Page 7 of In Frame
Sam laughed.
Leo’s mobile buzzed. Jason. A text. Checking in. Being a good broad-shouldered shield. Taking on the responsibility of corralling lost group members.
Leo had never been known for being responsible. He did not answer.
“The thing is,” Sam said, “I’ve seen a lot of celebrities. And I saw you, tonight.”
“Yes, you did, and you’ve got photographs—”
“No, listen.” Sam put elbows on the table, leaned forward, held out hands. “You’re a good person, Leo Whyte.”
“All right,” Leo said, “we’re done, thanks,” and set his glass down and moved to get up. His chest hurt, sharp and shocked; he resisted the impulse to put a hand to his throat, to find the knot stuck there. “I think I’ve distracted you enough.”
“What—hang on, wait, dammit.” Sam grabbed his hand. Leo sat back down because that seemed easiest and not at all because the hand felt nice when he’d gone a bit cold.
Sam went on, “I’m not making fun of you or anything, seriously—does no one ever tell you that?”
“Does no one ever tell me what?”
“You know what I saw tonight? I saw someone trying to help his friends. When it was going to cost you something. And you did it without thinking twice.”
“It doesn’t cost me anything,” Leo said. “I’m good at publicity. It’s just another photograph. Andnobodytakes me seriously.” Surprised, he heard the edge to the words—he’d meant them lightly—and stopped talking. The knot in his throat grew more.
“Well, they should.” Sam hadn’t let go of his hand. “I know I’m just some degenerate American stalker with a camera.But I saw you being kind. Isawyou. And that matters. Wanting to help people.”
“I don’t—” Leo shook his head. Found other things, not Sam’s face, to hide in. The worn dark leather of their booth. The sturdy wood of their table. The way low bar-light caught the curve of a glass and spun it into a reflection, a line of gold, something new. “You know my reputation. Why would you think I’ve got any altruistic motives?”
“Don’t you?” Sam regarded him evenly. Tapped fingers over Leo’s captive hand. Somehow this drumming—light and repetitive and possessive—settled Leo’s heartbeat. Made it match that rhythm, finding a cadence to follow. “I think you do.”
“You don’tknowme,” Leo said. It was a protest, a counterargument, a fear. Because he was afraid.
He was afraid that Sam had seen him, or at least the him he’d want to be, if he could. He was afraid he wasn’t that person and never had been. He was afraid that every word hanging in the air was some sort of lie, something Sam glimpsed that was better and brighter and more true than Leo Whyte could hope to become.
He was also a bit worried by the state of his trousers, or more accurately the astonished and undeniable arousal inside his trousers.
Sam’s hand remained covering his, tanned and large and tangible. Sam’s eyes stayed on him, taking him in, taking him, yes, seriously. Wanting him, and not shy about it.
Leo wanted to ask for a hug or possibly cry into his whiskey or beg Sam to put that hand someplace else, much lower and currently stiff as a ship’s mast. He spent a second attempting to process this collision of reactions.
His mobile buzzed again. Still Jason.You OK?
This time he grabbed it. A solid shape among shifting sands.No need to worry. Look after our favorite rainbowunicorn for me. Be right over.
“Your friends,” Sam said, watching.
“My…yes. I should. Er. Go. Catch up.”
“They care.”
“They’re concerned they’ve lost a group member. Jason frets. He’s a shepherd at heart. Bit overprotective really, but Colby loves it.”
“And you care about them.” Sam’s gaze, Sam’s hand, were both heartbreakingly gentle. “And they want you to join them. And I want you here with me. I want you, Leo.”
“Don’t—” Leo started, and stopped, and squeezed both eyes shut for a second. Too much, too enormous, too glorious and painful. He couldn’t hear it. Couldn’t let the universe hear it. “You don’t have to—I mean, of course you want me, I’m entirely want-able, I’m a wonder of the world. I can ride a unicycle and I’ve got distressingly good aim with a bow and arrow, or so said our archery coach onGreen Knight. So if you ever need either of those skills, let me know.”
Sam sighed. Deeply.
“I’m also good at buying sex toys? If someone’s too embarrassed about something, I’ll happily get it for them.”
