Chapter 5

To dating. Whether he knows it or not, he just implied I’m not too old for him to get involved with. He specifically said the word date. I heard him.

Minutes stretch out between them, silence again, this time growing awkward. Part of Alan wants to clarify things, but another part, a more sensible part—an older part—doesn’t want to ruin the hope he feels, however fleeting, that maybe, just maybe, Jim might be interested in him, too.

So ask him.

But no, he can’t. This is the first time they’ve spent more than five minutes together. They’re just getting to know each other, really. Alan doesn’t want to rush anything and risk spoiling it.

Getting a grip on himself, Alan nods at the mug in Jim’s hands. “You about done with that?”

Jim takes one last swallow, then hands over the empty mug. “Yeah, good. Thanks. I needed it.”

Alan sets the mug beside his in the sink. “I guess you have to get back to your…what’s it called, beat?”