Page 29 of Friendly Skies
“Sounds like a plan,” Darius said, and though he’d have rather stayed on the couch longer or had a drink or taken a long, hot bath, he heaved himself to his feet and shuffled his way tohis bedroom. Had it only been a few hours before when Luis’ feelings for Andrés were all he could think about?
In his bedroom, he closed the door and changed into a pair of sweats, then lay on the bed and called Luis. He thought it might be the middle of the night in Brussels, he wasn’t sure, but obviously, Luis was awake. The phone didn’t even ring before Luis answered.
“Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Baby, what the hell happened? Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay. Please. I’ve been so worried.” Luis was speaking so quickly Darius couldn’t get a word in, but he heard a deep, rumbling laugh on Luis’ end and then a voice he recognized as Paul’s telling Luis to take a breath. “Dar?” Luis asked, the pitch of his voice lowered. “I’m so scared. Please tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m okay.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“Oh my God. It’s all over the group chat. And those videos. You’re really okay?”
“I am. I promise.”
“Were you terrified? I can’t imagine.”
“Honestly, chico, it happened so fast. Everything’s kind of a blur for me right now. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know I was all right as soon as I got off the plane, but they had all these forms for me to fill out and people talking to me about…fuck all if I can remember right now.”
“But you’re okay?”
Darius laughed. “I am okay. I have a small cut on one arm, but it’s fine. The only reason I have to get it checked out is for the legal team and the union. That’s all. I promise.”
“Shit. I can’t wait to get home. I want to see for myself that you’re okay. I don’t think I’m going to be able to relax until I see you.”
“That’s why I love you so much, chico.”
There was a pause, and Darius could have kicked himself for what he’d just said. He was tired, his thoughts and emotions a mess, and he’d just been as close to a life or death situation as he’d ever been in his life, and…
“I love you, too, Dar. So much. So very, very much.”
“I know you do.”
On the other side of the world, Darius listened to Luis take a breath and pictured him sitting in a hotel room, his beautiful face looking almost angelic as he held the phone to his ear.
“I don’t think you do,” Luis said. “Because, Dar, I need you to know. When I saw all those posts, and the video, and I knew I might have lost you today, it scared the shit out of me because I might have lost the chance to tell you that. Dar, I love you. I aminlove with you. I have been for as long as I can remember. And I don’t mean friend love. And I don’t mean whatever we’ve been saying to each other for all these years. I mean I love you, and I don’t want to be without you. Ever.”
The declaration shocked Darius into silence. He had to be dreaming. This hazy sense of reality he’d had since he saw the knife in that woman’s hand must have him hearing the very thing he had wanted to hear since he was fourteen and realized Luis Herrera was it for him.
“Dar? Did you hear me?” Luis’ voice was uncertain, almost quivering with anxiety, a sound Darius knew almost better than his own voice. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same. I understand, and I—”
“Luis? Chico? I love you, too.”
The silence was so absolute that Darius pulled the phone away from his ear and checked that the call hadn’t dropped, but no, it was still connected. “Luis?”
“You do?” Luis asked.
“Yeah. I do. It’s always been you, chico. I’ve never been in love with anyone else.”
Another beat, and then Luis started laughing. It was the most joyous sound Darius had ever heard. Fuck. The day had been the worst kind of roller coaster, and he didn’t think he could take much more, but he’d listen to Luis laugh any day of the week, especially if it was punctuated with…
“Oh my God, Dar. My God. I love you. Shit. I love you.”
“I know. I love you, too. Really love you.”
“Fuck. Tell me again.”
“I love you, chico.”
