Wes:Yes.I admit it.I can’t stopthinking about you.
Ryker:I know the feeling.Is it okay tosay I miss you?
Wes was lightheaded.Was this reallyhappening?Was he going to reach for something more?
Wes:I miss you too.
Ryker:We’re sappy.Jesus, don’t showanyone these texts!
Wes:No way.Sappy is our secret.
Ryker:I gotta go.Spock and Isaac arehissing and growling at each other and WW3 is about to erupt in myliving room.
Wes:Give them all a scratch for me.Oh,and BTW, my writing is better now because I have a stimulatingpartner to work with
Ryker:So that means I can take all thecredit when our book is a success?Cool.
Wes:Haha.
Ryker:Talk soon, safe travels.
Wes:C u soon.
Luca called back and Wes had him rearrangehis travel.Fuck it.He had two days before he was due to arrive inPortland, and in the meantime, there was only one place he wantedto be.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryker
4:30 PM Eastern time meant it was 6:30 AM inSydney, Australia.Ryker got his tablet set up for a video callwith his sister, Rachel, a good distraction for his consumingthoughts of Wes and how much he missed him.Who am I rightnow?He focused his attention on the task at hand and waitedfor his sister to dial in.
“Ryker, you shit, you haven’t called me in amonth!What’s with that, bro?”His sister’s laughing face appearedon his screen.Despite their differences in age and personality,they shared the same blue eyes and dark hair.She looked healthy,glowing.Her usual happy self.
Ryker shrugged.“Sorry, I get so caught upin my writing sometimes that I lose track of time.You know me.”Hesmiled.“So, what’s up with you, Rach?How’s the weather downunder?”
“Hot and sunny, honey.I’m busy as usual,but classes finish in two weeks, then finals, then grading papers,ugh.Then I’m headed back to New York, baby!”She squealed andpunched a fist in the air.
Ryker laughed at his sister’s antics.“Awesome.Do you know where you want to stay yet?”
“I’ll bunk in with Mom.”
“Okay.You’re always welcome here, too,” hereplied.
“I know.Maybe I’ll spend a week with you,split the time.As long as that’s okay and I’m not crimping yourstyle,” she joked.“Oh, and I have some other good news.I wasoffered a tenured position at Stanford, so I’ll be moving back tothe US in August!”she yelled.
“Stanford!Holy shit, Rach, I’m so proud ofyou.Congrats!Wait, that’s in San Francisco, right?”
“Close by, yup.”
“I’ve got a friend traveling through SanFrancisco now on a book tour.He says the food and people areamazing.”Ryker flushed just thinking about Wes.
“And who might that friend be?”she askedteasingly.
Ryker cleared his throat.“Wes Stewart.Youmay have heard of him.”
Rachel interrupted.“The mystery author?That’s fucking awesome.And he writes all those other books forwannabe authors.He’s a great writer.And he’s hot.And gay.So, ishe a work-only friend or a friend with benefits?”she asked with asmirk.
“No comment.Next subject, please,” Rykerreplied, his flushed cheeks giving him away.
