12
Ezra’s head spun in the silence that followed Mike’s soft-spoken answer, his whole world shifting under his feet.
Some part of him had hoped. Maybe evensuspected.
But he’d never really thought that firstly, Mike would everwantto kiss him, or secondly, that he mightadmitit.
“So…” Ezra hesitated, unsure which question of the thousands he suddenly had to ask first. “Does that mean you didn’t hate kissing me?”
Mike’s gaze dropped to his feet, hands shoved deep into his pockets. Even though he was still dressed like a grownup, in his soft-looking burgundy sweater, dark, pressed jeans and actual polished leather shoes, he seemed like he was about eight years old right now. Unsure. Maybe in desperate need of a hug.
Ezra wanted to reach out to him, let Mike know it wasokay, that he didn’t have to feel uncomfortable about this, that Ezra would listen to whatever it was he had to say and not judge or push or… expect anything, but…
Mike had to ask. Or at least make it clear that was what he wanted.
“I liked kissing you,” Mike murmured, finally looking up. “Ilikedkissing you, and I don’t know what that means, but I really wanna do it again.”
“You don't have to know what it means,” Ezra said, still struggling to process the rest of what Mike had said.
He wanted to do it again.
He wanted tokiss Ezraagain. That was…
Not something Ezra had ever expected to hear.
Without consciously intending to, Ezra took a half-step forward, closing the gap between him and Mike.
“You don’t have to know what it means,” he repeated, softer this time.
“You’re not mad?” Mike asked, obviously surprised.
Right. He didn’t know that Ezra had been pining after him for years. From his point of view, he was coming on to a friend who’d never shown any attraction toward him.
Ezra wasn’t sure now was a good time to confess thepining for yearspart, but he could at least let Mike know that he wasn’t about to object. “I’m not mad,” he said. “Like I said, you’re kinda cute in the right light.”
“Kinda cute?” Mike looked at him from under his eyelashes, shy and hopeful, anddamn. He was gorgeous like this, and Ezra wanted to grab him with both hands and show him exactly how he felt.
“Kinda.” Ezra grinned. “Definitely not completely repulsive,” he added.
Mike snorted, which seemed like a good sign. Realizing for the first time that other men were hot was a big deal, and while Ezra was comfortable now, he remembered the initial panic when he’d started thinking about Mike that way. Laughter had to help.
“Y’know,” Ezra began, taking another half-step toward Mike. He hesitated, unsure if what he was about to say was purely selfish or whether it might actually help. On the one hand, Mike had just said he wanted to kiss Ezra again.
On the other hand, making the offer might make him feel like hehadto. Especially if he still felt like he needed to apologize.
“No pressure,” Ezra continued. “And I mean that. But, uh. If you wanted to, umm. Experiment?”
“Yes,” Mike said, so quickly Ezra almost missed it.
“Yes?” he double-checked.
Wetting his lips, Mike nodded. “If, umm. That is… if you’re…”
“I’m offering,” Ezra interrupted. “And interested.”
This time, Mike took a step towardhim, bringing them to within just a few inches of each other. Close enough to feel the heat rolling off Mike’s body. Close enough to reach out and touch.
Ezra hesitated for a half-second, but then extended a hand, half-expecting Mike to run away again. He could feel something building between them, tension and anticipation making the air thick.
