Page 7 of Glow

“Quinn? This is Dan. You said for me to call when I was ready to visit. I was planning to head your way today. It’s okay if you’re busy, I wasn’t sure when things would come together for me to leave, but I’d love to meet up when it’s convenient.”

Since their previous conversation, Quinn had been thinking about Dan and how much he liked his voice. He wondered if Dan would be as attractive as he sounded.

“That’s great,” Quinn replied. “You’re probably going to get in late tonight, but I can make a hotel reservation if you’d like, or I can give you your options again if you want to do it yourself.”

“Already made one at the place you recommended,” Dan said. “But thanks, anyhow. Are you free tomorrow? I’ll be exhausted tonight after the long drive, but I’m open the next day.”

Quinn double-checked his calendar, assuring himself that he could go into town for the morning and rearrange his usual routine. “I’ll meet you at Bear Necessities Coffee and Café at nine thirty if that’s not too early. You’ll be able to grab a light breakfast, and they’ve got really good coffee.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Dan replied. “Thank you.”

“I’m looking forward to it, too. Just think, an adventure we’re actually doing in person!” Quinn said, pleased when Dan laughed.

He’s just visiting. If he doesn’t like it, he won’t come back. But I have the feeling he needs a fresh start. Maybe even more than he realizes. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more going on. I guess if he wants me to know, he’ll tell me. I hope he’s as interesting in person as he is online.

Quinn knew most of their RPG group in real life, since they lived in Fox Hollow. Dan had joined long enough ago to no longer seem like the new kid. Despite communicating mostly via game chat, Quinn found himself intrigued and then low-key attracted by Dan’s wry sense of humor and enthusiastic gameplay.

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they play. He’s not a glory hog, and he shares the spoils. If the party gets in a jam, he sticks around to fight it out. More than once, he’s taken a risk to help get an injured member out of danger.

Maybe it’s all just pretend, but people show more of themselves than they realize when they get sucked into a game.

Quinn realized that he had been unconsciously keeping score, paying attention to how Dan played, and enjoying sharing the campaigns with him. Talking to him made Quinn’s heart race, and the opportunity to meet in real life made his palms sweat.

Oh my God. Do I have a crush on him, and didn’t even know it?

He sighed as he had to admit the truth to himself. I’ve just lived up to every geeky stereotype. I don’t know anything about him, what he does for a living, how old he is, his favorite foods, or his general likes and dislikes. He said he had abilities, but that doesn’t automatically mean he’s a shifter. I don’t even know if he’s gay. Then again, I haven’t been interested in anyone in a long time, beyond a quick roll in the hay. He and I have always teamed up well together in the game. Is my intuition picking up on something?

Quinn had always heard about gaydar, the rumored ability to automatically know if a new acquaintance batted for his team. He remained skeptical, thinking about mishaps his friends had experienced relying on first impressions, some funny and others dangerous. He had usually played it safe by just going to a gay bar.

To his surprise, Fox Hollow was very gay-friendly, although since residents also accepted seers, witches, mediums, and shifters, maybe he shouldn’t have worried that another type of difference would be a problem. While Quinn knew several married gay couples in town, those folks were already spoken for. No one had made an obvious play for him on his trips into town, so Quinn left well enough alone for now, uncomfortable with the thought of asking any of his friends to fix him up with someone.

Being a park ranger didn’t offer a lot of opportunities to be “single and ready to mingle.”

A gay daemon whisperer. Now there’s a challenge for a dating service.

Quinn tried to put the questions out of his mind as he got ready for work, but found himself wondering about Dan. What does he look like? Is he close to my age? Taller or shorter? Blond, brunette, or redhead? Quinn had dated a broad range of partners but found himself gravitating toward blue-eyed brunettes.

Does he work out? Is he a bodybuilder or a twink? Quinn’s job required being fit and fairly strong with the endurance for long hikes on hilly terrain. He didn’t have a strong preference for body type if the general attraction was compelling enough.

Will he freak out about shifters? Because that would be a deal-killer, even if he’s pretty.

I shouldn’t get my hopes up. He could turn out to be a perfectly nice gaming friend without any other possibilities. But what if… he thought as he drove to the ranger station.

Quinn threw himself into the regular chores of his job. When he wasn’t arresting poachers, his responsibilities ranged from making sure that trails and emergency shelters were undamaged, noting where repairs were needed, and pulling away fallen branches that might endanger hikers.

He picked up trash, grateful that most visitors were good about not making a mess. Quinn kept an eye out for smoke, since lightning or an untended campfire could spell disaster. He found a couple of traps left behind by the poacher and threw them in his truck, angry all over again at the violation.

The beautiful day and bright sunshine cleared his mood, and Quinn focused on the part of his job he loved most, engaging with the nature spirits of the land, plants, water, and air. He let himself tune into their vibe, using it to make sure all was well. Discord on that level was a good indicator that someone or something was causing a problem.

Today, the elements felt harmonious, replenishing Quinn’s energies and soothing his worries. He glimpsed deer, squirrels, a raccoon, and a fat beaver building a dam. The animals paid him scant notice, and he figured they could pick up on his daemon whispering to know he meant them no harm.

He ate his packed lunch of a ham sandwich, chips, and coffee sitting on the tailgate of his truck, enjoying the sunshine. A glance at his phone told Quinn that Dan hadn’t messaged again, but he found his thoughts straying.

I get the feeling he’s uncomfortable where he lives now. Is it more than just not fitting in? Could he be in danger because he’s different? Quinn didn’t expect the flash of protectiveness that he felt, but he admitted to himself he shouldn’t really be surprised.

I hate bullies, and I look out for underdogs. That’s how I ended up as a park ranger.

People who moved to Fox Hollow generally did so because they wanted a community that accepted them and their supernatural abilities. It wasn’t something the town advertised, but people who needed to know tended to find their way.