Page 65 of Role Model

He turned on the television instead, and found a reality show about house flipping that was exactly the level of drama he could take right then.

There was a knock on his door just as the episode was ending. Harris knew who he hoped it was, but was still surprised to see Troy when he opened the door.

“Hey.” Troy had changed into black sweatpants and a soft-looking gray T-shirt. His hair was damp, and his skin was still rosy from what must have been a very hot shower. He looked dangerously sexy, especially when Harris was already so keyed up.

“I can’t sleep,” Troy said.

“Me neither.” Harris stepped back, and Troy walked past him into the room.

“I brought you something.” Troy turned and thrust a plastic CVS bag at Harris with so much nervous anticipation that Harris wondered if it might be full of condoms.

He took the bag from Troy, and when he looked in it, nearly burst into tears. It probably had more to do with his emotional state after the whole plane ordeal, but goddamn. Troy Barrett was going to kill him.

“Cookie dough ice cream,” Harris said, pulling the small container out of the bag. “You went out and got this for me?”

“Yeah. I got a spoon from the bartender. It’s in the bag there.”

He really had. He’d left the hotel at...whatever the fuck time it was...and tracked down some cookie dough ice cream.

“So it is.” Harris managed to keep his voice steady, just barely. “Only one?”

Troy shrugged. “It’s not for me.”

Harris didn’t know what to say. His poor heart had already been through so much today, and now Troy was standing in his hotel room, inches away, smelling so good and watching Harris with wide, uncertain eyes. It was too much.

Harris gestured to the bed. “Have a seat.”

Troy sat on the edge of the bed. The room was dark except for the television, and the blue, flickering light danced across his face.

“What are you watching?” Troy asked.

“A real estate show. I was only half watching.” Harris stretched out on the half of the bed where he’d been before, then patted the other half. Troy hesitated a moment, then moved until he was beside him. Harris peeled off the seal on the ice cream and dug his spoon in.

“Mmm,” he moaned around his first bite. “You’re my hero for getting this, buddy.”

Troy was propped on one elbow, watching him eat. “You deserve it.”

“Yep. I definitely earned my treat today. Jesus fuck.” Harris laughed, and Troy, miraculously, did too.

“What a fucking nightmare,” Troy said.

“No kidding. I don’t ever want to experience that again.”

They both stared at the television for a few minutes. Harris wasn’t really watching at all, his attention divided between the ice cream and the gorgeous man who had brought it to him. The man who was reclining beside him, close enough that Harris could feel the warmth from his skin.

“I used to make fun of Ryan Price on planes,” Troy said quietly. Unexpectedly. “Because he was scared of flying.”

Harris didn’t say anything. He hated hearing things like that, but he waited for Troy to continue.

“He was such a wreck, every time he flew. We thought it was hilarious.”

Harris knew that by we, Troy meant himself and Dallas Kent.

“And now,” Troy said, “all I can think about is how we have to get on another plane in a couple of days. I don’t know if I can do it.”

“Yeah,” Harris said. “I’ve been thinking about that too.”

“I owe Ryan a thousand apologies. Jesus fucking Christ. I was such an asshole.” Troy turned on his side to face Harris. “He’s the bravest person I’ve ever met. Seriously. Dallas liked to laugh at what a baby he was about flying, but how much fucking courage do you need to have to face your fears, like, at least once a week? Usually several times a week. For years. I can’t even fucking imagine.”

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