Lee’s smile tamed Ryan’s nerves but sped up his heart, had his stomach rolling over. Lee’s arms enveloped him, and the pat on his back cemented their friendship once more. It’s going to be all right. Shit, everything’s okay.
Ryan pulled back, the urge to kiss Lee’s lips like a tangible thing, as though it had hands that pushed their heads together. A brief brush and then Lee stepped away, ushering him inside.
“What a fucking shock! But shit, it’s good to see you,” Lee said, closing the door and walking down a short hallway with stairs to the left.
Ryan followed and entered a kitchen, the wooden worktops looking like they hadn’t been changed for years. Happiness bubbled up inside him. To finally be here with Lee after all this time! Christ, it was like they’d never been apart.
“Want a beer, mate?” Lee asked, putting the phone on the side and opening the fridge. He nodded at Ryan’s bag. “Dump that on the floor. I’ll sort out the spare room later. I don’t have many guests. Sheets need changing.” He handed Ryan a can of lager, grin filling his face. “Can’t believe you just did that to me! Nice surprise, though. Shit. Come here!”
Ryan stepped into Lee’s arms, the coldness from the fridge seeping through his coat, and he felt absurd for having tears in his eyes. He blinked them away and rested his cheek on Lee’s chest, where he needed to be, wanted to be since the day his first love had left town. Lee’s scent, a woodsy aftershave and the unique smell that belonged only to his friend, wafted up. Ryan took it in, unable to quite believe he was here. He smoothed his hands up and down Lee’s back, the breadth wider, the muscles more defined than before, and wondered if his thighs and calves had grown too. Their close proximity and the sheer excitement of being here got to Ryan, and he wanted to laugh it out—really laugh until his ribs hurt.
He raised his head and looked at Lee. “Shit, I’ve missed you.”
Lee’s eyebrow rose, and he smiled, a lopsided grin that had Ryan’s stomach flipping.
“Didn’t realise how much until I saw you, but I’ve missed you too.” Lee gripped the tops of Ryan’s arms and squeezed. “Come on into the living room.” He let Ryan go, handed him a beer, and closed the fridge, leading the way back down the hall and opening a door on the left. “Got a lot to catch up on.”
Ryan stepped into the room, taking in Lee flopping onto a black leather recliner in his peripheral vision—and a man sprawled out on the sofa straight ahead. |
