Since that night when the house was vandalized, Austin had been keeping a close eye on Miller. He was jittery for a while, but he seemed OK now.
But no matter what went on, nothing could make Austin forget their kiss on the night of the party. A live current passed between them, and he rocked against Miller, desperate for more of that electric feeling, that powerful surge that Miller sent through him with even the smallest movement.
Just remembering the feeling turned him blind and breathless and reaching for his cock. Oh, what was Miller doing to him?
On Sunday morning, Austin was busy with Remi's laundry and Miller was playing with the baby. While carrying a basket of clean laundry, Austin heard him talking to Remi in the living room where he had him on the couch.
"Who's a little ray of sunshine? You are. You're my sunshine," Miller said.
Austin had noticed that Remi lifted Miller's spirits quicker than anything. With the heavy burden Miller carried, it was amazing that he was such a sweet, wonderful person.
"Look, Remi, I found a treasure, a coupon for formula." Miller was waving the coupon then telling Remi, "No, you can't grab it and eat it."
He jumped when Austin laughed at him. "I can't see him. Is he impressed?" Austin asked and dumped out the laundry next to them on the couch.
"Yes, he's impressed," Miller said and showed the coupon to him.
"It's his brand too. This is a treasure. This stuff ain't cheap," Austin said as he started folding. "I can't get over how darn small his clothes are. Isn't that crazy?"
"That's because he's a little, tiny guy," Miller said while Remi looked up at Austin. "I think he likes to watch you fold laundry."
"He's my sweet boy," Austin said and leaned down to kiss him.
"I didn't see if you had breakfast." Miller was always on him about eating proper meals, even if right now he was busy texting with somebody.
"While you were reading the comics to Remi, I grabbed a handful of cereal to have with my coffee," Austin said.
"That's not a breakfast," Miller complained.
"I saw what you had," Austin told him. "You had a plain piece of toast. You don't get to scold me."
"I sit at my desk all day, every day. You need to feed your muscles," Miller said then he quickly looked away from Austin and his muscles. "Do you maybe want to go and eat somewhere?"
Austin didn't let the uncertain way he asked stop him from saying yes. "I can always eat." But then he saw that Miller was texting again. "Sure you're not busy?"
"Wes is texting me remodeling ideas for the house. There goes another one," Miller said and rolled his eyes at his phone.
"Maybe he wants to move in," Austin said and hoped he wasn't showing that it bothered him to think about some skinny, cute guy being so close with Miller.
"Huh. Doubtful," Miller said with a smile. Did he like the idea of living with Wes?
"Who knows, he might be a fun roommate," Austin said to try and find out how Miller really felt about that guy.
Miller made a face. "Wes?"
"You're shy. He's outgoing. You two could get something going, two cute guys hooking up..."
"What? No. What are you even saying?" Miller said like he'd never even thought of such a thing. "Are you trying to set me up?" Looking angry, Miller stood up.
"I'm not," Austin told him. "I just didn't know what kind of guy you'd go for."
"Well, not him," Miller said, still frowning.
"Alright. Message received," Austin told him and wondered why he'd gotten so upset.
Then Miller came out with it. "You just want me to get a boyfriend so I'll stop bothering you."
Now that made Austin mad and he didn't bother hiding it. "When the hell have you ever bothered me? In case you haven't noticed, I don't even like sharing you." That was saying too much, and Austin regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.
Now Miller was gaping at him then looking at the carpet. "I don't get you," he whispered.
"I'm going to get this laundry up and then get Remi ready to go to lunch," Austin said then he thought he better make sure Miller was still up for it. "We still goin'?"
"Are we?" Miller said like he couldn't figure out the answer for himself.
"Yes, we are. Pick a place," Austin told him.
The place Miller picked out was called Champ's Diner. For a diner, it was really nice with shined up chrome all over the place, white tables and red and blue booths. They took a red one and Austin set Remi's carrier on the seat next to him.
"Why does he get to sit next to you," Miller pouted.
"You want to sit next to me?" Austin teased him.
"No, I want Remi to sit next to me," Miller said.
"He just got to sleep. When he wakes up and starts crying his head off in the middle of lunch, you can have him," Austin said with a grin and opened the menu. "Wow, the food here is real basic, old fashioned stuff."
"It is, but it's supposed to be really good too," Miller said. He ordered hash browns, and Austin got a patty melt and crinkle cut fries.
Some smooth oldies were playing in the background, and Austin was thinking that this could almost be a date, except for Remi dozing in the booth next to him and how Miller kept leaning over the table to get a glimpse of him.
"I'm starting to think Remi was the one you wanted to go to lunch with, not me," Austin said.
"You can't be jealous of Remi. He's cuter than anything," Miller told him.
"I don't hear you denying it," Austin noticed.
"Aha. There's a playground near here. You want to take Remi?" Miller asked.
Now he was pretty much confirming that it was all about a day out with Remi. "I guess I can't blame you. I'm kind of sweet on him myself," Austin said and leaned over to gaze at his sleeping baby.
They finished eating, and by some miracle, Remi stayed asleep the whole time. He was still sleeping when they arrived at the little park with a playground. There were plenty of kids there and adults watching them from benches that were set around the play area.
Austin wasn't sure they'd find a place to sit, but then a bench opened up and they raced for it. It was half in shade, half in the sun. Miller took the sunny side and Austin settled in the shade with Remi.
It was a nice day and the park was filled with the high, happy voices of kids. The kids were enjoying the colorful tube slides, swings and monkey bars, and Austin pictured Remi playing like that one day.
"Can't wait to see Remi out there," Austin said, but Miller was looking at something else.
A little girl had climbed a tree, and Miller was gripping the edge of the bench, his knuckles white. An old lady, who might have been her grandmother, was warning the little girl, "Get down. You're too high up. You don't want to fall from there. Come down right now."
Miller was staring up at the little girl, fear in his eyes. As she was climbing down clumsily and slowly, Miller held his breath until she was on solid ground.
When Remi suddenly started whimpering, Miller jumped.
"There he goes," Austin said as the baby squirmed and then his whimpering turned into full on crying. Austin lifted him up and handed him over to Miller. "All yours."
Laughing with relief as he took him, Miller didn't seem to mind one bit. To keep Remi in the shade, Miller scooted closer. He held Remi and rocked him and then fed him his bottle.
Rays of sunshine sneaked down between branches to play over Miller's shoulder and light up his auburn hair. As he watched him and Remi together, Austin couldn't help thinking that they made a beautiful sight.