The Merger – 19

 

Josh's pulse quickened as he turned the corner and saw Mike waiting in front of the bar. He waved when Mike did, and was tempted to give him a hug as soon as he was close enough—but didn't. Too…intimate. The only time he's hugged me was after I told him about Bobby, and that was just out of compassion.

"You're dressed for dancing," Josh said, eyeing the blue tank top Mike was wearing under an open light blue shirt.

"I am?" Mike replied, looking surprised.

"Yep. When you get hot and sweaty, you can legitimately get rid of the shirt and show off… Okay, that was stupid."

Mike chuckled as he opened the door so they could enter the bar. "You're nervous. Why?"

"I'm not," Josh protested. "Okay. Maybe a bit. This seems a little too much like a date, if that makes sense."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, I suppose." Josh paused, looked up at Mike, saw the twinkle in his eye then revised his statement. "Not a damned thing."

"Exactly." Putting an arm around Josh's waist, Mike headed toward a small table close to the dance floor.

As soon as they were seated, a waiter hurried over to take their orders. Thankfully, as far as Josh was concerned, the band was between numbers at the moment so he didn't have to shout that he wanted a non-alcoholic beer. Mike ordered a regular one and the waiter left, just as the band started up again.

Mike put his elbows on the table, leaning in to say, "This is going to make conversation iffy, at best."

"What? Huh?" Josh cupped his hand to his ear, his mouth quirking up in a grin.

"Smart ass. Are we going to go running again? Like this Sunday?"

"Sure, since we both have the weekend free, for the first time in forever."

"I know." Mike rolled his eyes. "Not that I'm complaining—much."

"Being so busy does keep us off the streets and out of the bars," Josh replied, trying not to laugh.

"That I am complaining about."

The waiter returned with their drinks. Josh paid, overriding Mike's protest by saying, "You can get the next round."

They went silent for a moment, sipping their drinks. Then Mike said, "We came here to dance." He stood, holding out his hand, which Josh took when he got up. Then they made their way onto the crowded dance floor.

The music was loud and fast, making conversation virtually impossible. Mike put his hands on Josh's hips, moving to the beat. Josh did the same, his hands on Mike's shoulders as they danced in place. Then Mike spun them around once, then again, laughing when Josh gasped at the unexpected movement.

"I'd dip you," Mike said, "but you'd end up hitting the couple next to us."

"Or the floor."

"Naw. I wouldn't let that happen." Mike spun them one more time, just as the song ended and a slow one began. He wrapped his arms around Josh, pulling him against his body. "Now this is more like it," he murmured.

"Don't like fast dancing?" Josh asked, putting his arms around Mike's neck.

"It's fine for openers, but this…" Mike smiled as he gazed at Josh. "It's more intimate."

Almost too intimate. Josh smiled back. Is he… Is that what he wants? Is it what I want? He knew the answer to his last question. He did. Not 'let's jump into bed' intimacy, but definitely something more than the friendship they already had. His gaze moved from Mike's eyes to his mouth. Do I dare?

Josh didn't have to make that decision. Mike made it for him when he brushed a kiss over his lips, followed by a second, firmer one. As suddenly as he'd done it, Mike pulled back, asking, "Am I moving too fast?"

Tongue-tied, Josh shook his head. He moved one hand up to cup the back of Mike's head and returned the kiss. It wasn't intense but it definitely conveyed the message, Josh hoped, that he was ready to move on from mere friendship to something more. He decided he'd succeeded when Mike whispered against his lips, "You do like me."