Russell looked down at my biceps and smiled as he wrapped his hand around my right one. He moved his hand from my right arm to my chest. His fingers flirted with my shirt and then he slipped a few fingers inside my shirt where it was unbuttoned. The back of his fingers rubbed against my skin while he looked in my eyes.
“I like this, Ryan. You look incredible,” he assured me.
Russell firmly gripped my right bicep and pulled me to him. His lips were waiting for me and consumed mine. All of the tension and nerves that I had been feeling while he was out having lunch with Claire, subsided. I was his, after all.
“I brought some white wine since you mentioned this morning that we were having chicken,” Russell announced as we pulled apart.
He held the bottle by the neck as he held it out toward me with the label facing me. I couldn’t begin to pronounce it.
“Thank you for stopping and picking it up. It escaped my mind to get some wine.”
“It was no trouble at all, Ryan.”
“I will pay you for it,” I said and reached for my wallet.
“I didn’t stop for it. I brought it from my wine rack at home.”
“Oh. Shit. Yeah, that’s right. You have those racks between the kitchen and hall,” I recalled. I suddenly felt guilty. Maybe he had planned on saving those bottles for special occasions.
“Ryan, don’t let that mind run when it has no reason to,” Russell warned and patted the side of my head.
“Okay, I’m sorry. I just worried that maybe you had them set aside for something special, or some event. And my unpreparedness caused you to have to bring one. I’m sorry.”
“Ryan, there is no need to apologize, and yes, I have collected wines over the years for special occasions. Just like this one. You are my everything, Ryan.”
I stared at him, unsure of what to say. I felt guiltier that my questions had just resurfaced regarding Claire. He said I was everything, but was Claire also something? Or going to be something again?
“You are everything to me, too,” I admitted. “Thank you for the wine.”
Russell smiled and then winked at me when I took the outstretched bottle from his hands. I lead him to the kitchen and quickly glanced at the table; everything looked okay. Except for the pint glasses that I had prepped for the iced tea. I’m such an idiot. I’d recover though. We could use them for water.
I glanced at the timer on the oven. Still had eighteen minutes. I set the wine on the counter and Russell leaned against one of the chairs. I could feel his eyes on me. I prayed dinner would be good as I gazed into the oven.
“How about I pour us some of this wine?” Russell volunteered.
“Yeah, that’d be great. I’ll get some glasses.”
I hurried over to my drawer that held utensils and rummaged around until I found a wine opener. Thank fuck that I had one. I turned and proudly produced the wine opener that had a local insurance agent’s info imprinted on one of the handles.
“A wine opener,” I pointed out the obvious to Russell as he took the object from my hand.
“This will work.”
I opened my cupboard that held all my glasses, mugs, and cups. I knew that I had some wine glasses. I moved glasses around and one of my plastic Dodgers cups that I got free at a game fell out and bounced around on the counter. I quickly tried to catch the cup and prevent it from falling to the ground.
“Fuck,” I said under my breath nervously.
I felt Russell’s hand on my lower back.
“Relax, Ryan,” Russell soothed and wrapped his left arm over my left shoulder and slid his hand down my chest until he reached my stomach. He pulled me away from the counter and pressed his lips against the back of my neck. “Don’t worry. Don’t overthink. Be calm, my boy. Everything is fine. Take a deep breath.”
I took a deep breath as my back warmed at the heat of being pressed against his body.
“I just want it to be perfect for you,” I admitted.
“It is, Ryan. Take a deep breath.” I barked out a short laugh at his comment about this being perfect. “Deep breath, Ryan,” he repeated.
I took another deep breath and stared at the plastic Dodgers cup that still rolled from side to side on the counter.
