Miller wanted something to keep him occupied instead of spending his time being weird around Austin, and it worked. Getting things ready for the party kept him so busy, he hardly stopped until Saturday at midmorning when Lawrence arrived. He had been Miller's friend since college, and he was early for the party they were throwing that evening.
Miller introduced him to Austin, and Lawrence explained himself. "I'm way early for the party, but I wanted a chance to spend some one-on-one time with Miller."
"That's nice," Austin said. He was holding Remi and looked from Lawrence to Miller like he was asking a question. Or that's how it seemed to Miller though he wasn't sure why.
"Let's go see what kind of coffee I can get around here," Lawrence said and put his arm through Miller's, dragging him outside and hardly letting him say bye to Austin and the baby.
"Did you just hint to Austin that he shouldn't join us?" Miller asked after the front door closed behind them and they were off the porch.
"Did I?" Lawrence said like he hardly even remembered what he said. "Isn't he busy with that baby of his?"
"Babies are portable," Miller informed him as they kept walking.
"I guess you really wanted him to come along," Lawrence said and raised an eyebrow meaningfully.
Miller got defensive. "No. I mean, you made it sound like you wanted to make sure he knew he wasn't invited."
"I didn't even think he would be interested," Lawrence said with a shrug then he pouted at Miller. "And anyway, am I not enough for you?"
"You are. I just don't want Austin to feel unwelcome."
Lawrence rolled his eyes. "I think you waste way too much time and thought on him. Hanging out with straight guys and babies isn't a good way to get laid, you know."
"I want more than just to get laid," Miller muttered.
"You won't find that either if you don't get out there and go places or pick an app and start swiping," Lawrence lectured him.
Miller only grumbled. In a way, Lawrence was right and Miller knew he was obsessing over something that wouldn't lead anywhere, but he couldn't set aside his feelings just like that.
"So that's the place," Lawrence said as he spotted the sign for Coffler's Coffee and figured out that must be where Miller was taking him.
Going in, they grabbed a table and got two coffees, but Miller was still trying not to think about Austin.
"Don't make me worry about you and some unrequited crush you have on a straight, single daddy," Lawrence warned him.
"He won't stay a single daddy long. The whole neighborhood is littered with cute girls," Miller told him.
"Is it? I haven't noticed," Lawrence said with a blank look.
"Tanya at the mattress place, Natalia at the deli, the girl who served us our coffee, and there's his single mom friend too," Miller counted off. "Some of them are going to be at the party."
Lawrence had no sympathy for him. "The way I see it, the sooner your straight roomie hooks up with one of these girls, the better. Then you can drop your straight crush and come out with me to meet guys who can actually do you some good."
"I don't have a crush on Austin. I just can't stand to see him getting together with anyone else," Miller said.
"Good logic there. But I'm still rooting for one of these girls to snatch him away." Noticing the evil glare Miller was giving him, Lawrence told him, "Don't look at me like that. It's for your own good."
Of course he thought that, and Miller didn't want to tell him what happened with Austin after they went clubbing. He just couldn't. To him, it seemed like a dream. It was impossible, and he was afraid to speak about it. To break the spell.
That night in the car didn't change anything though. Lawrence was still right that his feelings for Austin were hopeless.
Going home, Miller went back to getting the food ready for the party. Lawrence was relaxing in the living room and Austin joined Miller in the kitchen.
"You're frying, no wonder it smells good," Austin said coming close to look over Miller's shoulder.
"I'm making veggie fritters," Miller told him.
Hearing what they were, Austin didn't seem as thrilled. "Oh, OK."
"They're good," Miller insisted as he turned to glare at Austin and realized he was still standing really close.
"I believe you," Austin said with a smile.
"You don't sound like you do," Miller accused him. "If it makes a difference, they're served with a sour cream dip."
"I'm sure I'll like them and everybody else will like them too," Austin said like Miller needed to be reassured, and maybe he did.
"I'm just nervous."
"It's gonna be great. Everything you make is always good," Austin told him.
Once he was gone, Lawrence came in and sidled over to Miller. "Isn't he supportive. It really is too bad he's straight," Lawrence whispered in his ear.
Tanya and her mom were the first to arrive for the party, followed by Sandy and her daughter. After they were all introduced, Austin took Sandy up so she and her little girl could have a look at the sleeping Remi.
Miller told Tanya and Tami, "Austin was worried Sandy might not be able to make it if she couldn't bring her daughter. So we told her that she can bring her and have her sleep in the baby's room. She even has a sleeping bag. Lucky, huh."
"Aha lucky," Tanya said as she eyed Miller.
"Why? What?" Tami asked looking from her daughter to Miller.
"Want me to sharpen my claws on this Sandy?" Tanya asked.
"No. She's nice," Miller told her and left her to give her version of what was going on to her mom.
Austin was back with Sandy, and Harriet arrived with her sister and her boyfriend. Miller and Austin didn't know them, but Casey did. She came soon after that.
Lawrence got a text that Wes was parking down the street. "From Wes, that's an RSVP," he said to Austin.
"I wasn't sure he would show up until now," Miller told him.
Then Miller opened the door to him, and Wes went for a big hug. The enthusiastic hug made Miller stagger back then Wes was looking around at the house. "Wow, what a house. Needs a remodel, stat, but the bones are there."
"Uh, thanks," Miller said then he introduced him all around.
Once that was done, Austin came over to where Miller was standing alone. "Why was that guy all over you?"
The way he said that and shot a glare at Wes, Miller would almost think he was jealous. Almost. "He's just friendly, but he's friends with Lawrence more than me."
"Is he going to spend the whole party texting?" Austin asked since that's what Wes was doing.
"This isn't really his scene," Miller said.
"What is?"
"Something more like a club or..." Miller faltered and looked anywhere but at Austin. Why did he bring that up?
"Something wrong?" Austin asked like he was challenging him.
"No. I just... You know..."
"Are you ashamed of what we did after we went to that club? Because I'm not," Austin said and Miller blinked at him.
"OK." He smiled, uncertain what that meant. It sounded good and made Miller's whole body heat up.
Thank God the doorbell rang just then. It was Belle, and she was the last to get there. Looking around she zeroed in on Tanya.
"Who is that garish thing?" Bell asked while eyeing Tanya and her orange and blue hair and green eyeglasses.
"A friend of ours. Be nice," Miller hissed at her.
"She's a fashion monstrosity. Her whole look is murdering my eyes."
"Behave and you and your eyes will live. Say anything mean and I make no promises," Miller warned her.
"I'll try," Belle said.
Miller introduced her to everyone, but for some reason she ended up talking to Tanya of all people. When Miller couldn't pry them apart, he gave up and went to pour Casey more wine.
"Belle and Tanya are sniping at each other, and I warned Belle," Miller fumed.
"From here, it looks like Tanya is more than holding her own. I wouldn't worry, just have some wine and enjoy the show," Casey told him.
"I want everyone to get along," Miller told her.
"Even Austin and Sandy?" Casey asked him.
Miller turned and saw that the two of them were talking. He looked in their direction for a little too long without answering. "She's nice," he managed to say finally. "Why would I have a problem with her?"
"No reason?" Casey said and smiled innocently.
Miller went to make sure the buffet was fully stocked, but really he just wanted to escape. It sounded like Casey knew he had a thing for Austin too. How transparent was he anyway? What if she said something to him?
"Is your roomie homophobic or what? He's glaring at me," Wes asked suddenly showing up next to Miller.
"Of course he isn't, or he wouldn't be living here," Miller told him.
"Maybe he doesn't have a problem with you being gay, but maybe he does have a problem with me," Wes said pointedly.
"Why would he?" Miller asked.
"Oh, no reason," Wes said with an insinuating smile.
"What are you hinting at?" Miller said but Wes was already walking away.
Miller hung his head. Why was everyone doing this to him?
With food on their plates and drinks in their hands, everyone seemed to be getting along. But after what Wes said, Miller could swear he sometimes caught Austin giving Wes and Lawrence unfriendly looks.
That didn't make any sense. As Miller was trying to figure him out, Belle came over.
"Are you taking a break from you and Tanya clawing each other's eyes out?" Miller asked her.
"Just a short break. What's on your mind, sweetie?" she asked.
"Austin doesn't seem to like Lawrence or Wes?"
"Does he have to like everybody?" Belle said.
"I don't know why he wouldn't. Austin is a nice guy. Even too nice, to me anyway."
"You're too nice," Belle told him. "And you have a thing for him."
"No. Yes. I can't stop thinking about him," he admitted. Everyone could see it anyway. "There's no better guy in the world. I know I'll never find anyone like him."
"Why do you need to look for someone like him when Austin is right here, honey?" Belle wondered.
Miller groaned. Yes, Austin was right there, but Miller was stuck avoiding him in his own house.