Page 6 of Curtain Call
Boston, Massachusetts
Colin
There Riley is across the station hugging Mac. Seeing his two oldest friends embracing warmed him deep within his chest cavity. Colin wonders if his reunion with Riley will be just as warm and welcoming. He was hopeful. Riley’s back is toward him with his copper red hair nestled in with Mac’s dark brown curls, intertwined just as their friendship has been all these years even when Colin and Riley weren’t speaking. When Mac turns Riley around, there they are face to face. His green scarf draped around his neck turned his natural green eyes to emerald.His one freckle was still there under his left eye.
“Hey,” Colin says with his arms slightly open.
Colin felt a handshake was too impersonal, a fist bump was not something either of them did, but not sure if a hug would be welcomed by Riley. At least not like the one embraced by Mac.“It’s been too long, friend,” Colin added.
Friend. A word that means two people with mutual affection. Was there mutual affection? Colin wasn’t holding a grudge against Riley for ghosting him. He knew Riley struggled with body image issues and maybe should have been a little more delicate about his concerns. They both have been busy. He hates that the past few years have thrown so many curve balls that his meeting up with Riley in NYC never happened, but surely Riley could understand.
Riley stepped forward with his stage smile and accepted the embrace with open arms.At one point, Colin could feel Riley lean into the moment. Colin took that as a sign and embraced Riley a little stronger and tighter. Maybe a little too tight.
“Hey, catfish,” Riley whispered.
In that whisper, Colin could feel Riley’s warm breath on his ear as the nickname penetrated through his ear canal. He felt Riley’s smooth cheek against his own stubble. He’s a shadow of his former self, but he was still Riley. Colin’s skin was electrified by the contact. Colin has never felt this way before and squeezed again before loosening his grip. He also hoped that Riley calling him that jovial nickname meant that things were going to be just fine.
And just like that, Riley is back in Colin’s life.
Suddenly, Riley began pushing back out of Colin’s arms just as Colin wanted to hold on a little longer. It wasn’t symbolic of Riley pushing away, it was a preventative measure as to not let his breakfast land on him. Riley threw up, hitting Colin’s shoe. Colin froze.
“I’m -,” Riley started and stopped before he could finish his apology.
Riley turned and quickly headed toward the restroom with his head down as if he were counting the tile squares through the lobby. Mac was quickly by his side all the way across central to the restroom with her hand around his waist and his head on her shoulder.
Colin still hasn’t moved. He stood there with what looked like a combination of oatmeal and orange juice splattered across the toe of his boot. In Riley’s defense, he did try to push Colin out of the way but Colin held just a little tighter than he realized. Riley was back in Colin’s life, and he just wasn’t ready to let him go.
After giving him a few minutes, Colin heads in their direction.
Walking cautiously around the corner and into the restroom, he sees Riley hunched over the sink with a wet paper towel on the back of his neck mumbling to himself. Riley’s left arm wrapped around his torso while rubbing his lower back. Colin recognizes the gesture and understands that he needs comfort.
When they were younger, back rubs always helped Riley when he was feeling almost any emotion. Stressed? Back rub. Scared? Back rub. Sad? Back rub. Colin wondered what emotion he was feeling today.
“May I?” Colin didn’t wait for a response as he placed his left hand under Riley’s coat and into position.
Riley’s body initially tensed. Every muscle from his neck to his waist tightened.
“I think that’s the opposite of what this used to do,” Colin joked as his hand started making the small circular motion.
Colin knew the signs and exactly where and how to rub Riley’s back to calm him. It was exactly two hands from Riley's waist. Growing up, Colin would place his left hand on Riley’s lower back and his right hand above it while removing his left. He would proceed to rub in a small clockwise circle and then slowly make the circle larger. Within minutes, Riley was always better. Mac tried once and failed. Colin just knew.
“I’m so -“
“Don’t worry about it. Just glad to see that I’m not the only nervous one.”
Colin continues to rub.
“How could you tell?” Riley grinned. It was involuntary as he looked down to the left at Colin’s boot.
After a couple of minutes of rubbing, Colin increased the size of the circle he was making and felt the dull edges of Riley’s spine causing Riley to stand erect.
“Feeling better, thanks,” Riley proclaims as he crosses the bathroom to toss the no longer cool paper towel in the trash.
The hair on his nape was damp and now a darker shade of red. It’s almost a brownish red, Colin notices before kicking off his boot to run it under the faucet. Over his shoulder, Riley handed him a few paper towels.
“I should be cleaning that for you,” Riley quietly says while looking at the almost clean boot in the sink.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It wasn’t that bad.”
