Chapter 16

Sunday morning Alex wakes up feeling giddy with excitement. It is just six o'clock and the sun shines through his window, waking him up. He takes his time walking Zero. The dog would get a lot of exercise today but it was always a bit difficult with the dog's 'toilet breaks' when they are in a heavily frequented area. Well, it really isn't nice to step in dog poop.

Afterwards he eats his breakfast and prepares some fruits to take along. Daniel did say that they would care for everything but Alex feels weird not contributing anything.

He then picks out his outfit. He stands in front of his wardrobe pondering over the swim wear. He has baggy trunks and tightly fitting ones. Normally he would opt for the ones not as revealing but only yesterday he found his determination to pursue this relationship actively.

...

He would wear the tight ones. He knows that his figure is his strong point. He should work with everything he's got.

Feeling his heart beat a little faster at this thought he strips down and wears the swimming gear. Over it he chooses khaki pants, a white, not so loose t-shirt and a hoodie for when it gets colder later. It is just not possible for a guy to really 'dress up' for a date at a lake.

Now ready he sits down, smiling to himself in anticipation. He steals a glance at the watch. And sighs and slumps in his chair. It is only 8 o'clock. Still two hours.

And thus, the waiting begins.

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After double checking everything he packed, especially searching for Zero's favourite outdoor toys and triple checking his hair and clothes, finally, the doorbell rang.

Alex rushes towards the door, only stopping to get his heartbeat under control. Still a little flushed he opens it.

"Good morning, teacher Alex." Peter greets him enthusiastically.

"Good morning, Peter." Alex smiles down at the boy, ruffling his hair. He looks back up and smiles "Good morning, Daniel."

The moment lingered a bit between them, before Daniel managed "Good morning, teacher Alex."

They smile at each other, both trying to put in as much meaning as possible without disclosing their real intentions aloud.

"Let's go, let's go. Where is Zero?" Peter breaks the moment, peaking behind his teacher, blocking the doorway.

"Ah, one moment. I left him in the kitchen since he was too excited and wanted to bark down the door again." Alex busies himself getting Zero and putting on the leash, taking his bag on the way. "I am ready."

"Good, then let's go." Peter speaks for all of them. Alex glances at Daniel, only to see him looking at Alex warmly. Locking eyes with the other man Alex says "Yes, let's go. I also was looking forwards to today."

Alex has to fight a blush creeping up his cheeks as he sees Daniel's eyes widen at his words. He didn't reply to his message yesterday, wasting too much time mulling over what to write. To get his point across he adds "I am sorry for not replying yesterday. I didn't know what to write. But I am really happy you take me along."

Daniel's eyes fill with warmth and a bit of anticipation. He smiles as he puts a hand behind Alex' back to guide him outside. "I am glad you accepted." And both of them know that Daniel does not only mean the visit to the lake.

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In front of Alex' apartment-complex stands a car with tinted windows. "Zero will go into the trunk, I already laid out a blanket. Peter, do you want to sit in the front?"

Peter's eyes lit up. He seldomly was allowed to sit in the front seat. "Yes! I will take my child safety seat!" And with this Peter rushes to collect his seat from the back and climbs in front.

"Teacher Alex, this is Steven. Since Carlo is busy taking over my tasks at the company he will accompany us in his stead." The man in the driver's seat nods towards Alex before helping Peter with his new seating position. Alex was glad to see that the man didn't wear a full on suit. He still wears a dress shirt but with open collar and without a tie. With the weather expected to be nothing but hot Alex thinks that otherwise this guy would just melt in the sun.

Alex attention snaps back to Daniel when he guides "Please, teacher Alex, join me in the back seat." Alex can't suppress a blush as he sees the suggestive glimmer in Daniel's eyes. Now that Alex made his acceptance clear he got the full on force of Daniel's flirting.

"Yes, thank you." After letting Zero jump in the trunk and making sure the dog was comfortable enough the two men sat in the back seats and Steven starts driving.

Straining to start a conversation Alex starts "I saw a huge basket in the trunk. Is this all food?"

"Ah, yes, my sister overdid herself since she wanted to impress you with her cooking."

"Oh, she didn't have to worry that much. Since I myself only know how to cook basic dishes I am fairly easily impressed. What about you, Daniel, can you cook?"

"Oh no, in this regard I was spoiled by my sister. Even when her husband was still alive I would frequently eat at their place and my occupation demands some late hours so I eat outside a lot."

Alex saw an opportunity. "That means you know the restaurants around here? I only moved here two and a half months ago and with the new job and everything I neither had the time nor the opportunity to test one out. Could you recommend me some?" Alex, feeling a bit conceited, stares straight ahead, seemingly really interested in the trees passing by the car windows.

Daniel, getting the hint, seizes the opportunity. "Yes, I know several good places. But I remember you saying you don't have a girlfriend. Going alone would be uncomfortable for you." Daniel speaks as if mulling the thought over in his head. Seeing that Alex is watching him out of the corner of his eyes he adds "I could accompany you and show you the places."

Alex finally looses to his betraying body as his face turns red. He quickly looks away. Without the pressure of the others gaze he finally says "I would like that."

"Then it's a date." Daniel smirks at him and Alex finally meets his gaze again just to give a little nod.

"If you have time, there is one restaurant I am going to check on right this evening. The husband is away at the moment and I am worried whether his wife, managing the shop alone, came across any trouble."

"Okay." Alex heart speeds up.

Now he already scheduled his first real date alone with the man he likes. This would be a really exciting day.