by Shea Balik
His death when Tim had been twelve didn’t evoke tears. How could it, when Tim didn’t think he’d spent more than a combined ten minutes in his father’s presence in all those years.
“Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. Are you sure it works? I was worried the fan blowing the kites might be too much.” There were three kites all in various stages of flight as two boys and one girl held their strings as they raced along a grassy knoll Tim had created out of faux grass covering layers of foam.
As much as he thought it looked like the pictures he’d called looked at on the internet to research how to fly a kite, the scene had been a little too… well, still. There hadn’t been any motion. So he’d taken modeling clay and molded three kids with happy, cheerful expressions on their faces and dressed them in clothes and wigs from some of the doll accessories to make them seem more realistic.
But it still hadn’t been enough for Tim. So, he’d found two small fans that he could place discretely within the display. It provided motion for both the kites and the hair on the kids, helping to provide the illusion they were running.
“Are you kidding me?” Mr. Sullivan said, the hand that had been on Tim’s shoulder giving it a squeeze. “It’s perfect. It was stunning without the fans but with them, it gives the entire scene a dynamic feel. Like I could step right in with my own kite and run right along with those kids.”
Yep. If it wasn’t for Mr. Sullivan’s hand on his shoulder, Tim was sure he would have floated away with the man’s praise. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it doesn’t even come close, my boy. I love it.” Mr. Sullivan pointed to those gathered around the other side of the window. “And I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.”
Excited to have made such a good impression, Tim was ready to start on the next window. “Do you know what you want in the third window? I could probably get started on it.”
A knock on the front door had Mr. Sullivan shaking his head. “No more work today, Tim. I believe your young man is here to take you out on a date.”
Sure enough, Nick stood on the other side of the glass, a big smile on his face as he stared right at Tim. Tingles of pleasure raced through Tim at the look. He couldn’t wait to tell Nick what Mr. Sullivan said about his window.
“Are you sure Mr. Sullivan? I could cancel if you need me to get started on the next display.” It wasn’t what he wanted, but Tim also didn’t want to lose this job. It was the first time he truly felt like he was good at something.
“Son, when a gorgeous man, who is as sweet as you claim Nick is, offers to take you out on a date, always say yes.” Mr. Sullivan had seen Tim and Nick the other day when Tim was showing Nick his first window display and had asked about him.
Even though it was a little mortifying to admit, Tim couldn’t help but gush about his date with Nick. He hadn’t even once thought that Mr. Sullivan may not approve of two men together when he’d began telling him how sweet and supportive Nick had been on their first date. Or how he couldn’t believe Nick had actually asked him out on a second date so soon.
Thankfully, Mr. Sullivan was of the belief that if you find love, no matter who it was with, you should grab ahold of it with both hands.
“Now, go on. I’ll see you tomorrow morning bright and early.” To show that he meant it, Mr. Sullivan strode to the door and unlocked it for Nick. “Good evening. I understand you’re here to take our young Tim out on a date.”
Nick smiled at Mr. Sullivan’s warm greeting. They shook hands but Nick’s eyes were on Tim as he said, “I’m a lucky man that someone as sweet as Tim agreed to go out with me, not just once, but for a second date, too.”
When Mr. Sullivan chuckled, yet agreed with Nick, Tim was sure he must have been in some sort of accident and this was either a coma induced fantasy or he was in heaven and no longer on earth. There just couldn’t be any other explanation for things going so well for him.
“You ready, Tim, or do you need more time?” There was a split second when Tim became unsure of Nick’s words. Did he say that because he thought Tim’s window wasn’t done? “I forced myself not to join the crowd and look at your display.” His cheeks turned a bit rosy. “I was hoping you’d like to show it to me like you did the first one.”
Warmth flooded Tim’s body that Nick wanted to wait for Tim. “I would love to show it to you. Let me go get my coat.”
It was spring in Charlotte and the days were relatively warm, but the nights still held a chill in the air. Since Nick planned on continuing their date by the lake from the other day, a jacket would be a must if he had any hope of not freezing.
When he joined Nick at the door, he was happy to feel Nick’s large hand once more settle along his lower back as if it belonged there.
“Mr. Sullivan tells me you’ve outdone yourself with the window,” Nick murmured in his ear as they headed outside. “Not that it surprises me. You’re first window was stunning.”
Tim found himself leaning into Nick’s body as they walked along the sidewalk to his second display. There was still a crowd there, but some of the people must have recognized him as the one who’d created it and started clapping as they moved to allow him and Nick room to see it for themselves.
Nerves gripped Tim as he waited for Nick to comment. Already Tim saw two major flaws. The fan he had aimed toward the kids had blown the hair of the little girl right across her face, making it hard to distinguish her features. And one of the little boys was wearing a blue sneaker and a red one.
Tim sighed at his lack of attention to detail. He’d worked so hard on that display to have screwed it up so stupidly.
“My God, Tim,” Nick breathed out as if he were in shock.
Considering the blatant mistakes, Tim couldn’t blame him for sounding that way. He probably couldn’t believe anyone could be so inept.
“Mr. Sullivan was right, this is amazing.” When Nick chuckled, Tim prepared himself for Nick to start listing all the things wrong. “I can’t believe you even thought to have the little boy have two different color shoes on. I can’t tell you how often I did that when I was so excited to go outside and play that I didn’t pay any attention to which shoes I was stuffing my feet into.”
“Right,” a woman said next to us. “And I love the way the little girl’s hair is in her face. My mom used to beg me to put my hair up in a ponytail before playing so I didn’t get it tangled, but I always left the house forgetting the elastic bands.” She shook her head with a fond smile. “I swear that little girl could be me.”
“And those kites,” another man said. “How did you manage to get them to move like that? They look just like they’re flying.”
As several more positive comments were made, Tim almost felt sad. His display reminded all these people of something good from their childhoods. Tim, on the other hand, had to look up pictures of flying kites to have any idea what the experience would be like.
Nick must have sensed a change in his mood, for he thanked everyone for their kind comments but led Tim away and toward the park. “Hey.” Nick bumped their shoulders together. “Penny for your thoughts.”
Under any other circumstances, Tim would have never opened his mouth and admitted to his terrible childhood. He didn’t know if it was because it was Nick he was with, or he was just feeling so badly about missing out on so much, but the words were coming out of his mouth before he even knew what he was saying.
“I guess I just wish I’d had that kind of childhood where I didn’t have to look up how to fly a kite just to know what it should look like.” Now that he’d started, Tim found it hard to stop. “Or being able to play with a toy train for the first time when I’m in my twenties.”
The feeling of loneliness had Tim taking a step away from Nick and crossing his arms around himself as if trying to hide away from the past he wished he’d never known. Each time he’d opened one of the toys in the store for one of the displays, Tim had to actively not think about the fact that he’d never had a chance to play with any of that
stuff as a kid.
“Lots of kids never had toy trains or flew kites,” Nick said.
Tim shook his head and stopped in his tracks to face Nick. “No, you don’t understand. I never had any toys. My mom didn’t want to waste money on things for me or my brother. The only time I got to play with a toy was at school or when I went over to my friend’s house.”
Nick stared at him. Then blinked. Tim was ready for him to laugh at him or tell him he was a loser. What he hadn’t been ready for, was Nick to pull him into his arms and hold him tight. “I’m sorry you had to grow up that way,” Nick said honestly.
Tim appreciated Nick didn’t sound like he felt sorry for him. He wasn’t looking for pity. Well, maybe he was pitying himself, but he didn’t want it from others. Especially Nick.
“I was jealous that you and the others were able to remember something fun from your childhoods. My brother and I never got that.” They hadn’t even been able to use their imaginations to play because it gave their mom a headache when they made too much noise.
“You deserved so much better,” Nick murmured into his ear, causing Tim to shiver. He seemed to do that a lot whenever Nick was around.
Nick leaned back just enough so their noses were touching, breaths mingling together as they stood there just gazing into each other’s eyes. Tim felt his heart race and his breathing hitch when Nick moved in.
He could swear their lips brushed against each other when Nick said, “I would like to kiss you.”
Tim opened his mouth to agree but try as he might, no sound would come out at first. He feared he’d miss his chance when he finally managed a squeaky, “Yes.”
That was all it took for Nick to close the fraction of an inch and bring them together for the most sensual kiss of Tim’s life. With the few men he’d been with that agreed to kissing, it often felt as if the other person were trying to stick their tongue down Tim’s throat.
But not Nick.
He took his sweet time exploring every inch of Tim’s lips before dipping his tongue inside for the briefest of sips. Dismayed when Nick ended the kiss, Tim was mortified to hear him whimper for more.
Heat rushed to Tim’s face. There was no way, even in the dimming evening sky, Tim wasn’t as red as a lobster for the whole world to see.
Nick hooked a finger under Tim’s chin, forcing him to meet the pleasure in Nick’s soft brown eyes. “There is never any need to be embarrassed in front of me,” Nick told him. “We have all the time in the world to get to know each other and I, for one, don’t want to miss any steps because we’re rushing. I hope that’s okay with you.”
Tim fucking melted right there on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to the park. Someone would need to come scoop him up because between that bone melting kiss and the sweetest, sappiest words he’d ever heard in his life, Tim was sure he would no longer be able to remain standing up without someone holding onto him.
Nick was the type of man who he’d always dreamed of meeting. A real life knight in shining armor with the all the chivalry of a fricking prince to boot. So, why was his mother’s voice screaming in his head to run as fast and far as he could?
Ugh.
If he didn’t stop thinking the worst, he was going to ruin any chance with Nick. Tim just wasn’t quite sure how to go about doing that.
What was that saying? Fake it until you make it. Well, Tim had watched enough sappy tv and movies. He could at least try. Maybe, if he did it right, his dreams might actually come true.
Shut up, mom. It might.
Tim pasted a smile that wasn’t really fake since he was having a great time with Nick. “I agree. Shall we go for that walk?”
Once more Nick’s hand instantly went to the small of Tim’s back as they went to the same deli near the park as the other day and picked up some dinner. This time, they’d made it around the lake as they talked about everything and nothing at all.
Tim’s past might not have been the best. Okay, it sucked. But he was beginning to believe whatever curse he’d been under had been lifted. Now, if only he could make his mother’s voice disappear, Tim might find some hope for the future.
CHAPTER 8
Determined this would be the weekend to surprise Tim, Nick made a call to his boss, Mr. Sullivan. Since the night when Tim had admitted that his childhood had been less than stellar, Nick had planned to surprise the man he was coming to love with an opportunity to do some of things he’d missed out on as a child.
Too bad mother nature, work, and just about everything else had gotten in his way. For the first two weekends it had rained. No. Not just rained, but stormed, with downpours that caused flooding all over the city.
After that, Klassic Toys opened, occupying every free moment Tim had for the next couple of weekends. Then, it had been Nick who hadn’t been able to get free. Although, he couldn’t find it within him to be sad about his reasons, as finally, Howard had been fired and Nick had been promoted as Account Manager.
Still, it had meant postponing his plans, yet again. The only good aspect about the whole thing had been that he’d never let Tim know about it, so he hadn’t been disappointed. It did mean their dates were usually held to nothing more than rushed lunches or dinners when they were both too exhausted to truly enjoy each other.
But now, finally, he, with the help of Mr. Sullivan, had gotten them an entire Sunday off. The weather was perfect, with just enough of a breeze to ensure it wouldn’t be too hot for the picnic he had planned.
He made a stop at the deli first, ordering their usual sandwiches, along with an order of the homemade chips they both enjoyed. Placing them in the basket he already had loaded with waters and iced tea, as well as a blanket to spread out on the ground, Nick headed to Klassic Toys to surprise his date.
He really hoped Tim enjoyed what he had planned. The more time he spent with Tim, the more Nick wanted to give his boyfriend everything he’d missed out on a child. Not that Tim talked about it often, but from what he had said, Nick couldn’t imagine growing up without ever having the chance to really play.
Hell, when Mr. Sullivan asked him to build the fourth window however Tim wanted, Tim had been completely lost. Mr. Sullivan said he wanted Tim to either use something from his past experience, or something he’d always dreamed of doing as a kid. Nick was fairly sure Tim’s boss hadn’t thought that would stump Tim and send him into a tailspin that left him crying in despair.
The need to help had Nick coming up with taking him to a nearby amusement park for a half-day, since that was all the time either of them had. He hadn’t been sure what Tim would think about it, but the excitement in his eyes as they rode every single roller coaster, much to Nick’s stomach’s dismay, had been worth the need to throw up most of the day.
That final window display had been Tim’s best yet. The park he created with various building sets the store carried was so real, Nick’s stomach lurched every time he saw it. Not that he would ever tell Tim that. Nothing could force Nick to cause Tim to doubt anything he did, especially when it was all so astonishing.
Who knew someone who’d never had the chance to play as a kid would be able to create such lifelike showcases? Even the ones inside the store, that were on a much smaller scale, had the attention to detail that made the person looking at them feel as if they could just join in on the fun.
“Good morning, Mr. Sullivan,” Nick called out as he entered Klassic Toys. “Were you able to bag up my request?”
Mr. Sullivan gave Nick a conspiratorial wink. “Of course.” He pointed to a large black zippered tote bag near the register. “It’s all in there.”
Nick glanced around the store, not at all surprised to see it quite busy. Tim’s windows tended to draw the crowd in and Mr. Sullivan’s combination of classic, with a few modern toys mixed in, not only had the customers buying, but returning regularly.
“Where’s Tim?” he asked when he didn’t see his boyfriend anywhere in the store.
Mr. Sullivan scowled. “That darn ca
fé made him work the early shift this morning. But he called a few minutes ago and said he was on his way.”
The café was the one job Nick wished Tim would quit. He understood that Tim felt he needed to work three jobs to earn enough to get by, but the café took advantage of Tim’s willingness to pitch in and help.
By the look on Mr. Sullivan’s face, he felt the same way. “You know, I’ve tried to convince Tim to come work for me full-time, with benefits, but for some reason he won’t take the job.” The man shook his nearly bald head. “Keeps saying something about not being able to relate to the customers, which makes no sense at all. Whenever he’s here, the customers just love him, especially the kids. They are constantly peppering him with questions about how he built something in one of the windows.”
Apparently, this day hadn’t come soon enough. It was time for Tim to realize he might not have had all the same experiences as most kids, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t now that he was an adult. Nick was going to be sure he found the inner kid inside of him that peeked through when creating each display.
“Nick, what are you doing here?” Tim asked as he came into the store. He glanced down at the picnic basket in Nick’s hand. “Oh no. I didn’t promise to go out with you today did I? I have to work at the store until seven.”
Mr. Sullivan patted Tim’s shoulder. “Actually, no you don’t. Nick asked if he could steal you away for the day.”
“But I can’t,” Tim said. “I can’t leave you here alone and I need…”
“The summer window display can wait until tomorrow, my boy, and I’ve got Krissy here to help me with customers. You go and have a good time with your man.” When Tim opened his mouth to argue, Mr. Sullivan gave him a pointed look. “What did I tell you about always saying yes when a nice, handsome man asks you out?”
When Tim practically glared at Nick, his heart dropped. Had he been wrong to go behind Tim’s back and plan this surprise? He’d been trying to do a good thing, but now that he was in the moment, Nick could see why Tim wouldn’t exactly be happy.
