11
Wes’s lipsstill tingled from kissing Art, and he was glad that a sip of iced tea didn’t change thatsensation.
As he stood in his living area, catching up on the phone with Justin, he found himself wanting to tell Justin all about the passion Art stirred within him, but at the same time, he greedily desired to keep the moment between the two ofthem.
Even during their walk, as they had held hands, he appreciated that it was almost as if the universe had conspired on their behalf, shielding them from the view of their peers so that they could enjoy each other’s company withoutinterruption.
Wes couldn’t entirely understand how he felt about Art, but he didn’t need to understand it. He only needed to cherish it. And he was appreciative that he could still feel…in a way that he had lost all hope of feeling everagain.
After their kiss, they’d returned to Heathrow Estates, neither able to force the grins from their faces. Wes wanted to do so much more to Art, yet he wasn’t interested in having some quick exchange with him. Art was different. So he decided it was best for them to go their separate ways, for the time being, to give them both a moment to process what they hadshared.
When he finally got off the phone with Justin, he called Art. He couldn’t helphimself.
He waited…and waited for an answer before Art’s voice came from the other end of theline.
“That was an amazing walk today,” Wessaid.
He waited in unbearable suspense for a few short moments before Art replied, “Yes, it was. I assume we’ll be planning more walks in the nearfuture.”
“You can count on it.” Wes appreciated that it was all real and that—at least for that day—he could savor the visceral pleasure, marvel at how it had shaken him to his very core in the best possible way. He’d learned too many times through his life how easy it was for beautiful things to be torn from his grasp, and he didn’t want that to happen withthis.
He thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep that night, but despite the ease he slept with, his body didn’t grant him the privilege of feeling refreshed. If anything, he was reminded that even twelve solid hours of quiet, peaceful slumber could feel like less than a couple of moments to a body that was still trying to catch up from a lifetime of hard labor, of raising a family and struggling to managelife.
When he checked his phone, he saw he’d missed a call from Art and then checked histexts.
ART: Be at breakfast at 10:30, if you’d care to joinme.
And Wes did…so badly that he scrambled to getready.
He made it to the common area and found Art, who had a big grin stretched across his face, one that Wes couldn’t help but imitate as they headed to the buffet together. They collected food onto their trays before meeting at an open booth, where they sat together, neither speaking much up until that point, when Wes felt they needed to chat just so they could at least pretend to be their usualselves.
“How did you sleep last night?” Wesasked.
“Do you want an honest answer, or can I just say fine and we leave it atthat?”
Wes laughed. “I’m feeling about thesame.”
But it was different. Yes, he had the same physical wear as always, but there was an eagerness within him that wasn’t usually present. For such a long time, he’d gone without having something to give him a reason to get out of bed in the morning, outside activities or hobbies. But since he’d started hanging out with Art, he’d noticed he had more of a reason to rise and that he was eager to start hisday.
On that particular morning, he felt that more than usual. Wes couldn’t really explain all the reasons why. He just knew how much he enjoyed being around Art, talking to him, touchinghim.
“Are you going to your water-polo meet this morning?” Wesasked.
“Yes.” Artchuckled.
“What?”
“I’m sorry. This is just funny, isn’tit?”
“It’s fun, that’s forsure.”
“Well, well,” a voice came from nearby, and as they turned, Wes saw Frances approaching with her tray offood.
She slid in beside Art and glanced between them suspiciously, but Wes couldn’t tell if this was just more of the usual suspicion she had or if she was specifically picking up on somethingelse.
“What are the lovebirds up to?” Frances asked. “If you guys smile much harder, I think you’re liable to rouse more suspicion around here than there already is. Don’t worry, you can tell me. I’ll only tell a couple dozen people.” She grinned and flexed her forehead so her eyebrows jumped, and Art laughed. He sure wasn’t good at keeping a secret, Wes supposed, but his playfulness about it all was one of Art’s qualities he found himself enamoredwith.
“I’ll take that as all the confirmation I need,” she added. “I’m guessing you guys had a nice walk and maybe a good sleeptoo.”
