Empty Net by Avon Gale

in net. Not for the first time, Isaac noticed that Laurent’s stare looked like nobody was home—like he was just an extension of the net instead of a person.
    No wonder he didn’t like hockey or playing goalie. Shutting down hotshot shooters was supposed to give you a feeling of glee. Just not when they were seven.
    “My father never—”
    “I swear to—uh, gosh. If you mention your dad, I will deck you with one of those Nerf things.” Isaac looked around and made sure he was smiling wildly in case a small child overheard him. “Now stop being a prick and make these kids have fun.”
    Isaac yanked his mask back down, went to his side of the makeshift court, and took his spot back in goal.
    A few minutes later he heard some cheers and giggling, so Isaac figured Laurent had gotten with the program.
    After the kids were finished shooting at the goalies, they were allowed to take turns in net. Isaac was momentarily horrified at how that would play out with Laurent. He worried that he’d just consigned about ten kids to therapy. But Laurent was surprisingly good at that part. At one point Isaac looked over to check on him and saw Laurent bestow an honest-to-God smile on a kid and ruffle his hair.
    That’s when Isaac decided they needed to go on a date—a real one that maybe ended in more than kissing. Because there was something about that gesture, about seeing Laurent St. Savoy drop all his attitude and be a regular guy having a good time and showing the affection he’d probably never had as a child. And Isaac needed to know if the thing between them was leading somewhere or if they were just going to be friends who sometimes petted each other’s hair, but no more than that.
    “See. Wasn’t that fun?” Isaac asked on the way back. Laurent looked as relaxed as Isaac had ever seen him.
    “It wasn’t bad,” Laurent said.
    “You want to go get some dinner?” Isaac tried not to sound too eager.
    “It’s four thirty,” Laurent said. “Are we going for a senior citizen’s discount?”
    “Well, I meant later. But you know we don’t get paid all that much.” Isaac grinned. “Don’t expect me to take you anywhere fancy. I meant like, Olive Garden or something.”
    “I don’t like Olive Garden.”
    Isaac sighed and took the turn toward Laurent’s apartment. One step at a time. “We can go somewhere else. The important part was the one where I asked you out. On a date.”
    “Okay.”
    That was all he got, but Isaac said, “I’ll pick you up at seven thirty” and watched as Laurent climbed out of the Jeep without a backward glance.
     
     
    WHAT THE hell was he supposed to wear on a date?
    Laurent stood, freshly showered and in nothing but a pair of underwear, and stared at the admittedly small amount of clothing he’d brought with him to Spartanburg. He never expected to need anything to wear out on a date.
    He definitely never expected to go on a date with Isaac Drake.
    Laurent chewed on his lip, fought his nerves and reminded himself that he’d kissed Isaac more than once and liked it. That clearly meant he was… something. Gay? Bisexual? How was he supposed to know? Getting off by himself was as awkward as always, but for the first time he had something to think about.
    Not something. Someone. Isaac, and that lip ring. Thinking about sucking on that ring—which Laurent had been brave enough to try the last time and Isaac had sounded as if he’d really liked—made him flush and his cock tent out the front of his underwear.
    Laurent went with a pair of dark washed jeans and a plain white dress shirt that he left untucked. That seemed like a concession to casual. Was he supposed to dress casual? He had no idea. His nerves were shot, and was there anything less appealing than going out to dinner when all he wanted to do was stay home with his comics and his sketchbook?
    Laurent made himself stop with a firm mental reminder that he liked Isaac—liked being around him, liked the ease with which his