“Can I ask for something, actually?” Brent sat down on the bed, letting his bag drop to the floor next to him.
“Anything.”
“You make a killer mac ‘n’ cheese. Which I know isn’t, like, adult food, but…”
“But it is comforting,” Riley said. “And I will obviously make it for you. All you had to do was ask.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll cook you dinner tomorrow.”
“Only if you want to,” Riley said. “I’ll cook for you. I like cooking for people.”
“I don’t deserve you,” Brent said, flopping back on the bed. “But Iamglad I know you.”
“You do deserve me.” Riley shifted the weight of his own bag on his shoulder. He wasn’t used to travelling with luggage at all, so this was a novelty for him. “And I’m honored to know you.”
Brent laughed softly. “If you’re gonna kiss my ass, you need to buy me a drink first.”
“Hint taken, I’m going grocery shopping now. Any other requests beside the mac ‘n’ cheese?”
“Can the ice cream be peppermint choc chip?” Brent asked.
Riley snorted. “As if I’d buy you any other flavor. Take a nap. I’ll be back soon.”
After backing out of the bedroom and closing the door halfway behind him, Riley dumped his own bag beside the couch and retrieved his phone and wallet from it, shoving them in his pockets.
Brent seemed a little brighter here, as though he was ready to start healing, and that could only be a good thing. If all his happiness required was peppermint choc chip ice cream and homemade mac ‘n’ cheese, Riley was happy to make sure he had those.
