Page 8 of Heart of Glass

Though he didn’t appear malnourished or sickly thin, Xeno figured the guy could benefit from a few good meals. The dark bags beneath his eyes were cause for concern, though, and Xeno couldn’t help but wonder when the last time was Lachlan had gotten a good night’s sleep. Judging by his slouching frame and drooping eyelids, it had probably been a while.

“I ordered us a couple of coffees and some munchies to-go. I hope that’s okay.”

“Pretty sure of yourself, huh?” Lachlan grinned and bumped their shoulders together as he walked beside Xeno to the front counter. “That’s actually perfect. My apartment is pretty slim on the food stuffs.”

“Here ya go.” Myah pushed the coffees and treats toward Xeno, beaming so brightly she almost glowed. “You boys have fun.”

Lachlan picked up the paper bag of baked goods and rolled his eyes. “Goodbye, Myah.”

Giving Lachlan a bit of a head start, Xeno made sure the man’s back was turned before glaring at his co-worker. “I’ll kill you later,” he mouthed. Then he grabbed the coffees and hurried to catch up with his date. “Ignore her. She’s an idiot.”

“I think she’s sweet.” Lachlan pulled the bag in front of him when Xeno reached for it. “I’ve got it.”

“Knock it off.” Snatching the sack from his hand, Xeno slipped his wrist through the handles and repositioned his grip on the drink carrier. As they reached the corner, he slid his right hand into Lachlan’s left and linked their fingers.

“I appreciate it, Xeno, but I’m okay. Really.”

Xeno tightened his grip on Lachlan’s hand but didn’t look at him while they crossed the street. “I know.” If they didn’t stop dancing around each other, they’d never get past hot coffee and polite chitchat. “MaybeIneed help across the street.”

He didn’t receive a response, not even a chuckle, but Lachlan didn’t try to pull away, either. They continued the final two blocks in companionable silence, exchanging sideway glances and coy grins.Gods, he really does have a great smile.

“This is it,” Lachlan announced, extracting his hand from Xeno’s grip to punch in the security code at the apartment entrance.

The nights had been colder than usual, even for December, and the blast of warm air from the lobby sent a tingle through the skin on Xeno’s cheeks and nose. Men and women dressed in khaki pants and dark blue polos moved through the atrium in pursuit of their various tasks, but each person they passed took time to smile and greet them as he and Lachlan strolled toward the elevators.

“Fourth floor.” Lachlan pointed to the panel of buttons.

By the time they reached Lachlan’s apartment, Xeno’s stomach had begun to gurgle, reminding him he’d skipped breakfast and lunch. “Are you hungry?”

“I could go for one of those cinnamon rolls.”

“Well, I had another idea.” Xeno sat the items from the café down on the kitchen counter and retrieved his cell phone from his pocket. “How about dinner and movie?”

“I don’t know,” Lachlan hedged as he stared at the darkening city through the window.

“We can order in and watch a movie here.” He passed Lachlan one of the paper cups of coffee and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the counter. “Do you like Chinese? There’s this great place right around the corner that delivers.”

“Chang’s?” His eyes brightened and his stance visibly relaxed. “I love that place.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll order. You find us something to watch.” He hoped Lachlan wasn’t one of those closeted romantic comedy lovers, but if it meant spending more time with him, Xeno would gladly suffer through an entire marathon of cheesy lines and overdramatized angst.

By the time the food arrived, Lachlan had changed into a pair of low-slung pajama bottoms with smiling snowmen and a soft, white T-shirt that hugged him like an old friend. While Xeno cleared the cocktail table to make room for dinner, Lachlan dug through the hall closet for extra blankets and pillows.

The television forgotten, they settled down on the floor around the rectangular table to divvy up the contents of the cardboard boxes. They fought over the beef and broccoli, argued about Lachlan repaying him for dinner, and laughed as they read the ridiculous messages in their fortune cookies.

It was easy, fun, and one of the best damn nights Xeno had ever spent doing absolutely nothing.

When the cartons were empty and their growling stomachs appeased, they turned down the lights and settled onto the sofa with a couple of blankets and the remote. It didn’t take long for Lachlan to pull up the movie he’d queued for them to watch, and as it started playing, Xeno couldn’t help but laugh.

“Underworld?” The facts were completely wrong, of course, as were most Hollywood cinematic takes on paranormal culture, but Xeno appreciated the movie for its entertainment value.

Lachlan shrugged and pulled the blanket up around his shoulders. “I have a thing for werewolves.”

Swallowing hard enough to make his throat burn, Xeno tucked his hands under his legs to hide their shaking and bit the inside of his cheek.Oh, if you only knew.Romanticizing these fictional beasts was one thing, but most humans would never be able to accept that the creatures they lusted after on screen also lived amongst them.

Only thirty minutes into the movie, Lachlan’s eyes began to droop. Each time they’d close, however, he’d jerk to attention and open his eyes wide enough to be comical. The fifth time it happened, Xeno couldn’t sit there and watch the man suffer anymore.

“C’mere.”

---