his coworker's grunt next to him.
"So, um… Russell, huh? Any relationship to Dr. Russell?" an embarrassed Steven asked, trying to change the atmosphere back to business appropriate.
"Yes. He's my brother," James said.
Soon after, Dr. Russell came out to meet his brother with a big hug before walking to the back together. Steven watched James while he walked to the back with his brother, admiring his strong legs. He stared until his focus was broken yet again by his coworker.
"Umm… the phone is ringing," Thomas said.
Steven laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah," he said and picked up the phone.
*~*~*
The rest of the day went by like any other, but as the time went on Steven couldn't help but notice that James hadn't come out yet. Steven secretly hoped that he would see his face again before he left, but after such a long period of time he figured that he may have went out the back way. Most people used the front entrance to arrive and leave, but James's brother was the doctor so it wouldn't be hard to understand that he used a different exit. Still, Steven felt somewhat sad when he thought he may not see the man again.
Steven then turned his attention back to his work, but while he tried to refocus on his tasks, he heard Dr. Russell's voice. When he looked over to him, he saw James and Dr. Russell share another hug before James walked towards the door. However, something was different than before. There was a slight sadness on James's face. Steven thought back to the first moment he met James and how there had been almost a permanent smile on his face. His eyes now had a slight tint of red and he looked drained of energy. Had he been crying ? Steven wondered when he saw James head for the door. Something was bothering James and although they didn't really know each other, Steven wanted to see if he needed anything.
"Are you okay?" Steven stood just when James was about to reach for the door handle.
James stopped for a moment and then turned slowly toward Steven putting the smile back on his face.
"I'm fine," he said visibly composing himself. "Thank you for asking." He winked at Steven.
The smile was still beautiful but there was something almost disingenuous about it. But still, just seeing him smile did something for Steven.
"I'm glad to hear it," Steven said while he sat back down, not losing eye contact with James. It was once again a staring match between them. They were getting lost in the other's eyes as they continued to gaze at each other when Thomas chimed in.
"Look, it's obvious you like each other, so sir, please ask Steven out so he can get back to work, because I can't do it all up here."
Steven gasped. "Thomas!"
"Okay then, I will." James said and walked up to the desk. Steven felt his heart skip a beat and his throat gulp.
"Steven," James said as he put his hands on the counter and leaned on it. "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?"
Steven looked at James trying to contemplate his words. He was so nervous that he couldn't think of what to say. "I-I… well… I—"
"Yes. Tomorrow is Saturday and the clinic is closed on weekends so he would love to go out with you."
Steven gasped again. "Thomas."
James laughed at the situation. "Is eight o' clock a good time to pick him up?" James asked turning his attention to Thomas.
"Yes. Eight is fine." Thomas said as he grabbed a sticky note, wrote Steven's number down on it and then passed it to James. "Now, give me your number." Thomas grabbed another sticky note then handed it and his pen to a smiling James while an awkward Steven pretended not to notice. James wrote his number down then passed it to Thomas. "He will text you with his address after he gets off, and don't be late. Now please leave before someone complains about us," Thomas said and directed his attention back to his computer screen.
James just smiled and then he turned his attention back to the still-shocked Steven.
"I can't wait," he said then tapped on the counter and walked
"So, um… Russell, huh? Any relationship to Dr. Russell?" an embarrassed Steven asked, trying to change the atmosphere back to business appropriate.
"Yes. He's my brother," James said.
Soon after, Dr. Russell came out to meet his brother with a big hug before walking to the back together. Steven watched James while he walked to the back with his brother, admiring his strong legs. He stared until his focus was broken yet again by his coworker.
"Umm… the phone is ringing," Thomas said.
Steven laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah," he said and picked up the phone.
*~*~*
The rest of the day went by like any other, but as the time went on Steven couldn't help but notice that James hadn't come out yet. Steven secretly hoped that he would see his face again before he left, but after such a long period of time he figured that he may have went out the back way. Most people used the front entrance to arrive and leave, but James's brother was the doctor so it wouldn't be hard to understand that he used a different exit. Still, Steven felt somewhat sad when he thought he may not see the man again.
Steven then turned his attention back to his work, but while he tried to refocus on his tasks, he heard Dr. Russell's voice. When he looked over to him, he saw James and Dr. Russell share another hug before James walked towards the door. However, something was different than before. There was a slight sadness on James's face. Steven thought back to the first moment he met James and how there had been almost a permanent smile on his face. His eyes now had a slight tint of red and he looked drained of energy. Had he been crying ? Steven wondered when he saw James head for the door. Something was bothering James and although they didn't really know each other, Steven wanted to see if he needed anything.
"Are you okay?" Steven stood just when James was about to reach for the door handle.
James stopped for a moment and then turned slowly toward Steven putting the smile back on his face.
"I'm fine," he said visibly composing himself. "Thank you for asking." He winked at Steven.
The smile was still beautiful but there was something almost disingenuous about it. But still, just seeing him smile did something for Steven.
"I'm glad to hear it," Steven said while he sat back down, not losing eye contact with James. It was once again a staring match between them. They were getting lost in the other's eyes as they continued to gaze at each other when Thomas chimed in.
"Look, it's obvious you like each other, so sir, please ask Steven out so he can get back to work, because I can't do it all up here."
Steven gasped. "Thomas!"
"Okay then, I will." James said and walked up to the desk. Steven felt his heart skip a beat and his throat gulp.
"Steven," James said as he put his hands on the counter and leaned on it. "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow?"
Steven looked at James trying to contemplate his words. He was so nervous that he couldn't think of what to say. "I-I… well… I—"
"Yes. Tomorrow is Saturday and the clinic is closed on weekends so he would love to go out with you."
Steven gasped again. "Thomas."
James laughed at the situation. "Is eight o' clock a good time to pick him up?" James asked turning his attention to Thomas.
"Yes. Eight is fine." Thomas said as he grabbed a sticky note, wrote Steven's number down on it and then passed it to James. "Now, give me your number." Thomas grabbed another sticky note then handed it and his pen to a smiling James while an awkward Steven pretended not to notice. James wrote his number down then passed it to Thomas. "He will text you with his address after he gets off, and don't be late. Now please leave before someone complains about us," Thomas said and directed his attention back to his computer screen.
James just smiled and then he turned his attention back to the still-shocked Steven.
"I can't wait," he said then tapped on the counter and walked
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