Page 15 of Love Is…

“Hal’s plan. He needed you out of the house for a little while, and I’m your distraction.” She gives him an unimpressed look. “I thought Hal should be sneakier about it, but he’s more pretty than clever, your man candy.”

“He’s clever,” Luke says, frowning at her. “He’s real clever. And he’sdeliciousman candy.”

She chuckles. “I figured.”

“Seriously. What’s going on?”

“What’s going on is your boyfriend is seriously dopey and adorable and wanted to surprise you, but you were home all day, so he enlisted my help.”

“Oh.” His heart gives another hard thump, and this time it has nothing to do with nerves.

“I have no idea what he’s setting up, but I’m betting there’s roses and lingerie involved.”

“Dude!”

She laughs. “Just a guess. Chocolate sauce, at least. Whatever it is, don’t be allyouabout it.”

“How would that be?”

“A cranky asshole.”

“You’re a terrible friend.”

“I’m the best.” She nudges his arm. “Eat the cookie, you’ll like it. Plus, it’ll give you strength for when Hal humps you all night.”

“I hate you.”

“Youloveme.” Her grin turns suddenly genuine, warm and sweet. “And I kinda love you too, you idiot. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

When he finally leaves – after Tara tells him it’s been long enough – he walks around the table and pulls her into a fierce hug. “Thanks, kid,” he whispers.

“Get outta here.” She smacks his hip. “Go be with your man candy.”

He salutes her on his way out the door.

~*~

Luke’s hands are clammy by the time he reaches the door of Hal’s – oftheir– apartment. He takes a deep breath, another one, and lets himself inside.

The lights are low, just a lamp or two. And the first thing he sees is the…fort. It’s a pillow fort.

In the living room, the cushions have been pulled off the couch and set up on their ends in front of it, the walls of a fort that is fleshed out with pillows, more couch cushions that Hal must have borrowed, and sheets and blankets to serve as a roof. The TV is on, the Netflix screen pulled up, and Hal sits cross-legged on the rug, in his pajamas, with two boxes of pizza and an assortment of canned drinks. He glances up when Luke enters, and his smile flashes nervous. “Hi, baby.”

Luke locks the door behind him and lets his bag hit the floor. “Hi.” His throat feels tight…in a good way.

Hal flips open the top of one box: pepperoni from Dominos, greasy and half-cold. “Hungry?”

“Starving.”

Hal pats the rug beside him. “Come here.”

Luke was just a kid when he realized he wanted to kiss his best friend, touch him in ways that friends didn’t touch. He wonders if Hal knows that, and has reached into one of his fantasies somehow to create this moment. In any event, he drops his bag and jacket, and goes to sit beside him.

“Hi,” Hal says, lower, rougher, and cups his neck so he can lean in and kiss him, hard. Lots of tongue.

“Hi,” Luke gasps, breathless, when they break apart. “What is this?”

“Happy Valentine’s Day?” Hal asks, half-smile, half-grimace.

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