1 | Almost Happy ▷ Sam Wilson | ✓

28 - A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS

IT WAS THE FRIDAY OF OPENING NIGHT AND NICKY DEFINITELY WASN'T GOING ON A DATE. He had gotten a text from Sam when he woke up—though it was sent much earlier than when he woke up, so he could only assume the man went jogging, which made him shudder just to think about—the older man asking if he wanted to go out before the choir recital, just go around walking, maybe catch an early dinner. Of course, Nicky, being himself, had responded enthusiastically to the idea, only to spend the next twenty minutes obsessing over exactly what Sam meant by, 'COOL.'

"Rhett," he called out, walking out of his room to the dining table where Rhett was working on a special study plan, "Rhett, I need help."

The blond immediately looked up, concerned until he saw his face. "What's up? Or wrong, though I think you're probably gonna tell me something silly."

"What does he mean by 'COOL'?" the younger man asked, holding out his phone, and Rhett rolled his eyes so hard they might as well have fallen out of his head.

"I'm the last person you should be asking about that," he sighed, "Though, if I had to guess, maybe it's that he thinks your plans are 'cool.' Or, maybe, he's just saying that as a way to let you know he got your response and is giving a positive approval that he will actually somewhat enjoy whatever it is you two will do together."

Nicky blinked. "Why are you talking like that?"

Rhett sighed, rolling his neck. "I'm substituting at the high school? Brooklyn, not Midtown, and a lot of these kids write their essays like that. It's intellectual, but often long winded, it really all depends. Anyways, want me to call Harry to help you dress for your date?"

Nicky furrowed his eyebrows quizzically. "Why do we need to call Harry, can't you help me dress?"

Rhett gave him a wry smile. "Can't you dress yourself?"

Nicky scoffed, shaking his head, and Rhett laughed, rushing to add, "But, really, call the kid, now that he knows about Steve and stuff, I think you should do him a favor and invite him over and maybe he can run into my boyfriend at the same time I decide to invite him over."

Nicky raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Steve in that bet with Sam where he won't go see you unless it's an emergency for the next five days?"

"Yeah, but he's not coming for me, he's coming to make a little boy's day, you said he was Harry's bisexual god or whatever it was, Steve can't pass up the opportunity to raise the spirits of someone like that," Rhett reasoned, but he said it with enough of a whine to let Nicky know that, more than anything, Rhett missed his boyfriend.

"Maybe another time, I'd like to be there to facilitate and maybe take a video," Nicky said with a tired smile, and Rhett stood, crossing his arms, raising his eyebrow in silent question.

Nicky sighed. "I'm just a little out of it right now, I'll get up by the time Sam rolls around. I'm gonna make some lunch, okay?"

Rhett hummed, grabbing his arm as he started to walk away, pulling him back in for a hug. Nicky wondered what this hug was for, as there normally was a reason for them, but he decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and simply relaxed into the hold, closing his eyes and smiling.

But no matter how good he felt, there was still the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach and the center of his heart that reminded him that he was lying through his teeth.

º º º

"Wait. Your cousin is Bruce Banner? Like. The Bruce Banner?"

Jen rolled her eyes, sighing as she continued to do some digging, Sam leaned against her desk in the tiny cramped room in their already cramped building.