Ryan: Sounds good then.
Fabian: The rule is everyone has to bring one waffle topping.
Ryan: Like what? Syrup?
Fabian: No. Like something creative. Use your imagination.
Ryan frowned and typed,I’m not sure I have an imagination.
Fabian: Of course you do. You were very creative last night.
This text was accompanied by one of those winky face emojis that Ryan always found so thrilling.
“You’re texting him right now, aren’t you?” Wyatt teased.
“What makes you say that?”
“Your face is bright red and you have a giant dopey grin.”
Ryan read over the text conversation, excited that Fabian had invited him to hang out with his friends. That had to mean something, right? He knew Fabian was generally friendly and social, but still. This seemed like a step in the right direction.
He wrote back,I can’t wait to see you again,which he hoped sounded more romantic than desperate.
When Fabian wrote back,Counting the minutes, darling,Ryan beamed.
“Geez,” Wyatt laughed. “I hope he likes you as much as you like him!”
Ryan tucked his phone into the seat pocket, nestling it against hisAnne of Green Gablesbook. “Me too.”
“I want everyone on their best behavior.” Fabian shot a hard look at each of his friends. “Be nice to him.”
Marcus gave him his best innocent face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We’re not going to scare off your big strong boyfriend,” Tarek said.
“He’s not my—” Fabian huffed, and continued. “I’m serious. No grilling him with questions. No oversharing about sex.” He gave Vanessa a particularly pointed look for that one. “No teasing. No implying that I’m in love with him. Just. Be. Cool.”
Vanessa put her hand over her heart. “I promise I won’t do at least some of those things.”
The buzzer downstairs sounded, and Fabian darted to the door.
“Oh my god, he’s so excited! I love this so much,” Marcus said.
Fabian glared at him over his shoulder before he opened the door and ran downstairs. Of course he was excited; Ryan had been away since Tuesday morning, and he’d only gotten back late last night. Fabian was dying to see him again. When he opened the door that led to the street, he found Ryan wearing a black wool coat, a gray toque, and an adorable smile.
“Hi,” Ryan said.
“Hi.”
For a moment, Fabian just stared at him. He realized they were, with Fabian standing on a stair above him, at perfect kissing height. So he kissed him. He would have leapt into his arms, except Ryan was carrying two large grocery bags, and they both appeared to be quite full.
“What on earth is all this?” Fabian asked.
“I wasn’t sure what to bring, so I bought a bunch of stuff,” Ryan said sheepishly. “Hopefully some of it is good.”
“I should have explained that we are extremely easy to please.”
He led Ryan up the stairs and into the apartment. All three of Fabian’s friends were staring unabashedly at the door.
