Charlie: hey, charlie here, your neighbour from down the road. joey decided to visit me. hope that’s okay with you? if not, i’ll send him right home
Then he pours the OJ and takes the glass to Joey.
“Here you go.” Charlie sits down and realises that he doesn’t quite know what to do now. He doesn’t have that much experience with children.
“Sorry, I don’t have any games or such. Not for children anyway.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Can I look at your house?”
“My house? Would you like a tour?”
For some unfathomable reason, Joey does. Charlie is grateful for something to do and before long they have a lively conversation going, mostly fueled by Joey giving Charlie a rundown of all his new classmates. Charlie has just finished presenting the downstairs loo when his phone vibrates.
Nick: Oh no! I’m so embarrassed! 🙈 He actually ran that idea by me the other day and I told him that we can’t just go crash at other people’s without an invitation. So sorry! If he’s bothering you just toss him out into the street
Nick: 😆 That sounded harsher than intended. You can just chuck him out, is what I mean. He’s got a key and I’ll only be another 30 minutes
Nick: I even gave him unlimited watch time on his tablet so that he wouldn’t bother you, ffs
Charlie: he’s no bother! another 30 minutes is no problem, if it’s okay with you if he stays
Nick: I really wouldn’t wanna impose
Charlie: it’s really okay! how else would i get the tea on elsa saying a word bad enough to get sent to the principal?
Nick: Yeah, that story is actually quite decent for a 7yo. Where would she even hear a word like that? 👀🫣
Charlie: that’s what i’m trying to find out!
Charlie: see you in 30
–
Precisely 32 minutes later, a very flustered Nick rings the doorbell. Joey springs up from the sofa to open up and throw himself into his dad’s arms.
“Joey, we talked about this. You can’t just invite yourself.”
“But Charlie was fine with it! Weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was,” Charlie confirms. He reaches the front door and smiles fondly at father and son. “Hi,” he adds, just for Nick.
“Hi.” Nick returns his smile. “Thank you so much for taking him in and keeping him company. You really didn’t have to.”
“Dad, dad! Charlie has a cat! It’s black and his name is Patty, even though he’s a boy, isn’t that funny?”
“Charlie’s got a cat?” Nick cocks a brow. “How did we not know that already?”
“Patroclus is really shy.” Charlie shrugs.
“Patroclus?” Nick asks, a strange expression flitting across his face.
“Yeah, his name is from a Greek myth. Patty for short.”
“Daddy, we had cookies and orange juice and Charlie showed me his house. He’s got a drum kit. He let me play it and I’m really good.” Joey’s enthusiasm knows no bounds.
“The drums, huh?” Nick’s ears acquire a pink tint. “That sounds like a lovely time. Maybe we could bake something for Charlie to say thank you, whaddaya think?”
“Yes! Uh, uh! The cheesecake!”
“Do you happen to like cheesecake, Charlie?”
“I do, actually. But you really don’t have to bake for me.”
“Shhh, it’s settled then. We’ll bake a cheesecake for you. But now we really need to get going. Joey, put your shoes on, please.”
After about ten minutes and as many failed attempts by Nick to get his junior to leave, the door finally closes behind them.
–
The next morning, Nick almost gives Charlie a heart attack: he’s wearing a blue hoodie with diagonal stripes, one purple, one pink. One purple, one pink. Blue, purple and pink. Nick is clad in bisexual colours and Charlie has trouble breathing.
*Breaking news – Nick is into men – IT HAS BEEN FLIRTING – I repeat – the banter has almost certainly been flirting*
How Charlie fakes being a functional human being during that particular morning chat, we will never know. He certainly doesn’t.
Nevertheless, in the afternoon, Charlie is ready. After much consideration, he has decided to go with his light blue “The Gay Agenda” shirt. It brings out his eyes and clearly communicates his inclinations.
Nick’s smile upon seeing the shirt is about a mile wide. “Hi.”
“Hi!” Charlie frowns. “Where’s Joey?”
“Went home with a new friend. Perfect timing really because I wanted to ask you something. Well, I’ve already gotten part of the answer, I guess.” Nick gestures to Charlie’s shirt. “So, the name of your cat is no coincidence?”
“Nope. You know the story then?” Charlie inquires.
“Song of Achilles is one of my favourite books," Nick confides. "It’s in my book case right next to my old worn copy of Percy Jackson, you know, since they're both Greek."
“Yeah?” Charlie’s cheeks are starting to hurt, he’s not used to unreservedly beaming at someone.
“Yeah.” Nick just returns Charlie’s gaze for several beats before he gives himself a little shake. “Aaaanyway, I was wondering…” He pauses, then takes a deep breath like he’s readying himself for something scary. He looks at his shoes, gathering his courage, before he lifts his eyes. “I was wondering if maybe you would like to go out sometime? With me. Like on a… date?”
Charlie’s heart threatens to burst, trying to contain all of his fondness for the adorable man in front of him and the excitement for what just happened. A date! Nick has asked him out!! He’s going to go out with the most gorgeous and gentle and funny and beautiful man he’s ever met. Charlie feels like jumping up and down with flailing arms but he has more self-control than that (it’s a close call, though). He will save that for when nobody can see him. His smile however, grows ever wider.
“I’d like that. I’d like that very much, thank you!”
They stare at each other, smiling and giddy, while Patroclus very deliberately retreats into the living room. His human is exuding a weird unfamiliar energy. Probably because there's finally something much more exciting than a moving van happening in Charlie's life.