What's for Dinner?By EM Lynleyhttp://www.emlynley.com

What's for Dinner?By EM Lynley –http://www.emlynley.com

A custom ficlet requested by Addison Albright based on the prompts: elevator, trip, klutz and grin. If youenjoyed this, request your own ficlet!

Read more or request a ficlet here:http://www.emlynley.com/free_reads.html ***Evan was exhausted when he finally entered his apartment building after a long day at work andridiculously long line at the grocery store around the corner from his apartment. He ended up going tothe more expensive corner store for the few things he absolutely wanted that night. Glancing at hiswatch, he willed the elevator to open, knowing he was cutting it close. Finally it arrived and he steppedinside. He was just about to turn around when someone barreled right into him.“I am so sorry! What a klutz! I tripped over the edge here.”

The guy’s cheerful but self-deprecating tone stopped Evan in mid-"fuck." He decided not to say whatwas on the tip of his tongue.“No problem.” The words didn't sound as if he meant it though.Evan turned and took a good long look as the guy reached over to press “11.” That was Evan’s floor.Evan’s gaze moved up the guy’s arm—lightly tanned and nicely muscled—to take in his clothing: slightlyworn and perfectly fitted jeans and a pale-yellow polo shirt. He had a large brown paper bag in onehand.As the door shut, the guy threw Evan a shy sideways glance and planted his eyes on the floor-indicatorreadout over the door. Evan took advantage of the opportunity to take a longer look, noting the guy’sthick dark wavy hair and dark, mysterious features.

Definitely

Evan’s type. He’d be chatting the guy up inno time had they met in a club.They’d gotten only as far as the 6

floor when the lights flickered and the elevator shuddered slightlybefore it ground to a halt that unbalanced Evan as the small car went dark. Within a few secondsemergency lights came on, but the elevator didn’t start moving. After a moment his eyes becameaccustomed to the low light.Evan pushed the “11” button again. Nothing. One more time. Still nothing.The other guy tried jamming a forefinger into the button as well—like he was going to have any moreluck than Evan—and then glanced at his watch repeatedly.“Damn. I’m going to be in so much trouble!”“Happens all the time around here doesn’t it?” Evan grinned, though the other guy probably couldn’tsee it,“I don’t live in this building. Just making a delivery.”The significance of the large paper bag dawned on Evan.“What’s in the bag?” The question was superfluous. Evan knew what was in there: It was his dinner—baked eggplant parmigiana from Torino’s a couple of blocks away. He was so late getting home that hisdelivery meal had nearly beat him there.“Dinner for some guy on the 11

floor." He reached down and fluttered the receipt stapled to the paperbag. "Riverton. But now I'm not going to be able to get this there before it gets cold.” He pulled a cellphone out of a back pocket and flipped it open.Even in the dim light, Evan could see the frustration in the pursed lips.“Damn! No service. I can’t even call my boss and let him know what happened. I’m screwed.”“You gonna get fired?”

“Nah, my uncle owns the place, but he’ll dock my pay. Plus the customer is going to be really pissed off and maybe he’ll stop ordering from us.”“I’m sure he’ll understand.” Evan grinned. “So what’s in the bag? Maybe we should eat it before it getscold.”“I don’t know….”Even in the dim light, Evan noticed the cute way the guy shrugged and the almost coy way he scrunchedup his eyebrows. At first he'd seemed reluctant to make eye contact but Evan held his gaze and now theguy also seemed to feel more.“I'll pay for it, if that's what you're worried about. We can even wait another ten minutes if it makes youfeel better.”“Okay. If we’re still here in

five

minutes…hey, does your cell phone work?Evan flipped his own phone open and discovered he had no signal either. “Nope.”“Oh, great.”“I’m Evan.” He held out a hand.“Uh, Nick.” He rubbed a hand along his pocket before tentatively holding it out to shake.Evan couldn’t help thinking the other man’s shy demeanor even more charming. The warm, firm graspbelied Nick’s outward shyness and Evan couldn’t help holding on just a second or two longer thanstrictly necessary.The next four minutes were pleasant, though slightly awkward. They would have met eventually atEvan's door, but this was so much nicer than having the guy simply deliver his meal, wait for a tip andthen rush off like he must do a dozen times a day. In the meantime, they made small talk and Evandiscovered that Nick was working in his uncle's restaurant to pay for culinary school. Even hoped Nickhad made his dinner because the guy sounded like he absolutely loved to cook."One minute to go." Evan announced."Fuck it. Let's eat."Evan joined in with Nick's hearty chuckle. Apparently, he'd relaxed while they'd been talking. He settledhimself on the floor of the dim elevator, crossed his ankles and ripped open the bag. It must have somesort of insulation, Evan realized as the intoxicating smell of garlic and tangy tomato sauce nowpermeated the confined interior of the elevator. He sat down next to Nick and took the half a sandwichhe held out.For the next several minutes both men were silent as they devoured Evan's dinner. The eggplant wassoft and cooked perfectly so it just melted on his tongue. Only lightly breaded, it was draped with real