Page 43 of After Midnight

Several rounds of cards later, as well as the arrival of our dinner delivery, Miss Rita declared herself the poker champion and announced she was headed home because it was getting late.

“No mushy movie?” I asked, teasing her. “Good, we escaped that.”

“Oh, you’ll watch what I had picked out,” she said, giving as good as she got. “Just not tonight.”

After she hugged me and left, Dillon and I relocated to the living room. We sat at opposite ends of the couch with our glasses of wine, sipping and chatting while some reality TV series played in the background.

“So, how’s Chicago?” I asked, trying not to feel guilty I hadn’t asked him until now.

“It’s amazing and exhausting and probably the most fun I’ve ever had,” he said excitedly. “I’ve learned so much, and made some friends. I’ve even been working with Feldman quite a bit.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Cool. I’m glad to hear it’s been such a great experience. Ashton told me you were doing well.”

Dillon shifted on the couch, setting his wine glass on the coffee table, then tucking one leg under himself as he turned to face me. “You’ve been talking about me to Ashton?”

I matched his position and nodded. “But he brought it up.”

I loved that my response made Dillon laugh, his gorgeous eyes dancing. “You’re still working at the club, right? I figured you’d be there behind the bar tonight since it’s a Friday.”

“Yes, I’m working tomorrow. I took tonight off because I had a lot of stuff happening with school today. I managed to survive a rather hellish exam, and a particular research paper that kicked my butt but I turned it in on time.”

“Well, congratulations,” he said.

We sat in awkward silence for a moment before I sighed and decided to say what I’d needed to say for a while. It was time to rip the Band-Aid off. “Dillon,” I began, and waited until he made eye contact. “We met at what turned out to be a horrible time for me. Just the beginning of it, actually. The family situation with my sisters and stepmother has been intense and not at all good for me. I know I kept pushing you away, but I appreciate you kept trying. I know I’ve not made it easy.” The ball was in his court now. He could pick it up and run with it or walk away. My heart raced and my breaths were shallow. I really wanted him to stay.

Dillon took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for whatever he was about to tell me, then smiled. “I like you, Dominic. Even if friendship is all you can offer, I want to get to know you better. You make me laugh, and as a comedian, that’s an important quality to have in friends.”

“I’m not sure how I’ve made you laugh amid all the drama,” I said, the weight of the past months creeping back onto my shoulders. “My life seems to be a series of shitshows all strung together, with just enough bits of happiness thrown in to want to keep going.”

“I hope you’ll consider me one of those happy bits,” Dillon said with a wink. “Don’t sell yourself short, though. Youdomake me laugh. Watching and reenacting that silly movie with you and your sisters was one of the funnest nights of my life.”

“That was definitely a bright spot,” I said with a smile, remembering our first date. “AndThe Princess Brideis not just some silly movie. It’s held in high esteem in this house.”

“Oh, believe me, I could tell. You teased me, but in a way that made me feel good about it,” he said, reaching over to take my hand in his. “You’re also kind and a natural caregiver. That’s what makes you such a good brother and guardian to your sisters.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t see that in myself, but I liked that he could. “Well, that seems to be coming to an end. It appears at this point, I’ll be lucky if I ever see the girls again, much less be their guardian.”

Dillon gently squeezed my hand. “Regardless, you’ve given those girls a good foundation, that’s something they’ll never forget. You’ve changed their lives for the better, just by being you.”

That did it. I felt my heart crack wide open and I had to blink back tears. I was too emotionally attached to this conversation. When I lost the battle and started sniffling, Dillon scooted closer and pulled me into a hug. I should’ve been embarrassed, literally crying on the man’s shoulder, but it just felt so good to be held. This was what I’d been missing for a long time. Too long.

I hadn’t admitted it, not even to myself, but Dillon had become my imaginary boyfriend in the months since that first date. Having him here in the flesh sent me over the edge. His protective embrace held firm as I pressed my face into the crook of his neck, my muffled sobs filling the living room. When I eventually pulled back, Dillon handed me a tissue from the box on the coffee table.

“I’m so sorry, it’s just been such a long, stressful week,” I said, and Dillon used his thumb to wipe away a fresh tear from my cheek. I closed my eyes and relished in the simple, achingly gentle touch.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. I know it’s been a tough few months for you, and don’t feel like you need to pretend otherwise with me. Like I said, I’m here as your friend, and lending a shoulder when things are bad is what friends do.” My gaze strayed to the tear-stained wet spot I’d left on his shirt. “Dominic, I wish I could’ve been here for you more, and I don’t just mean physically here in Denver. I’ve thought about you a lot. Ashton, well, he said things were really bad, but I didn’t want to harass you if you didn’t want to hear from me. I took the unreturned messages as a sign to ease off the gas.”

I nodded and reached for another tissue. “I appreciate you not giving up on me, Dillon. I do need a friend right now, and I’m glad it’s you.”

Dillon smiled, then got up to come around behind me and began massaging my shoulders. “I’m here for as long as you want me to stay tonight,” he said. “We can talk, watch TV, eat what’s left of Miss Rita’s cookies, whatever you need.”

“I think I just need to hang out. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is,” he said and continued to work my knotted shoulders.

I’d never known depression like this, and having someone like Dillon wanting to support me however he could, even though I’d pushed him away repeatedly, really did mean a lot. More than my heart could even process at the moment.

I sank further into the couch, determined to focus only on the here and now, as he rhythmically kneaded my muscles with skilled fingers. Even if the timing never felt right, even if we never pursued more romantically, tonight had proven I had a true friend in Dillon Pearson.

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