Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Do I look like I just rolled out of bed?” Gabriel asked as they got out of the cab, sticking close to Reid the entire time.
Despite the fact that Reid could feel his nervousness rolling off him as though it was a physical thing, the closeness was nice.
Besides, Reid knew nothing bad was going to happen here. Professionally, he was out. He always brought a date to these things, and it had always been fine before. It would be fine now, too.
Which made it a great starting place.
He was just glad he hadn’t lost Gabriel. Even if they’d stayed home, he would have been happy.
Right now, he was glowing with pride.
“Kinda, but it’s a good look on you,” Reid admitted, reaching out to tuck a strand of Gabriel’s hair behind his ear.
“I need a haircut,” Gabriel said. “I’ve left it for over a year now. I’m not normally this scruffy.”
Reid smiled at that, still taking in how well Gabriel scrubbed up. He hadn’t even bothered to shave, but he looked good. Natural.
A lot more at home in a suit than Reid did. He’d been surprised that Gabriel owned one at all, let alone had it ready to wear on short notice.
Apparently even being at the top of your field didn’t exempt you from having to wear a suit from time to time.
“I kinda like it, actually. I wouldn’t be mad if you kept growing it out,” Reid said.
Hedidlike Gabriel’s hair. And his face. And his hands. All of him, really.
His heart, most of all. He’d told Reid in the cab that he was done being a coward, but Reid had rarely met a braver person. Being afraid didn’t make him a coward.
Being afraid and still going through with it? That was brave.
“Well, good, because I’m unlikely to get a haircut anytime soon. It’s a lot of work,” Gabriel said, shoving his hands deep in his pockets and looking at the small crowd milling ahead of them, slowly filtering into the hotel the event was being held in.
“Last chance to back out,” Reid said, hoping Gabriel wouldn’t, but preparing himself to accept it if he did.
Having Gabriel at all was more important than having him on his arm at any one event. A week without him had been more than enough to convince Reid of that.
He never wanted to lose Gabriel again.
“I’m not backing out,” Gabriel said firmly. “But, uh… could I hold your hand? Or I guess take your arm, if that’s more socially acceptable.”
Reid chuckled. “Maybe start with the arm,” he said, offering it to Gabriel. “But if you need to grab my hand, it’s right there at the end of my wrist.”
“Look, I might not be an award winning physical therapist, but I know where your hands are,” Gabriel said wryly, taking Reid’s arm.
Reid couldn’t stop himself from smiling as he guided them toward the hotel. Gabriel was here, and he was with him, and absolutely nothing could have been better.
“This is the crowning moment of your career, huh? So far, I mean,” Gabriel said as they joined the crowd filling inside, each of them showing invitations before being let into the room they were using.
“Yeah, I guess it is,” Reid agreed.
He was excited—and honored—by the award, but it didn’t compare to the knowledge that Gabriel was there with him.
That he hadn’t lost him.
That things were going to be okay.
He would have cheerfully traded any award for Gabriel. Life was lonely without someone to share it with.
