Page 20 of Until the Day You're Mine

He graduated last year, specializing in art and graphic design. He’s been taking writing courses on the side. Cyril has always encouraged him to follow his dream of becoming a writer and an illustrator. He’s been taking odd jobs, working on small commissions here and there, mostly book covers for indie authors. What he’s really been working toward has always been steady employment, apprenticing with a big company, learning the trade, and making his own way as a creator.

Ty can’t take his eyes off him. He’s so damn proud of Rian – he is freaking incredible. All this hard work and dedication, all the faith he has in himself, it really is a breath of fresh air in comparison to his own thoughts that often dip into self-doubt.

Soon, Ty zones out, focusing on the way Ri’s lips curve up in a smile, how his messy hair is sticking out of his bun at the nape of his neck, and the way some of the stray straw-colored strands are framing his face, giving him an angelic look.

“Crazy, right?” Rian asks him, smiling brightly at him.

Ty blinks confused as he hasn’t been listening at all.

Damn it!

It’s Rian’s voice – it’s like a melody that takes him away, often depriving him of his cognitive ability to concentrate. Instead of listening, he’s been daydreaming again, thinking about what Rian’s lips might feel like on his.

He’d rather scooch closer, drag Rian into his lap and listen to him talk while he has his nose stuck in his hair inhaling his cotton, soapy-clean scent deeply, nipping at his shoulder, making him giggle. The whole thing is so fucking real in his imagination, that he needs a moment to snap out of it.

Get it together,he scolds himself.Something about an internship.

Oh, Oh! The internship!

Rian had been fretting for months wondering if he’d get it. It was for this big stuffy old publishing company.

“Congratulations, I’m so fucking proud of you!”

Rian beams back blushing. “I wasn’t their first choice, but I got it and I’m so happy.”

You’re always my first choice.

“You’re in, and they’ve recognized your talent, that’s all that matters Ri. I’m so happy for you.”

Ty’s fingers are aching to reach and caress Rian’s heated sides.

Lucky for him, Cyril has a coughing fit and Rian immediately jumps off his stool and goes to check on him.

They soon come out of the small bedroom. Cyrillooksas if he is sick as a dog. Ty chuckles and calls out to him, teasingly, “You should have some of your green smoothies. The antioxidants will boost your immune system.”

Cy grumbles, after a disgustingly long, extra phlegmy cough, “Fuck you, Tyger.”

Ty snorts a laugh. Cy knows he hates this particular pet name. Some people call him that either out of laziness or because they can’t force his real name through their mouths – Tayida somehow morphs into Tyler, and on some occasions, if he’sluckyenough – Tyger, and that’s that.

Rian helps Cyril to the bathroom and then prepares him breakfast. Just how he likes it – healthy and bland. A nice serving of lukewarm oats topped with blueberries and chia seeds for the big oaf baby that he is.

It’s cute though – Ri is so loving, so caring. Ty knows the reason – he is lonely as they leave him for many long months, now amounting to years. He doesn’t dare to think what else Rian might be missing intimately, but this – the need to care for someone and to be affectionate, Ty understands it all too fucking well.

Rian is fussing with changing Cy’s sheets in their bedroom, opening windows, and re-filling his water bottle leaving Ty and Cyril to finish their breakfast together.

Cy is wolfing down hisbland delight, not a single cough to be heard. Not even a sniffle. He seems quite relaxed actually.

“You’re really hamming it up, aren’t you?” Tayida hisses, stifling a laugh.

“I’m still not all better, okay?” Here comes the fake sniffle.

“Dude!” Ty snickers. “You’ll regret this charade.”

“No, I won’t. You know why? Cuz he is having the time of his life! Look at him?” He cocks his head toward the bedroom where Rian is straightening his freshly changed linens smiling to himself.

Ty rolls his eyes and returns his attention to Cyril, both eyebrows arched high.

“Really? Really, dude?”

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