David jumps when his phone vibrates in his pocket, which is also ridiculous, considering he was expecting a text, at minimum, from Jake.

is it ok if i cum over? Jake’s texted. or u can cum to my hotel if its not cool

You’re welcome to come over., David texts back, grateful he cleaned, and gives him the address. He’s not sure why Jake would think David wouldn’t be comfortable with that, considering he all but begged for him to come in last night. Maybe it isn’t appropriate for a first date, but then, David can’t even count how many times he was at Jake’s sublet last summer, so even if it isn’t, he doubts that’s particularly relevant to them, even if Jake wants to do this ‘right’, whatever that’s supposed to mean.

There isn’t anything else left to clean, not even when he looks for it. He can’t make lunch, because he doesn’t know if Jake has already eaten, and he can’t focus on anything he tries to read on his phone. He ends up in front of the news again, no more invested than before, restlessly picking at a loose thread on his couch until he forces himself to stop before he makes it worse.

Jake’s late, which is something David’s used to but doesn’t find any less irritating. The irritation is replaced by confusion when Jake walks in the door with two large canvas bags hanging from his arm.

David frowns at them, wonders if he can ask.

“I looked everywhere for a picnic basket, but apparently no one does picnics anymore,” Jake says. “Or maybe they just don’t in New York. I mean, you’d think with Central Park — well, whatever.”

“I thought we weren’t having a picnic,” David says. The forecasted rain has faded to a light drizzle, but it still isn’t the right sort of weather to sit outside and eat, especially when it isn’t even ten degrees out.

“Not a traditional one,” Jake says. “Do you have a blanket?”

“Yes?” David says. “Of course.”

“Can you go get it?” Jake asks.

“Okay,” David says after a moment of hesitation, then goes to take his comforter off his bed, inwardly wincing at how it throws off his perfectly made-up bedroom, and comes back with it. “Is this okay?”

“Perfect,” Jake says, before laying it down on David’s living room floor.

“Um,” David says. “What are you doing?”

“I told you I’d take you on a picnic,” Jake says. “So. Indoor picnic, since it’s gross outside.”

“Oh,” David says. “Do I just — do I sit down?”

“It’s a good start,” Jake says.