While River handled the introductions, I took a second to compose myself. I never responded this viscerally to another person. At most, I tended to develop light crushes that faded as quickly as they came on. But something about the grownup version of Izzy fascinated me immediately.
Maybe I wasn’t hopelessly addicted to jerking off with a stranger in a costume after all.
I took another sip of my gin and tonic, then joined everyone at the couches. Izzy was wearing a T-shirt for the conservation project where he worked, and River immediately started asking him a million questions about it while Leo fixed a drink.
“What flowers, specifically, have you been saving lately?” River asked, leaning in close like he was asking for the best gossip.
Izzy laughed. “Oh, you know. This week, just your regular yellow lady’s slipper.”
I grinned at his playful response. “It sounds like a great place to work,” I offered, finally composed enough to make conversation like a normal person, instead of just sitting there and creeping on a childhood friend.
Leo handed a cocktail to Izzy. “You should meet my brother. He’s a science writer. He specializes in astronomy, but I bet you two would have a lot in common.”
“I love astronomy,” Izzy responded.
Leo took his seat beside River, with Izzy and me sitting across the coffee table. When River casually draped his leg over Leo’s, I became extra aware that Izzy and I were side by side.
And aware that it would feel really nice if he would drape his leg over mine, too.
“Shawn, Leo’s brother, will be at the wedding,” I added, working hard to focus. “If you can make it, you’ll meet him there.”
“Oh, and I forgot to say, bring a plus one if you want!” River added. “If you have someone special you want to bring, that is.”
Izzy shook his head softly. “There’s no one special right now, but thanks.”
A pleased hum almost slipped past my lips, but I swallowed it down first.
“Why don’t you two go together?” Leo asked casually, nodding to us. “Kai is going stag, too.”
I caught Izzy’s eye. His expression was a little taken aback, like he didn’t know what to say, and I probably had the same look on my face. A friend-date to the wedding sounded nice, considering I was always the single person hanging with the two happy couples. But Izzy and I had just reconnected, and already, my brain was screaming that there was something different going on here, something I couldn’t ignore.
My brain never screamed about that kind of thing, especially not this loudly.
River laughed and kicked his leg, bouncing it over Leo’s. “A resounding yes from the reunited neighbors,” he teased.
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” I said, searching for an excuse as I turned to Izzy. “I’m just going to be busy helping out all weekend, taking care of logistics. I’d be a crappy date. You wouldn’t have any fun with me.”
“It’s fine,” Izzy said lightly, waving his hand in the air. “I’m not even sure if I can make it.”
“Well you should make it,” River replied. “We rented a bunch of cabins in the Susquehannock Forests. Our friend Cass’s band is going to play, and there will be a ton of food. Plus, Kai is just being extremely responsible like always. His job is to have fun, and we’ve already given him clear instructions that he is not allowed to spend the weekend straightening chairs and confirming things with the caterer.”
I glanced at Izzy. He sucked his lip between his teeth and bit down softly, which alone was enough to make me feel like the earth had opened under my feet.
“I love the Susquehannock,” he answered.
Izzy looked to me, a gentle but eager light in his gaze. It was obvious he wanted me to say yes, and why wouldn’t I? He was a nice guy, and I already knew we got along well.
And oh my god, why in the hell was I staring at the cleft in his chin again?
“Then you should definitely come,” I said, working hard to keep my voice steady and to hold his eye. “I can give you a ride.”
“And now we can checkfind a date for Kaioff our to-do list,” River laughed.
“Hey.” I frowned, not so much irritated that they put it on the list as I was annoyed about the impression it made. I didn’t want Izzy to think I was some loser who relied on his brother and his friends to find him dates.
Although there was maybe some truth to that.
“Great,” Izzy said sweetly. “Thanks, Kai. That sounds like fun.”
