“Ryan?”
Ryan looked first at the counter, thinking his drink had been made already. But he hadn’t given them his name, so that was dumb. Then he turned toward the tables in the café and saw Fabian.
“I thought that was you!” Fabian beamed at him.
“Yup. Hi.”Jesus, what are the odds?
“Large iced chai latte?” someone called from the counter. Ryan turned and accepted his drink. When he turned back to Fabian, Fabian gestured him over.
“Come sit. Unless you’re rushing off somewhere.”
Ryan maneuvered himself through the narrow spaces between tables until he got to Fabian. There was a notebook open in front of him on the table, the pages full of words scribbled in pencil. There were also loose pages of handwritten sheet music. Fabian tidied everything into a neat stack as Ryan sat in the chair across from him.
“Good choice,” Fabian said, nodding at the drink.
Ryan didn’t reply. He was completely distracted by Fabian’s face. Unlike the other two times Ryan had seen him, Fabian wasn’t wearing any makeup today. At least, none that Ryan noticed. His hair was tucked under a black toque, and he had dark stubble on his jaw. He looked so different, but no less beautiful. His dark brown eyes were still fringed by the same long, full lashes that had fascinated Ryan as a teenager. His plush lips were quirked up in a playful little smile. Probably because Ryan was staring at him.
“Sorry,” Ryan said. “What?”
Fabian waved his hand dismissively, and Ryan noticed the dark blue polish on his nails. “Nothing. What are you up to today?”
“I was heading to the grocery store. Just to get something for dinner.”
“Ah. I should probably do that myself.”
“What’s all this?” Ryan asked, gesturing to the stack of papers. It was weird to be talking to the person whose music he had just been enjoying.
“Oh, I’m just working on something. I was struck by inspiration today, but I needed a change of scenery. As you saw, my apartment is a little grim.”
“I liked it,” Ryan said, remembering the red-painted walls, the deep plum bedspread and curtains, and the eclectic pile of cheerful pillows. “It was...colorful.”
Fabian pressed his lips together, then said, “Mm. I’ll give you the complete tour next time. You may not have seen all four corners.”
Next time. “I just mean, it looked like you, y’know?”
Fabian rested his chin in his palm, obviously amused. “You know me already, do you? And here I thought I was complex.”
“You are!”Oh god. “I mean, I don’t know you. You’re right. Not really.” Ryan’s face burned like the sun.
Fabian laughed. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t exactly say we’re strangers, would you?”
Ryan smiled shyly back. “No.”
He took a sip of his latte, and Fabian asked, “So, you...played a hockey game last night?”
That made Ryan laugh. “I did. Yes.”
“Did you win? Sorry I didn’t ask about it before.”
“It’s okay. We did win.”
“Hey! Good for you! Go Guardians.” He waved his hands in the air what Ryan assumed was supposed to be a celebratory manner.
“You’re mocking me.”
“Never. I am nothing if not a sports fan.”
“Do you know where the arena is?”
