Archive of Our Own ^beta

Bortz didn’t want to put any pressure on Nick to sign anywhere, knew he would have options. But he also knew where he wanted Nick to sign and he was not above planting seeds if the opportunity arose.

“So,” Nick leaned against the bar next to him, looking out over Kels backyard, chuckling at Clayton following Kerf around like a lovesick puppy, “what are your plans?”

“Like, tomorrow?” Bortz asked, looking over at him.

“And every day after that,” Nick laughed, “Being officially retired and all.”

“Gonna head home, try to figure it out there.”

“To Thunder Bay?”

“No,” Robert snorted, “Saint Louis.”

“That’s home for you?”

“Yeah. It taught me so much and leaving was the hardest thing I’ve had to do.”

“And when you get there?”

“Dunno,” Robert shrugged, “Maybe Steener needs a secretary.”

“You’d be a terrible secretary.”

Bob laughed and Nick grinned.

*

Robert was chilling on the Schenn-Schwartz couch, trying to annoy Jaden into making him lunch, and was joining them in trying to ignore that it was July 1st. He was about to start whining for attention when his phone dinged and ignored Jaden’s look of offense that he still had sound notifications on to look at it.

Bjuggy: Got room for a temporary roommate?

Bob glanced over at Schenner, who was scanning his phone and giving nothing away, and sighed.

To Bjuggy: For you? Always.

“BobBo,” Schenner finally looked over at him, “Bjugstad a good guy?”

“One of the best,” Bob replied immediately, grinning widely, “I’ll offer him a place to stay until he gets a feel for the city.”

Brayden nodded and Jaden got up to make a call, no doubt to welcome whatever free agent just signed in Seattle.

“I’m making lunch,” Jaden came back through, “And I’m not taking requests. You’re both getting grilled cheese.”

“With bacon?” Brayden asked, perking up and looking so hopeful that Jaden - who definitely was not planning to take the time to make bacon before making grilled cheese - sighed and nodded. 

They’re Bob’s favorite couple. He loves them. He wants what they have. And he wants it with Nick, he thinks.

*

Nick flew into town in the middle of August, when the rest of the guys that had left town were coming back. Bob offered to pick him up but Steener was already doing that and taking Nick to the dealership to pick up his lease - his dad was driving his car and a couple of his bigger belongings down once he was settled. 

Bob ordered Imos once Nick texted that he was on his way and and kicked Jaden out of the house so he’d stop mocking him and go home to his husband. He’d already wiped the golf course with him that morning, wasn’t that enough? 

“Have to go anyway,” Jaden shrugged, “You can Venmo me the two hundred bucks.”

Bortz grumbled but hugged, “You should come home soon. Schenner misses you.”

“I know,” Jaden replied, “We have… if the plan happens, I’ll be home soon.”

“Jaden Schwartz, are you pregnant?”

“Shut up.”

Bob laughed as Jaden left the house.

*

Bob was having fun showing Nick around various places in Saint Louis. They even ventured to Crown Candy Kitchen. It was fun showing him all the places Bob loved. They went to the Big Three Farmer’s Markets - Soulard, Tower Grove, and Kirkwood.  They went to Forest Park and the Zoo. They went to Bob’s favorite restaurants - Olive + Oak, Dewey’s, Tucker’s, Billy G’s, PJ’s. Got Ted Drews and Andy’s in the same week. Bob finally got to beat someone at Puttshack and they absolutely devoured all the food they ordered before eating their way through The Foundry. Bob even took him to the Greentree Festival in Kirkwood Park - mainly for the Friday Night music but the food was a plus. Even took him to the Cardinals game and gave him a ride to Blues and Brews - and hung out during the event and bobbed in his chair to The Band Perry.

Bortz made the intro to the guys who were in town and he felt like one of those women on the Bravo shows Robby and Jaden pretend not to watch. He liked helping Nick fold into the team. 

“So,” Schenner looked down at his menu, “Nick know you’re dating him?”

Bortz choked on his drink and coughed and Brayden didn’t look up from the menu, which made Bortz roll his eyes because Brayden ordered the same food at Helen’s all the time. 

“You wanna talk about what you and Jaden have planned that will maybe have Jaden home soon?” Bob replied, hoping that would get Brayden to drop the topic he was circling.

“We’re looking at surrogates,” Brayden replied simply, “Now it’s your turn.”

“I’m not dating Nick,” Bob responded.

“Yeah,” Brayden responded, “because it takes the other party knowing it’s a date for it to be a date. You’re literally stealing my playbook. I did this same thing to Jaden. Hell, Tucks has been doing it to Jakey since last season.”

Bob laughed and sipped his beer, “I like Nick.”

“I can tell.”

“No. Like. I could see me and Nick settling down together. A house here, a house up in the cities, a couple dogs, kids, the whole thing. The real thing.”

“That’s a big deal for you.”

“Yeah.”

“You should talk to him.”

“Brayden.”

“He smiles real big when he sees you,” Brayden finally put his menu down, “that’s all I’m saying.”

Brayden turned his gaze to the approaching waitress and smiled at her before ordering his wings and salad and cheese curds and making sure to say that they’d be getting the skillet cookie later. And Bortz knew if he wanted any, he’d have to order his own because Brayden doesn’t share skillet cookies. Not even with Jaden.

*

Bortz sucked it up and texted Kells. He knew Clayton had a house at Innsbrook - Poor Kerf spent a month in Wright City because Clayton dragged him there - and Clayton vouched for him at the office and hooked him up with a weekend rental and asked him no questions. Which Robert appreciated but knew he would regret when Kerf asked him any follow up questions that Kels wouldn’t have the answers to.

Brayden and Jaden hadn’t stopped chirping him about taking Nick for a romantic weekend in Wright City and Bortz hates them sometimes - they’re perfect for each other and they’re gonna be great parents but he’s never telling them anything ever again.

The guy who owned the house they’re renting left them kayaks and firewood, charcoal for the grill, and the view was beautiful. Who knew that turning left when getting off the highway in Wright City led to this view?

“This is nice,” Nick looked around the cabin, well, house. It wasn’t a cabin by anyone’s definition.

“Kels place is nicer but he wouldn’t give me the keys,” Bob grinned.

“It would have to be nicer for Kerf to only bitch a little.”

Bortz laughed and Nick’s grin widened.

“You know,” Nick moved closer, “if you wanted to date me, all you had to do is ask.”

Bob froze and said, “When did - how did - what did Schenner tell you?”

Nick laughed, “I kind of figured it out when you took me to that bougie place across from Panera.”

“It’s Bread Co here,” Bortz replied automatically before his brain caught up, “Wait. You’ve known for that long and you didn’t say anything?”

“You didn’t say anything either.”

Bortz nodded, he had a point.

“So,” Nick wrapped his arms around Bob’s neck, “You gonna kiss me, Bobby? Or do I have to make the first move?”

Bob pulled him closer and kissed him softly, gently, a true first kiss and hopefully the last first kiss in his life.