“It’s a unique kind of relief, isn’t it?” Tarius asked softly. “I remember when Layne was so depressed that he jumped over a waterfall, and for a little while, we didn’t know if we were going to lose him. You’re terrified. And then he wakes up, and you feel like you can breathe again.”
“Yeah.”
That was exactly it. Branson had been holding his breath for days—maybe months, if he was honest with himself—and now he could breathe. He was tired of choking, tired of struggling for every breath. He wanted his family safe, damn it.
“It’s okay,” Tarius whispered.
Unsure exactly what was okay, Branson let it all go. He fell into Tarius’s arms and sobbed against his shoulder, so grateful when his friend held him close. Tightened his arms around Branson’s waist and kept him from falling. They stood under the tree for a long time, while Branson worked through hisemotions. He hated crying. He especially hated crying in front of other people.
But Tarius was safe. Vulnerability in front of Tarius was safe. He could be a human-fucking-being with Tarius, instead of the calm, stoic big brother everyone expected him to be. Everything came out in torrents of tears, and at some point, they were sitting on the ground, against the trunk of the tree, his tears slowly drying up.
“I’ve got you,” Tarius whispered, over and over. He wiped tears from Branson’s cheeks with his thumbs, then pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. The first time he’d ever done so. The touch helped settle more of Branson’s raging upset, and he leaned more heavily against Tarius’s chest. He liked being held this way, by someone he trusted implicitly. Someone whose touch relaxed him, rather than unnerved him.
Someone he could sit with and be perfectly content.
Accepted.
Safe.
Except for his freezing cold butt.
Branson didn’t let go, not yet. The moment was too damned perfect, despite the cold that eventually sent a sharp shiver down his spine.
Tarius chuckled. “It’s a little nippy. You ready to go inside?”
“I think so.” He met Tarius’s dark eyes and smiled. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, and I mean that. I know we’ve only become close friends in the last half-year, but you’re…important to me, Branson. I’ll always be here for you.”
“Thank you. And same. Your friendship means so much. You’re the best friend I’ve got who isn’t related to me somehow.”
“You’ve become one of my best friends, too.” Tarius cleared his throat. “Um, I was thinking, once Caden is home and settled,would you want to hang out? Like, maybe go see a movie? Get drinks?”
If it had been anyone else asking, Branson would have thought he was asking him out on a date. But Tarius was so casual, so aw-shucks about the invitation, that Branson didn’t take it as more than chilling with a friend. “Definitely. Gosh, I haven’t been to a movie in ages.”
“Then we’ll do that. When you feel comfortable.”
“Honestly, my parents would probably tell me to go do it, so I stop worrying about Caden for a few hours. But I do want to see him today, so maybe tomorrow night? Is that okay for you?”
“Tomorrow is great. I usually get out of the office by six. Speaking of which.” Tarius glanced at his wristwatch. “I need to get back. I’ve blown my lunch hour. Not that my boss will be cross with me.”
Branson snorted. “No pun intended?”
Tarius blinked then laughed. “Yeah, no pun intended.”
They helped each other stand, and Branson was grateful for the warmth of the house. He wasn’t huge on the outdoors, and he especially disliked the cold. He had no idea how people survived farther north, where it snowed and everything iced over for months at a time. Not that he was much fonder of the incredible, constant heat he heard they got year-round in the south.
He walked Tarius to the front door, where they shared another tight hug. Tarius kissed his forehead again, and Branson melted inside. Most of his friends regularly kissed each other on the cheek, and no one thought much of it. This felt…different. Warmer. Almost protective.
And from a handsome, older man he trusted? Infinitely more special.
“Text me later and we’ll figure out a movie,” Tarius said.
“I will.”
Branson waited at the door while Tarius walked to his car, got in, and drove away. Something had shifted between them today. Something good. He didn’t know what it meant, but he knew he liked it.
FOUR
