“Pot, meet kettle,” Blayne said with an impish grin. “Tell me about him.”
“What would you like to know?”
“What was he like? How did you two meet? What was yourrelationshiplike?”
Blayne listened as Ethan told him the story about how Stephanie had introduced the two men. Blayne had some pieces based on their earlier conversations, but now having names and contexts associated with the story made it easier to understand. He disagreed with Ethan’s and Daniel Hawthorne’s insistence on staying in the closet to protect their professional lives. Still, he admitted to himself that he struggled to imagine what it would be like to be in their circumstances.
In academia, being out and proud was pretty protected by most administrations across the country. Sure, there was the random crazy-conservative student who would freak out if he mentioned a past boyfriend as an example. Still, most took it in stride and didn’t even think twice about Blayne’s sexuality. Hell, he’d run into a few students over the years onEndZone, which was always awkward. He’d even used the app once to message a student, to let him know he was behind in the class and on the verge of failing. Thankfully, Blayne kept his online profile pretty squeaky clean for that very reason. Now, he had a couple of dirtier profiles with a few pictures he wouldn’t want to get out, but those profiles were kept on websites and apps where his face was not shown at all. He knew some of his straight colleagues wouldn’t get this part of gay culture, so he understood the necessity of keeping aspects of his life private.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Ethan said. “Be right back.”
They had finished their cannoli, so Blayne took their plastic to-go boxes and spoons to the kitchen. He then grabbed a couple of water bottles from the fridge and put them on coasters on the coffee table.
Blayne closed his eyes and laid back on the couch for a minute. He didn’t hear Ethan come back into the room.
“Lift your legs,” Ethan said. “Wow, that sounded dirtier than I intended.”
“You’re assuming I don’t like it dirty.” Blayne gasped and threw a hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry. I just blurted that out. Sometimes, my mouth seems to have a mind of its own.” The heat rose in his cheeks. Blayne looked at Ethan’s big grin and the playful look on his face. “I can just sit up.”
“No need. Lift your legs so I can get under them. Use me as a leg rest. You’ve had a bit of a day.”
Blayne lifted his legs, keeping the pillow firmly in place on his lap. Ethan sat on the couch, and Blayne lowered his legs onto Ethan’s lap. Ethan draped his arms on top of his legs and stared down at Blayne from across the couch. The warmth of Ethan’s forearms against Blayne’s bare legs caused him to strain against the throw pillow.
“TV?” Blayne asked.
“Sounds good.”
Blayne picked up the remote control and turned on the TV, which was set to RNN. Blayne was about to change the channel when Ethan’s face flashed across the screen.
Tika Downs was sitting behind the desk as she started reading the teleprompter. “In an RNN exclusive, Stephen McNeil has tracked down the story of the mysterious cancellation of the Seattle performances of the boy band ZERO.”
Ethan
Stephen McNeil’s face filled the screen in a standard medium close-up shot.
“Thank you, Tika. Fans in Seattle were dismayed to find their tickets were being refunded today for a scheduled upcoming tour launch for the boy band ZERO’s North American tour.”
RNN used B-roll from ZERO’s last tours interspersed with interviews from fans who were devastated. One young girl was on the screen in tears.
“Geez,” Blayne said. “You would have thought you killed her pet with those waterworks.”
“Fan reactions are always interesting. Most are perfectly normal, loving people. But there are definitely some obsessive ones who take uswaytoo seriously.”
The package ended, and Stephen McNeil reappeared. “In an RNN exclusive, we can now confirm the reason the North American tour was postponed is because Ethan Bond has disappeared.” Ethan’s face once again filled the screen. “Fans will wonder why. I’ll have more information after this break.”
“Gre-eat,” Ethan said, drawing out the word. “This should be interesting.” He glanced down at Blayne and added, “I hope I haven’t brought a shitstorm to your door.”
“If you did, we’ll deal with it.”
The two remained silent through the rest of the commercials before Stephen McNeil filled the screen once more. “Before the break, we told viewers that Ethan Bond of the boy band ZERO has gone missing. Although some fans may wonder why he did this, I must mention Ethan’s disappearance probably saved ZERO’s lives.”
A new segment ran that tied Ethan’s disappearance to the explosion of Peregrine Airlines Flight 923. The video showed Ethan sneaking out of the First-Class Lounge and making it onto a Roadrunner flight.
“Well, fuck,” Ethan said. Absently, he grabbed one of Blayne’s feet and started rubbing on it. This was a position Danny and he had taken up many times. Danny always loved Ethan’s foot massages. “You don’t mind, do you?” Ethan asked, glancing from the TV to Blayne. “My hands just like to be doing something. I mean…I like to rub things. Oh wow, that sounded worse.” Ethan felt the heat rise in his cheeks and didn’t dare look at Blayne in the face. Ethan felt himself stir.
“It’s cool. It feels amazing. You’re great at that.” Ethan finally looked down at Blayne, who added, “You can rubmeany day.”
Both busted out laughing.Is he flirting with me? God, I hate flirting. I never know if a guy is flirting with me. I’m like a fucking teenager.He rested Blayne’s foot down and picked up the other one.
