Seth was back. He looked tired, and his eyes were red, and he seemed smaller than ever, but he was right there.
Oz had thought of a million things he’d say to him if by some miracle he came back, but his mind was suddenly blank. All he could do was stare at him.
“You said I could come back,” Seth said, his tone unsure. He was shaking, only a little, just enough to be perceptible.
“Always,” Oz responded, still staring.
Things like this didn’t happen to him.
“Do you think I could come in?” Seth asked, raising an eyebrow. “Since I just threw away my entire life to be here.”
Oz stepped back from the door to let Seth inside, kicking himself for not doing that in the first place. “I’m just surprised,” he defended.
“I know,” Seth said as he slipped past him, the warmth of his body washing over Oz for a brief, wonderful moment. “I’m surprised, too.”
“What do you mean you threw your life away?” Oz asked, the idea finally seeping through the layers of alcohol and sheer relief he had clouding his mind at the moment.
Seth sniffed. “I called my dad and told him I wasn’t coming home. He told me he’d disown me. I saidgoodand hung up. So. Probably disowned.”
“Join the club,” Oz said. He could hardly believe Seth had actually done it. For him.
Well, not for him. Seth had done it for himself, and that was way more important.
But he’d come to Oz, and it looked like he was staying.
That was cause for celebration, in Oz’s mind. He was getting the chance he’d wished for, and he had no intention of screwing it up.
“Are you drinking all of that?” Seth nodded to the bottle that was still in Oz’s hand.
Oz handed it to him automatically, then watched him throw his head back and swallow a good couple of mouthfuls before handing it back over.
That was… kinda hot? Oz wasn’t sure it was supposed to seem that way, but he suspected that anything Seth did would be hot right now. As long as he was here.
Coming back was the most attractive thing he’d ever done.
“I use sex and food and all the rest of it as a distraction, and I thought that was what I was doing with you, but… you’re not a distraction. You actuallymakeme happy. At peace. Whatever. Things are better when I’m around you and I couldn’t bring myself to lose that.”
“You don’t have to lose it. I love you,” Oz said, needing Seth to know how welcome and wanted and loved he was. Needing him to know that this was a good decision that wasn’t about to backfire horribly.
“I think that’s what I’m trying to say.” Seth looked up, holding Oz’s gaze. “I love you, too.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Oz stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Seth, squeezing him tight. All the pain and worry had been worth it if this was the payoff.
He laughed as the last of the tension left his body, closing his eyes to let Seth’s warmth seep into him, to listen to his breathing and heartbeat, to just be. To be here, with Seth, and nothing between them anymore.
“I’m a mess,” Seth mumbled against Oz’s chest.
“You want a shower? I have clean towels and everything.”
“No, I mean… I’m generally a mess. I don’t know what I want or who I am or anything much, honestly. I’m not… I won’t be easy. You’ve only seen part of me. Are you sure you want this?”
Oz kissed Seth’s forehead to soothe him, wishing he could just take all his worries away. “I know what I’m getting into. I remember what it was like to be where you are right now. But you’ll have someone there with you.”
Seth made a soft noise and leaned into Oz’s chest. “I probably shouldn’t have started drinking on an empty stomach. I need to sit.”
Oz chuckled softly, then backed off to guide Seth to the couch, helping him sit heavily. “I’ll order pizza, I can’t trust myself with knives or fire right now.”
Seth giggled in response. There was no way the bourbon had hit him fast enough to be responsible, but Oz was riding a completely emotional high right now, too, so he understood.
