They had never gone out together, so when Nick had told them to dress up and then had hustled them into the car, Stephen and Connor didn't know what to expect.
The dumbfounded look that crossed Connor's face soon turned into a bright hope filled smile when they entered an upscale restaurant and Nick announced them as the Cutter party. It both made Nick smile and made his stomach clench.
He and Stephen had gone to dinner, in their early stage when they were cautiously taking the steps from friendship to relationship, but when Connor had so spectacularly fallen in their laps Nick had forgotten that people, especially ones with a low self esteem as Connor, need the public declarations.
So here they were, having dinner together in public and Nick felt the knot in his stomach come undone as Stephen took control of Connor's menu and ordered for both of them with a fond look. It continued to fade as Connor smiled back at them and looked more comfortable then he ever had.
Nick smiled as Connor babbled and shifted, a grin occasionally filling his face. Stephen met his eyes with a soft grin as they watched Connor watch the candle flame and fiddle with his fork as he smiled.