Page 66 of Laying Low

Reg gazed at her unhappily.“I can try,” he said after a moment.“I can’t… I can’tpromise, Adelle.It’s not like the principal likes the art department anyway.And I’m pretty sure he hates my gay volunteering ass as a general rule.”

She gave him the sort of expression that said, well, he probablydidhate Reg, but she wasn’t going to say anything.“Try,mijo,” she urged firmly.“My students deserve you.”

They talked some more after that, and gave more hugs—and more promises to stay in touch, if they could—before they left, taking a rideshare from the hospital.

But not back to the hotel.As they were standing in front of the entrance, Anthony fiddled on his phone for a bit before giving an “Oooh” sound.

“What?”Reg asked, peering over his shoulder—and secretly thrilled with the comfort he felt, doing that.“What are you doing without me?”

“I,” Anthony said smugly, “am finding us a place to eat early dinner.Or, you know, late lunch.Or food at a nice restaurant that hopefully won’t kick us out for looking like college kids.”

Reg grimaced.Yeah, neither of them had been packing for a date when they left home.

“And did you find such a place?”

“Zzzt zzt zzt….”Anthony shooed him off and then finished his business, glancing up with a smile after he hit Send.“Now wait.The rideshare will get us there, and we’ll experience ittogether.”

Reg cocked his head.“Experience it?Isn’t that a little chancy?What if what we’re experiencing is ptomaine and dead rats?”

Anthony cackled—as Reg had meant him to do.“Are you kidding?Trustme, Registrar.I check out reviews, you know.”

Reg glanced away, embarrassed as he always was with the use of his full name.“Why do you have to do that?”he muttered.

Anthony drew closer and planted a very sweet kiss on his cheek.“Because I see all of you—even your name.I love it all.I have for months.Now that I finally get to tell you, I’m not holding back.”

“Well,” Reg sniffed, so pleased he almost couldn’t play.“After that, I guess I’ll risk ptomaine.”

Anthony laughed again, the sound resonating in Reg’s stomach.“Youwon’tget ptomaine,” he promised.“Unless you order the fish.”

They were still cackling when their car pulled up.

THEY BOTHgasped when they neared the restaurant—easily spotted because it was a modern wood structure with a glass wraparound window overlooking Sooke Harbor.They were far enough from the boating slips to see the amphibious planes take off and land, and Reg couldn’t help it.He spent long minutes nibbling soft, fresh brown bread and watching the planes in awe.

He even took off his new glasses and cleaned them on the hem of his shirt, using a little water, to make sure his view was perfect.

After a bit, he realized he’d let the silence at the table run on too long and turned to find Anthony staring at him with a sort of glowing look that made him squirm.

“Sorry,” he muttered.“I’ve just always really loved seeing that.Seeing the planes and stuff.I—”

“God, don’t apologize, Reg,” Anthony said, his voice husky.“I could watch you be fascinated all day.You’re like a little kid.I feel like king of the world for giving you something that lets you act like a little kid.”

Reg hid his eyes against his upper arm.“I don’t even…,” he mumbled, but he was reassured by Anthony’s rumbly laughter.

“Okay, let’s move on to another uncomfortable subject,” Anthony said, stuffing half a piece of bread smeared thickly with butter into his mouth and chewing.“How are you going to keep that promise to Adelle?”

Reg groaned and rubbed fruitlessly at his temples.“Oh hell, I have no idea.I wasn’t kidding about it being hard, usually.You can’t just waltz in and teach high school, no matterwhatRepublicans want you to think.There arelayersuponlayersof education and certification and programs and requirements—a year and a half to two years of the credential program alone, at least in California.It’s hilarious that the government proclaimed teaching wasn’t arealprofession, considering teachers in California havewaymore professional education than most of the politicians who just crapped all over them.”

“Bitterness,” Anthony said sagely.“Ilikeit.”

Reg glanced away.“Sorry,” he said.“I try to keep my politics in the family.”

“Hey,” Anthony told him gently.“That’s where I’m trying to get to.And I happen to agree with you.But my agreement isn’t going to make this any easier.Can’t you just…?”He waved his hands.“I mean, you’ve got mad hacking skills.”

“No, I can’t just magic myself teaching credentials,” Reg told him blandly.“And you don’t want people doing that anyway.”

“Who would even want to?”Anthony asked, sounding facetious.

“Pedophiles for one,” Reg said, and Anthony’s expression of horror was enough to tell him that Anthony didn’t take this lightly.“No, the credential should probably be earned.”He chewed his lower lip in thought.“Thebachelor’sdegree, however….”