Lance merely shrugged, declaring, “I’m right, and you’re out of rebuttals.”
Tanner scoffed and shook his head. “Rebuttals? Seriously?”
Lance snorted and carried on with his argument that Tanner really needed to look into better job prospects.
“There’s gotta be something you want? A job, a life? Something that might make you happy?”
And suddenly, Tanner mentally pictured the list he’d started on that his shrink had mandated.
Hopes and Fucking Dreams
Except it wasn’t just a title now.
After he’d gotten his rocks off staring at Lance’s picture and fantasizing about that incredible body he’d seen at the water park, he’d gone home and found the list on his desk. Hurriedly, he’d scribbled down his new dream, and then he’d slammed the notebook shut, emotionally unprepared to deal with it right then. But he knew what he’d written beneath that title. He couldn’t fool himself.
Hopes and Fucking Dreams
Lance Kingsley
“I’m working on it,” he said, swallowing against the emotion tightening his throat.
Lance nodded his approval and went back to watching the movie.
*****
It was way past their normal bedtime. Hell, Lance didn’t remember the last time he’d gone to bed this late. He was too old for late nights and early mornings, but he just wasn’t quite ready to give up the contentment he felt sitting there next to Tanner.
“That was terrible,” Tanner said, as the credits rolled, turning to Lance with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
“Right?” Lance replied, though he hadn’t actually watched more than two minutes of the entire film. His attention was focused inwardly on what he and Tanner had been talking about after dinner.
“Should probably let you hit the hay.” Tanner sighed and yawned.
“Right,” he replied, reluctantly getting to his feet. He watched Tanner start to make up the couch and felt like he needed to give him some sort of reassurance that everything between them really was okay again.
“Will you tell me, you know, next time things aren’t going well?”
Tanner turned to him with an amused, slightly confused look.
“I know you’re more the strong and silent type, but I don’t do well with uncertainty. If you’re in a shit mood, and I can’t figure out why, I’m probably gonna panic for no good reason, and that shouldn’t be your problem to deal with but—”
“Lance—” Tanner interrupted and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze.
Lance took a deep breath and decided to ask for what he needed.
“Next time you’ve had a shit day, and need a little space—can you tell me?”
“I promise.” Tanner gave him a look that was heated and suggestive. Lance was confident that he’d seen that look many times over the years from lots of girls, but he couldn’t recall ever being on the receiving end of that look when it came from another guy. His gut automatically tightened in response. “And just to be clear, I wouldneverraise a hand to you.”
“I know. That’s why I offered you my couch,” Lance teased with a wink.
“Ah, and here I was thinking it was for my good looks and charming personality,” Tanner replied, winking back.
“Well—that too, of course! Goodnight, Tanner.”
