Chapter Twenty-Five
Grant couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t sleep on his side, or his back, or with the heater turned up or down, or with more blankets, or less.
All he could do was think of the sight of Sunny’s retreating back, and the sick feeling in his stomach that he’d lost something important.
Grant had felt like a screw-up plenty of times in his life, but never more so than he did now. He’d had something wonderful, and he’d lost it.
He hadn’t evenfoughtfor it. And now he might never see Sunny again, and that was all his own stupid fault.
He rolled over to look out the window, seeing a few flakes of snow float past in the moonlight. Before, it’d felt cozy. He’d beenexcitedabout the idea of being stuck here, with Sunny, even if he knew that was a little odd.
Sunny made him happy. No one lit up a room like he did, no one had the power to lift a grey cloud from over Grant’s head like he could. Sunny never asked him for anything more than a signature on some important documents or a decision about what he wanted for lunch.
Sometimes, Sunny just surprised him with exactly what he wanted, because he was that good. Because he cared that much, because he’d taken the time to get to know Grant.
Grant knew him, too. He knew that Sunny loved peppermint lattes but wouldn’t drink them outside of November and December. He knew that Sunny had the world’s most extensive collection of scarves and had been banned from buying more by his roommate, but still occasionally sneaked another one into his wardrobe.
He knew that Sunny was sweet, and kind, and gentle with everyone he encountered, but especially with Grant. He knew that Sunny would stick up for him even when he wasn’t in the room, because people had told him so.
He knew what Sunny looked like when he was aroused, and when he was satisfied, and when he was curled up next to Grant in bed, ready to sleep.
Grant’s stomach clenched at the thought, and he reached out to the empty side of the bed, feeling the cold spot where Sunny should have been. Where he should have told Sunny he was welcome, always, because Grant was in love with him and never wanted him to leave his side.
Grant’s thoughts were broken by a sudden light outside. Not a flash, exactly, more like…
Headlights?
His brain took a moment to catch up with his legs, which had him climbing out of bed and racing for the window before he’d really finished the thought.
Only one person would be coming up this driveway at this time of night.
Grant’s heart pounded as he watched an unfamiliar car pull up. He couldn’t see past the headlights, but he knew. He knew who it was.
He didn’t even grab a dressing robe before he bolted for the stairs, his footfalls echoing in the otherwise silent cabin as he ran down them, losing his footing for a heart-stopping moment, but regaining his balance before he tumbled down.
Grant threw the front door open just as Sunny got out of the car, the same blanket he’d worn earlier wrapped around his shoulders.
Grant swallowed. Sunny was back.
He took a few paces toward him, wishing desperately that he had something on his feet other than thin socks. The snow wasn’tquiteenough to stop him, though.
Some things were too important.
Sunny looked at him for a few moments, hesitating, and then taking a half-step forward. Grant braced himself for a slow, cautious dance, neither of them entirely sure what they wanted.
He didn’t have time to realize that Sunny was running at him before he had an armful of him, hugging tight around his neck and already shivering with the cold. Grant recovered his balance for the second time, wrapping his arms around Sunny, unsure he had the willpower to ever let him go.
Hot tears soaked into the collar of his shirt, Sunny sniffing quietly, his face pressed into the crook of Grant’s neck.
Grant held him, letting him cry, letting himself tear up as well.
It felt sogoodto hold him. He couldn’t give this up for anything. He had to tell Sunny how he felt, beg him for a chance if that was what it took. Promise him anything he wanted in exchange for staying a part of Grant’s life.
“Sunny, I…”
Sunny looked up at him, his eyes dark in the low light. “I came here to resign,” he said.
Grant’s heart sank. That wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all. He’d thought…
