Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 116

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 116

They loaded the dresser into the U-Haul amid much debate about the best way to do so—Eli
had no horse in the race so he did not enter the fray—along with the single piece of luggage
that Eli had brought for his visit. He’d had a nice, relaxing Christmas with his folks and Nick, but
he was more than ready to get back to the West Coast.

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Cora insisted on riding with Eli while “the rest of the boys plus Max follow in the car.” They
made a slow parade toward Nick’s place, the five-minute drive taking more than twice that. It
gave Eli’s mom a chance to beam at him over the center console, her eyes sparkling.
“Mom, I’m driving,” Eli said, negotiating the truck to a stop at a sign.
“I know. I’m so proud of you.”
“For the driving? Because I’m not very good at it.”
“No, for going on such an adventure. LA! Acting! Moving in with Nick,” she said. “You look so
happy.”
Eli was certain he looked as frazzled as a bad driver could while in control of a rented vehicle,
but he shot Cora a smile anyway. “Thanks, Mom.”
He thought about how much his life had changed in one short year; there was no comparison
between the Eli at the wheel and the Eli he had been last Christmas. Friends of Dorothy had
wrapped its first season a few weeks ago, and the pilot episode would air in three months.
Margo was already hearing good
things about a possible renewal. “Our marketing department isn’t fucking around. We’ll be up
for an Emmy for sure,” she’d told Eli, and for once, he couldn’t tell if she was joking. “We’ll
somehow lose to Barry even though it’s been off the air for years, but you know what? I won’t
be bitter.”
Finally, the caravan of two pulled up outside Nick’s place. Nick came through the front door
wearing a huge smile and the Dodgers sweatshirt Eli had shipped to him last month, when the
temperature in Florida started dipping below eighty. For a gag gift, Nick was taking it very
seriously.
Eli climbed out of the U-Haul and into Nick’s arms. He smelled amazing. Eli squeezed him
tighter.
Nick laughed against his cheek. “Happy to see me?” It’d been less than a day since they’d seen
each other, but it was their sappy little inside joke every time they reunited.
“Yeah,” Eli said. “And just plain happy.”
“Can’t wait to become a fellow Californian.” Nick held him out at arm’s length, his gaze traveling
over Eli’s bare arms and legs. “Perpetual tan and everything.”
“Don’t forget, I know three facts about wine. They give you a pamphlet when you move out
there. You’ll get yours in the mail.” Eli listened to Nick laugh, soaking it in before clutching at
Nick’s bicep through the sweatshirt’s cozy fabric. “With a body like this, you’ll be on Muscle

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Beach in no time. Thank you, lap swim.” A year of swimming had defined his arms, legs, and
shoulders, though he remained somewhat soft around the middle. Eli was grateful for that; after
all, at their age, the only path to abs was dehydration, and he liked his boyfriend well-watered.
Nick didn’t preen, exactly—he was too well-mannered for that—but he did accept the
compliment with a kiss to Eli’s lips. “That’s just a nice perk. I do it for the therapeutic benefits
only.”