Adathan tucked the bag behind his back. “I did not.” He chuckled, retreating until his heels hit the fridge. “I just ate and watched funny videos all day like a—” He squeaked as William gave chase.
Adathan tried to slip away but wasn’t quick enough. William backed him against the cabinet corner and gripped the counter with both hands, trapping him between his arms. “Like what?” he asked, smiling.
Adathan laughed, the delightful sound filling William with warmth. “Like a big lazy pig.”
“Acutepig.”
William’s heart skipped a beat as he registered the words that slipped out of his mouth.
Shit.
Now Adathan would think he was flirting.
William tried to pull away, but he found himself unable to move. Adathan’s mesmerizing eyes held his will hostage like invisible chains.
He felt his body lean forward, pulled in by Adathan’s sheepish smile and the affection brimming in his eyes. He managed to stop himself before their bodies met, but he feared his resolve would be short-lived.
He needed to distance himself. But he couldn’t. Or maybe he didn’t want to.
The raging battle in his chest fizzled.
This was bad.
Or was it?
William’s gaze dropped to Adathan’s lips just in time to see him wet them with the tip of his tongue. His pulse pounded in his ears, making it impossible for him to hear his thoughts. Not that it mattered—he knew it was too late. His body had already convinced his brain to surrender.
William jumped at a loud beep piercing his ears. He took a step back, reality crashing into him as he glanced at the screaming oven.
Shit.
“All right, you win,” he said with an awkward smile. “I’ll, uh, go get your second surprise.”
He turned before Adathan had time to say anything. He headed to the living room area, his heart still racing from the rush. Thank God they slept in separate rooms—William would need somealone timetonight.
He grabbed the first box in sight and sat down on the floor, letting out a slow breath as he opened it. He barely managed to calm his heart before nostalgia hit him like a punch to the gut. It was the wrong box.
William’s gaze swept across the childhood mementos he’d never had the heart to throw away. Random crap he’d once treasured, now just sentimental threads tying him to the person he used to be. Anchors to a past long gone.
It was time to let go. William had to free space in their tiny home for Adathan’s soon-to-be possessions.
He grabbed a bunch of old letters—poems from his first girlfriend, whom he’d been too shy to even hold hands with at the time. He put them in a heap on the floor to throw away. He had no need for a reminder of how unimpressive his dating game had always been.
A skull keychain followed, as well as a worn set of playing cards with pictures of cute dogs on them. He’d played so many poker games at lunch with those, back when it was still just a fun game to pass the time with his classmates.
William took out a small notebook with a badly drawn compass rose on the cover. He ran his thumb across the uneven lines, his chest swelling at the memories they evoked.
Adathan sat down next to him, his oven-mitted hands resting in his lap.
“I opened the wrong box,” William said quickly, wanting to avoid another misunderstanding. “Your gift is in another one—it’s art supplies.”
Adathan gasped softly. He scooted closer and rested his head against William’s shoulder. “Thank you.”
“I bought them a while ago but never used them because I suck. You, on the other hand.”
Adathan chuckled. “I’m sure you’re better than you think.”
“Nah, trust me.” William had no desire to argue about his lack of artistic talent, but Adathan changed the subject before he could.
