“Nicky,” Gabriel called from the porch. His voice gained an edge. “Are you mad at me about something?”

No. Yes. Nick had no idea.

“No,” he called back. “Just late.”

He started the car so he didn’t have to hear what else Gabriel said. But his brother’s offer rolled around in his head, gaining traction while he drove. Quinn wasn’t even his girlfriend, so it shouldn’t have pissed him off.

But it did. Mostly because Gabriel was right: Nick hadn’t done anything to protect her.

He knew being gay wasn’t the equivalent of being weak, but right now, it sure felt like they went hand in hand.

He couldn’t exactly dispute it, either, not while he was sneaking out to see a guy instead of avenging Quinn.

When he pulled into the parking lot, he killed the engine, then sat there. He’d been keyed up about seeing Adam all day, and now he wanted to crawl back into that proverbial closet and wedge the door closed.

This was like physics class, where he didn’t know the right formulas. Adam would be expecting something from him tonight, and Nick had no idea what. Was study here just code for come over and make out? What if it was, and Nick missed the cues? Worse, what if it wasn’t?

He looked at the clock on the dash. Ten past eight. He was already late. He could start the engine and peel out of here. Forget their kiss. Forget everything.

Coward. First he couldn’t face Gabriel, and now he couldn’t face Adam.

A hand knocked on the passenger window, and Nick jumped a mile.

Adam stood there in the dark, his eyes shadowed and his expression hidden.

Nick unlocked the car, and Adam climbed in without hesitation, bringing the scent of cloves and oranges with him.

He didn’t say anything, and Nick peeked over at him. He’d expected loose dance clothes like last night, but Adam wore dark jeans and a red T-shirt under a charcoal gray pea coat. He had a messenger bag, too, beat-up brown leather that looked like it would explode from the weight of whatever was inside. His expression was easy, but his eyes were cautious.

When he spoke, his voice was gently teasing. “Do I pass muster?”

Nick jerked his eyes away. “You look great. Good. Yeah. Fine.”

Jesus, was he going to sound like a raving idiot every time he saw this guy? Me Nick. Me like boys. Me especially like how you look in that pea coat.

Adam smiled, and it chased some of the tension from his eyes. “You look great, good, fine, too. Are you hungry?”