Page 14 of Until the Day You're Mine

Their first baseis in Japan, and only years later, can he look back on his deployment there and say it wasn’t half bad. No, not at all.

Rian writes to Cy all the time and Cy reads him the emails. Rian always adds ahelloto Ty too.

He’s just being polite. Ty knows that.

Sometimes he imagines that maybe Rian remembers him as more than just a sweaty nervous boy. Sometimes he imagines Rian thinks about him.

All the pictures Cy sends Rian include Tayida or are photographs Ty has taken of Cyril, so it isn’t entirely impossible,right?

Idiot.

Rian’s going to college. He doesn’t have time to think about your sorry ass.

Ty still hasn’t told Cyril that he cares about Rian a lot. That he likes him more than he’s supposed to and it is quickly becoming clear, that he might not be able to ignore those feelings.

He doesn’t want to look like a creep, lusting over Cyril’s younger brother. He tries not to sound too invested in the stories Cyril tells him about Rian, even if every word sticks like glue, expanding his ever-growing treasure trove of information about Rian.

Ty knows Rian is into guys. Cy has told him as much. But still, there’s no point in hoping for the impossible.

Tayida should just fucking forget it.

Why would Rian want to have anything to do with him?

Ty is dirt poor, with nothing to offer but a pile of problems and insecurities.

Even if he has made peace with his circumstances, he never misses an email and never forgets a single word from that correspondence Cyril reads out loud to him. The last email from his mom has been months ago. Ty hasn’t spoken about it much and Cyril isn’t pushing, but he still makes sure to include Ty in whatever he and Rian are talking about.

Sometimes Ty pretends he isn’t listening to the video calls, but his heart never stops fluttering when Rian laughs at something funny Cy would say. Rian’s voice still evokes a sense of weightlessness in Tayida, even when it comes distorted from the other side of the world.

Occasionally Rian catches a glimpse of Tayida in the background and calls out his name to say“hi.”Tayida feels those big blue eyes on him. His body flushes hot and he mumbles something ridiculously nonsensical, leaving the room as fast as possible.

Cyril is one of the most perceptive people Ty’s ever met. Surely, he would put two and two together at some point and come up with the massive crush Ty has for Rian.

But he can’t think about that now.

He’ll stay away.

He’ll get over Rian.

CHAPTERTHREE

Rian, Ri, Ree-ahn

SEPTEMBER 2012

“Ty. Tayida. I wonder if his name means anything?” Ri is musing to himself out loud. His ears are burning bright red when his eyes catch Cyril looking at him with suspicion.

His brother has recently returned from his first tour overseas. Those nine months apart were absolutely devastating. Having him back home for a short leave simply isn’t enough, but it’s what their life is right now. Rian needs him closer. Every day while he is lucky to have him.

They’re sitting on the couch, each on the opposite end, legs tangled, having a quiet afternoon.

Cyril gives him another curious look, over the edge of his book, then grins and answers anyway. “It means ‘Beloved one.’”

Beloved one.

My beloved.

Rian blushes and glances away from Cy.His brother is a freaking mind reader, and Rian has no poker face. It’s not like he can keep this up much longer. He’s already been caught several times looking over Cy’s shoulder, reading his texts with Ty, and not so subtly fishing for information on his relationship status.

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