But closer to it than Isaac was comfortable with.
“Mom would kill me if I didn’t walk you to the door,” Isaac said, and the excuse sounded much less flimsy than it probably should have.
His mom would have killed him, if she’d ever found out.
Julian burst into giggles, which was the worst possible thing he could have done.
Isaac’s heart tugged again.
Before he could talk himself out of it, Isaac leaned in, reaching up to brace himself against the wall behind Julian with one hand.
His stomach swooped with anticipation, his entire world shrinking down to the way Julian’s pretty eyes glittered in the dark, and the way his lips were curled up into a smile that made Isaac feel like his heart was about to burst with joy.
This was it, and there wouldn’t be any going back, and Isaac didn’t care. He wanted this.
A car picked that moment to drive past, horn blaring, and Isaac jumped.
Jumped back, jumped away.
What thehell?
Blood pounded in his ears at the thought of what he’d just been about to do, panic rising in his throat.
Something in Julian’s eyes changed. Isaac couldn’t pretend to himself that he didn’t see sadness there, disappointment.
Julian knew what had just almost happened, and he was… disappointed?
Disappointed that ithadn’t?
Isaac swallowed past the lump in his throat, unsure what to do now. That was new information.
Both of Julian’s hands landed on Isaac’s chest, and for a moment, he was sure Julian was going to pull him in. Drag him forward, initiate the kiss that Isaac had been startled out of, take the decision out of his hands and free him from having to make it.
For a moment, he desperately wanted that.
Julian pushed lightly against him, easing him away, and back. Putting a respectable just-friends distance between them.
A lead weight settled in Isaac’s stomach.
“Good night, Isaac,” Julian said softly. Everything about his tone was wrong, and sad, and it made Isaac’s heart ache to hear it.
But he’d had his chance, and he’d blown it. Wouldn’t have been the first time.
“I’ll bring you that bruise cream next time I see you,” Isaac said, needing to give himself a concrete, pre-planned way to see Julian again. Needing to be sure that Julian wouldwantto see him again.
“I’d appreciate that,” Julian said, finally getting out his key card and swiping it. “I had a great night.”
“Me too,” Isaac admitted softly, though regret was already sinking ice-cold tendrils into his chest. He’d screwed this up, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever get another shot.
He watched Julian walk to the elevator inside, waiting until he got in, and then turned and headed back toward the car.
