“You like jazz?” came a soft voice. Justin nearly jumped out of his skin, his eyes darting to the man leaning against the counter. “Um…hi. Sorry about that,” Justin stammered, reaching for the radio and turning it down. “What can I get for you?” The man smiled, and Justin finally noticed just how amazing looking he was. Dark, wavy hair settling just above his shoulders, tucked behind his ears to frame his face. Sculpted cheekbones, full lips, grey-blue eyes. “No problem, man. I enjoyed the show, actually. Jazz is my favorite.” Justin blushed, kicking at an imaginary rock on the ground. He tried to ignore the way his heart beat a little faster every time he looked at the man. He hadn’t been in a relationship since Ella was born. In fact, he avoided them at all costs. The last thing he needed was a guy getting in the way of his life, so he shut himself out to everyone, going to work, then home, and that was it. “What can I get for you?” Justin asked, trying to keep the conversation to a minimum. “Tall coffee. Black,” the man said, and Justin nodded, turning to the coffee machine and pouring. He hissed when the hot coffee splattered on to his hand, and he immediately brought the wounded flesh to his mouth, sucking lightly. “Shit,” he whispered to himself. “Are you ok?” “Yeah, I’m fine,” Justin replied. “Just spilled a little. No biggie. That’ll be $2.95 please.” Justin looked into the eyes of the man, suddenly changing his mind. “You know what? Forget it. This one’s on me. Cold night out there, it’ll keep you warm.” “Oh, I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.” Justin frowned, watching as the man set his money on the counter. “And I can’t accept that for free. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with your boss. I can afford it, no worries.” Justin stared at the man for a moment, turning away when the man looked up at him. “You’re wondering what I meant by that.” “Meant by what?” “Meant by ‘I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.’” “Um…yeah, I guess so.” The man laughed, and Justin admired the way his eyes danced as he did so. “Well, Justin,” the man said, grinning at the frown that crossed Justin’s face. “It’s on your name tag,” he whispered, pointing to the gold rectangle on Justin’s chest. Justin blushed, ducking his head to avoid the man’s gaze. “Anyway, as I was saying, I was walking by this coffee shop, and the snow was staring to fall. A snowflake dropped in my eye, and when I looked up to wipe it away, I noticed you sitting in here, all alone.” “I work here.” “You looked sad. Very, very sad. Your eyes were closed, and your head was down. I couldn’t just walk away.” “Yes, you could have. And you should have. I don’t need charity,” Justin snapped, wiping at the ring of perspiration the man’s cup had created on the counter. “Woah there,” the man said, putting his hands up in defense. “Who said anything about charity? I was actually looking for some company myself, and thought maybe I’d stop in for a cup of coffee and some nice conversation. Apparently I was wrong to think I could find it here,” the man said, and Justin didn’t miss the hint of sadness in his voice. “I’ll leave you alone. Have a nice night.” Just as he reached the door, Justin stopped him. “Wait!” he called, grabbing the man’s arm. “Wait.” The man looked at him, eyes dancing. “Yes?” “I’m sorry. I just…” He ran a hand over his short curls, then down his face, around his neck, rubbing at the tense muscles. “Stay?” The man nodded, heading back to the stool at the counter and taking his seat. Justin wasn’t quite sure what he was doing, but something about this man was intriguing and he couldn’t let him walk out the door without finding out what it was. “So,” Justin said, elbows on the counter. “I don’t even know your name.” The man smiled again, eyes meeting Justin’s. “Josh,” he said softly, reaching out his hand. Justin took it, noticing how well it fit in his own. “Nice to meet you, Josh.” “The pleasure is all mine.” Justin wiped tables while Josh sat at the counter sipping his coffee, a comfortable silence hanging in the air between them. Finally, Josh spoke. “So, Justin, why is a young man like yourself working late on a Friday night and not out partying with his buddies?” Justin smirked, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “Partying? Buddies? I know of no such things.” Josh frowned, resting his chin in his palm. “And why is that?” “Her name is Ella,” Justin said, a half smile on his face. He noticed that Josh’s face fell a little, and he would have laughed if the thought of Josh being jealous didn’t make him so giddy. “Girlfriend, huh?” Justin laughed quietly. “Not quite,” he said. “Wife?” “Daughter.” When Josh didn’t say anything, Justin took it as a sign to continue, so he pulled up a stool next to Josh’s and leaned against the counter. “Her name is Ella. She’s four years old. She and I live in a tiny two bedroom apartment above a video store. It’s too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. But she doesn’t complain, because I’m her daddy and she loves me, and that’s all she needs really. Her mother died when she was born…I didn’t love her. Ella’s mother, that is. It was an accident…my first time with a girl…my only time with a girl. She got pregnant, I quit school, we got an apartment…and the rest, as they say, is history.” Josh sat there for a moment, eyes traveling over Justin’s face, taking him in. “You’re a good man.” Justin laughed. “And how would you know?” Josh smiled. “I can just tell.” Justin sighed, resting his cheek on his palm, eyes never leaving Josh’s face. “What about you?” he asked. “What are you doing here on a Friday night, sitting here talking to a pathetic 24 year old who has to work two jobs just to make ends meet?” Josh frowned, eyes searching Justin’s. “Two jobs?” Justin’s eyes clouded, and he looked away. “Yeah. No big deal.” “Justin—“ “I said it’s no big deal!” Justin bit, turning away from Josh. “It’s no big deal.” “I’m sorry,” Josh said quietly. “I didn’t mean—“ “No, it’s fine,” Justin said. “Just…I don’t like talking about it, ok? And I don’t even know why I told you half the stuff I told you…you just seem so…” Justin searched for the right word, but couldn’t find it. “I’m a musician,” Josh said, fingertip running over the rim of his cup. “I play at a jazz club downtown Tuesday and Thursday, sometimes on Sundays.” “You’re…you play at Moody!” Josh smirked a little. “Yeah.” “Lance—that’s my boss. He’s always talking about this amazing guy that plays Moody every Tuesday. You’re him?” “It would appear so,” Josh grinned. “They call me JC down there. My initials. Josh Chasez.” “Wow…that’s just…god, I would love to do that.” “So you do like music.” Justin blushed a little, nodding. “I was going to school to be a music teacher. And then Ella came along…” “You could go back.” Justin scoffed, shaking his head. “Right. I work two jobs as it is just to cover rent, and that’s without having to buy food and clothes for my daughter and myself. Going to school is just a dream I’ll never achieve. And I’m fine with that, because Ella…she’s my life.” “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you should never give up on your dreams.” Justin looked up, meeting the grey-blue of Josh’s eyes again. He laughed a little, remembering his promise to Ella about the kittens. “Ella called me at work today to ask if she could have a kitten. She asks me at least once a week, and the answer is always the same. ‘Ella, honey, you know we can’t afford a pet. Some day, when daddy has lots of money, he’ll buy you a million kittens, ok?’ And she smiles every time, like she believes me.” The smile fell from his face, tears pushing against his eyes. “I hate that she’ll never really have a million kittens.” A single tear made its way down Justin’s cheek, tracing a path to the corner of his mouth. Justin froze when he felt Josh thumbing the wetness away. “Don’t cry, Justin,” Josh whispered, reaching up and pulling Justin’s hand into his own, squeezing softly. “You do all you can for her, and she loves you more than anything. I’m sure of that. She doesn’t expect you to shower her with gifts. All she cares about is that you’re her daddy and you love her. Isn’t that all that matters?” Justin nodded, wiping away a stray tear. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right,” he said, nodding. “Thanks.” “No problem,” he said, thumb stroking the back of Justin’s hand. They sat like that for what seemed like forever, catching quick glances, sometimes simply gazing in to one another’s eyes. “It’s getting late,” Justin whispered, looking at the clock. “Almost time to close.” Josh nodded, squeezing Justin’s hand one last time before slipping his own away. “Here,” Josh said, reaching in to his pocket. He pressed a piece of paper into Justin’s hand, and Justin frowned. “What’s this?” “Lottery ticket. Jackpot’s $29 million tonight.” Justin laughed, shaking his head and handing the ticket back to Josh. “I’m not taking this. I’ll probably win, and then I’ll feel bad for taking all your riches.” “I have another one,” Josh smiled, waving another ticket in the air. “Besides, the chances of one of us winning are like, a zillion to one. So what’s the harm? Take it.” Justin looked at Josh, at the way his eyes danced in amusement, and shoved the lottery ticket in his pocket. “Fine. But if I win, I’m giving you half.” Josh laughed, standing up and stretching his legs. “Drawing’s at 10:00 tonight. You have somewhere to watch it?” “Yeah,” Justin laughed. “Not like it matters, but yeah.” “Ok.” “Yeah.” Josh shuffled towards the door and Justin pretended to be cleaning the counter. When he heard the jingle of the bell above the door, he spun around quickly. “Josh!” he called. Josh stopped, turned around. “Hmm?” “Um, thanks. Ya know…for keeping me company.” Josh smiled, and Justin’s heart fluttered. “I enjoyed myself, Justin.” “So did I. For the first time in a long time.” Justin’s breath quickened when he noticed that Josh was walking towards him. “You know where you can find me, Justin,” he said, standing just inches away from Justin. “I…I work…a lot, Josh, and with Ella…you know. It’s hard.” Josh’s eyes saddened a bit, and Justin sighed. “I wish I could,” he whispered. “More than anything, I wish I could.” “I understand,” Josh said, nodding. He leaned forward, brushing a chaste kiss across Justin’s lips. “It was nice meeting you, Justin.” When Josh turned around, Justin brought two fingers to his lips, collapsing against the stool when Josh was gone.