Page 62 of Meet Me in the Blue

“Everyone in town really knows?” Rook looked at me, and for the briefest of seconds, I thought he might’ve been worried.

“It sucks, not being able to come out to people on your own terms. I get that, but in a way you did.” The humor in Ron’s eyes turned serious. “You guys kissed on a public corner, in a small ass town, and everyone knows, and from what I can tell, they’re all chill about it. It could be worse. And if anyone does give you shit, I’ll set them straight.”

Rook shared a look with Ron that was private, some unspoken thing between friends. Instead of feeling jealous, I was happy he’d had someone like Ron in his corner all this time.

“I’m sorry,” Ry said. “If I sounded ignorant earlier. I didn’t… I guess I do have a lot to learn.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Rook gave him a soft smile. “I just recently learned about the ace spectrum. Google is very helpful when you’re having a sexuality crisis.”

“Or your friends,” Ron said.

“Yes…” Rook exhaled, the tightness in his shoulder releasing as he sank back into his chair. “I’m lucky to have such great friends.”

“I think it’s cool.” The sentiment in Will’s voice surprised me. “I’m happy for you both.”

“Thanks,” I said and tried to let go of the old hurts he’d caused me.

It was obvious Will had changed. He wasn’t that playground bully anymore.

“Should we see what’s behind the glowing door?” he suggested, and everyone groaned.

“Fuck… let’s do this.” Ron set his beer down, picking up his character sheet, and I didn’t miss the hidden smile on Ry’s lips as he stared at him.

“Are you going to open the door or flee?” Will asked the room and the game continued.

About an hour later, we’d wrapped up the campaign for the night. Ron and I worked side by side at the sink while Rook walked Will and Ry out to their cars. The silence wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable, but I could tell he was holding something back as he placed the last dish in the drying rack. I wiped my hands on the towel looped around the handle of the stove and Ron turned to face me. Crossing his beefy arms over his chest he said, “If you hurt him…”

“I wouldn’t… not intentionally.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.” He let out a slow breath and lowered his arms, opening up his posture. He didn’t seem as scary when he relaxed. “Listen, we don’t know each other as well as we should, but I know what it’s like to be in love with someone who might never love you the way you hoped they could. I know how awful it can be to think you’re finally getting what you want, and then have it…” He shook his head. “What I’m trying to say is, I know you love him, and I know that’s why you stayed away. But if shit gets bumpy, you have to stick it out this time, because Rook fucking loves you. And I don’t think he’d recover from it if you left him like that again.”

“I’m not leaving. Not again. This is my home.” Those three sentences, the truth of the words resonated in the air, in my chest.This was my home.“I’ve never loved anyone the way I love that man. He’s been my everything. My whole life is wrapped up in him. He knows me. Every moment I’ve breathed has belonged to him, to us, in some way or another. I messed up. I tried to cut him out of my life, but it was like cutting out half of my heart. I was barely surviving in California. I love him. And I appreciate you protecting him, but you don’t have to anymore. Because I will.”

Dark blue eyes stared straight through me, piercing and deliberate, like he was weighing what I’d said, measuring the honesty of the words. After a moment, he nodded, a slight smile growing on his lips and clapped me on the shoulder. “That’s good. Because that man deserves the world.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

“What are we arguing about?” Rook asked as he walked into the kitchen.

I curled my arm around his waist and kissed his cheek. “Nothing, we were just talking.”

“I should get going,” Ron said and grabbed his keys from the countertop. “I told Ry I’d go running with him in the morning before work.”

“I think Ry is into you,” I said, and Ron’s head tipped back as he laughed.

“Not likely.”

“I don’t know,” I pushed. “For a lumberjack type, he sure did blush every time you paid him any attention. I’m thinking baby bi vibes for sure.”

“Maybe he’s questioning,” Rook added. “He’s never mentioned what happened with him and his ex-wife.”

“Cut it out.” Ron waved his hand with another baritone laugh. “You two are terrible. He’s new in town and wants to make friends. Besides, I’ve spent enough of my life lusting after a straight guy. Unless the man shoves his tongue down my throat, I’m not interested.”

“So, what I’m hearing is that there’s a chance?” I asked and he rolled his eyes.

“See you guys later,” he said, dismissing me. “We should grab lunch this week. Give me a call.”

Once the front door slammed shut, I pulled Rook to my chest and kissed him. His hand found the nape of my neck and my fingers twisted into the front of his hoodie. I heard Maribelle traipsing down the stairs, but I didn’t break from Rook’s lips. His tongue swept into my mouth, and I moaned. God, I’d missed him this week.

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