Page 39 of Friendly Skies
“Okay. When’s Ricky due back?”
They chatted about their fourth roommate for a bit, and Micah popped back over Greg’s shoulder. “He getting any better?” Micah asked. It had been Micah’s recommendation that brought them the prickly redhead after Micah moved up to San Francisco to be with Jake.
Luis shrugged. “I kind of like him, actually.”
“That’s progress,” Greg said.
“Yeah, and how come you’re not going back to LA?” Micah bumped Greg’s shoulder, and Luis laughed at the blush creeping into Greg’s cheeks.
“I’m meeting Holden in Denver.” Greg bit his lip. “We’re going to look for a house.”
“Oh, my God!” Luis clapped his hands while Micah hugged Greg. “Honey, that’s the best news I’ve heard since…yesterday. Because, let’s face it, me and Dar getting together tops everything.”
“Everything tops you, sweetheart.” Greg grinned at him over the phone screen.
“Are you calling me a slut?” Luis asked, hand on his chest, eyes widened in devious innocence.
“If the Jimmy Choo fits…”
“Well, it does, and perfectly.” Luis blew his friends a kiss. “But, seriously, that’s awesome, Greg. I guess that means we’re going to have to find a new roommate again.”
They continued chatting for a bit, but then an incoming call from Darius had Luis wrapping up with Micah and Greg with hurried promises from them to keep him posted on the search for a lawyer.
“Hey.” Luis switched over to Darius, breathless with the worry and anxiety that had shot through him when Darius’ name appeared on his screen.
“Hey.” Darius sounded tired, already defeated by whatever had happened in the past two hours.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know, chico. I’ll tell you more when I get home, but I wanted to hear your voice and to tell you I love you.”
“I love you, too. Drive safe.”
Almost as soon as they hung up, Luis’ phone buzzed with an incoming message. Smiling in anticipation of something sappy from Darius, the sight of Andrés’ name was like water thrown on the feeble spark that had reignited in Luis’ chest. He deleted the message without reading it, but that didn’t keep him from feeling small and vulnerable. The burn of anxiety he’d beenfeeling earlier settled into his body, and Luis shivered, his limbs suddenly cold and heavy.
What would he do if something happened to Darius?
“Fuck,” Luis cursed under his breath.
He hated feeling this way. At twenty-eight, he should be able to handle his shit and not get thrown into a tizzy every time something happened or Andrés showed up.
“You’re an adult. Act like one,” Luis told himself as he headed into the kitchen. It was almost lunchtime, so he made himself something to eat. When that didn’t help settle his nerves, he made a pitcher of extra-strong margaritas and poured himself a large glass, then went to sit on the balcony that overlooked the complex’s pool.
It was a beautiful early summer day, and there wasn’t a lounge chair that didn’t have some guy relaxing in a skimpy bathing suit, six-packs gleaming with sunscreen, legs spread to let the sun—and interested eyes—find what was in between. Usually, Luis loved sitting on the balcony, two stories above the meat market down below, and he had been all for letting the pool area be clothing optional—something that had been voted down by the HOA—but today, he only felt exposed and returned to the living room, where he put on a movie.
Forty-five minutes later, he was well into his second margarita and ogling a young Matt Bomer in an episode ofWhite Collarwhen Darius returned home. All the worries and anxiety Luis had been able to put aside came flooding back at the sight of Darius’ grim face, and he leapt from the couch with a cry. He wanted to run into Darius’ arms and be told everything was going to be all right, but he could tell Darius was anything but okay, so he stayed rooted where he was and tried to summon up the ability to be the rock Darius needed. It wasn’t easy, and he may have swayed a bit.
Darius threw his keys into the bowl on the entranceway table and took a deep breath while Luis cataloged everything about his expression and body language. He’d never seen Darius so…unbalanced. His lips were pursed so tight dark lines had appeared around his mouth, and the skin under his eyes was almost purple, not to mention the storm raging in those eyes. For a long moment, Darius stood still, gaze fixed on some point beyond the doors to the balcony. No, not completely still. Luis saw his fists clench and release.
“Dar?” Luis’ voice was small, quiet, and he hated that he sounded so insecure. “I love you.” It was the only thing Luis could think of to say, but it seemed to break through to Darius a tiny bit because the corners of his mouth lifted up.
“I love you, too, chico.” Darius dew in a deep breath. “I need to go for a run.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t an answer that gave Luis any comfort, but if that was what Darius needed, he could be fine with it. “Can you—?”
“I need some time to process, okay? I promise, I’ll tell you as much as I can.”
“As you can?”
