Chapter Thirteen -- Meat Lovers
"So, what's your favorite?" Maddox asked while throwing him a tiny smile.
"Um, what?" Jonathan sat rigidly in his seat, after putting on the safety belt. Hours after his decision, and he still had no idea how to start a difficult conversation with his date.
No, it wasn't a date, what was he even thinking? Regardless of how he had gone with a dark purple shirt and grey dress pants because they looked good on him, and how he even debated what wristwatch to wear, he wasn't supposed to be on a date. Maddox looked amazing as always, although his long-sleeved light blue shirt was paired up with what looked like brand new jeans. Maybe, just maybe, he had put as much work into looking good for this as he had.
"What's your favorite pizza?" Maddox insisted as he rested his hands on the wheel with the practiced ease of someone who did that a lot.
Jonathan knew how to drive, of course, but there had never been many occasions for him to do so. His eyes rested on Maddox's hands. He loved them because they looked so strong, a bit square but solid. And he knew exactly how the tips of those fingers felt on his skin. Stopping the small shiver coursing through him was a tough task.
"I don't really have a favorite."
"Really? What is it going to be then? Give me a hint. Vegan? Pineapple on top?"
"No, no, nothing outrageous," Jonathan protested. "Anything with meat and mushrooms, I suppose."
Maddox remained silent for a moment, and then burst into laughter. "Omigod, don't tell me you've never had pizza!"
"I surely have," Jonathan replied, hoping that his indignation appeared real enough. All right, so maybe not in places called pizza joints, and during his falling out with his family, he had still preferred to cook at home instead of going out to eat so that experience had eluded him thus far.
Maddox slammed his hands against the wheel a few times and laughed some more. "I'm totally popping your cherry on some truly delicious pizza tonight."
He gave Jonathan a wink and a naughty grin.
"Just keep your eyes on the road," Jonathan mumbled while making himself little in his seat. "How far do we need to travel?"
"As far we need to go for pizza that will take your breath away."
"I would much prefer it to fill my stomach instead," Jonathan replied tersely.
"Hey, why are you so tense?" Maddox asked as his attention focused back on the wheel and road ahead. "I'm not going to jump you while we're in the car driving."
"Ah, so you'll wait until we're parked?"
Maddox burst into laughter. "You're a riot, man, a total riot. It's just my luck."
"How so?"
"Well, if you really want me to tell you, here it is. I bet this prickly personality of yours is the absolute reason why your sexy ass is still a virgin to this day. I mean, come on, you were enrolled in an all-boys college, right?"
Jonathan nodded, slightly confused. What was Maddox getting at?
"And are you telling me that not one of them thought of getting into your pants? At least a little? That college must be either a secret place for eunuchs or enroll the most heterosexual guys on the planet. But of course, since you grow cactus thorns the moment someone gets near you, they must have been just wusses who didn't dare to take things further."
Jonathan pursed his lips. Had he lacked attention before? No, not necessarily. He had just chosen badly, and that was the thing that wasn't supposed to happen again. Right. He needed to get back to his original plan and find a way to explain to Maddox why it was a bad idea to fool around together.
"You're so quiet. Did you break many hearts back there?" Maddox asked. "They must have expelled you on the grounds of being a heartbreaker."
"Oh, shut up, Kingsley, I wasn't expelled. For the record, you're not cute right now. And I didn't break anyone's heart."
More like the other way around and more. What else had Drew broken? His reputation? His family ties? No, he told himself stubbornly; it had been nothing but his fault, and his fault alone. As long as he kept telling himself that, he would remain in charge. People who held themselves accountable for their mistakes were in control of whatever happened to them.
"Okay, it looks like someone's grouchy when they're hungry," Maddox commented cheerfully. "Even you'll have to smile once you taste this pizza."
"I smile all the time," Jonathan said as he tried to chase away the bad memories. Difficult conversations to be had or not, they could still have fun.
And he very much wanted to taste that pizza, since Maddox kept praising it.
***
There was something off about Jonathan tonight. He was guarded, a bit unhappy, even. Maddox wanted nothing more than to ask him directly what was wrong, but the only thing stopping him was that he doubted he would get an honest answer. He didn't know Jonathan well, but hell if he didn't want to get there.
Jonathan seemed a lot like someone used to keeping a lot to himself. Twenty-year-olds weren't supposed to be so serious, and now that Maddox had a chance to look at him from up close, he could see how his cold demeanor could be mistaken for arrogance. It wasn't that, though. Jonathan must have had some unhappy experiences in his life.
So, it was all the more a win to see his face lighting up as he took in the colorful pictures on the menu. Behind that façade, there was a young man who could love passionately, as Maddox would attest to anyone asking, and it was that part of Jonathan he wanted to drag out and keep out there so that the sun could shine upon it.
"What do you think?" he asked with a grin.
"There are just so many choices," Jonathan replied, barely holding in his excitement. "I think I'll take this one."
"The Meat Lover," Maddox drawled. "Apropos much?"
Jonathan's eyes grew wide and then he pulled the menu closer. He was just too adorable when he got flustered like that. "I'll choose something else."
"No, no, no," Maddox snatched the menu from him. "Come on, let's face it." He dropped his voice low and leaned over the table. "We're both meat lovers."
Jonathan blushed and threw a few alarmed looks around. Maddox allowed him to scan their surroundings, but it was more than just amazing pizza that brought him back to this place. The tables were arranged in such a fashion that patrons couldn't easily spy on each other. Plus, the plush sofa seats were to die for, and the intimate atmosphere allowed for a bit of wandering hands when the need grew too high.
"All right," Jonathan said brusquely, seemingly trying hard to get a grip and pretend he was the pretentious person many people had to have mistaken him for. "We'll see if this lives up to expectations. I only have you to blame for any disappointment I might have to endure."
"I'm willing to take my punishment, as long as you're honest about what you're really thinking."
Jonathan gave him a sharp look. So, he understood.
Maddox ventured to ask the question he wanted. "What's with you? You look like you're about to jump out of your skin."
A pursing of the lips was the immediate answer. "Maddox," Jonathan breathed out, "do you really think it's a good idea?"
"What? Eating pizza?"
"Come on, don't make me spell it out for you. You know what I mean."
Ah, so he was getting cold feet a little. Maddox could work with that. He leaned over the table. "Hamilton, we have the hots for each other. Admit it."
Jonathan looked sideways for a moment. "Yes," he said quietly.
