Page 122 of We Are Just Us

“We’ll see.”

They passed through Leucadia, the road winding along the coast. Kieran watched the ocean appear and disappear between the houses.

“I like this,” Kieran said.

Rory glanced over. “Like what?”

“I don’t know how to explain it. The surf competition stuff, the side roads, your hand on the gearshift.” He paused. “Whatever we are.”

Rory squeezed his hand. “We are just us.”

They turned onto their street. Rory pulled into his driveway and cut the engine, but neither of them moved to get out.

“You want to come in?” Rory asked. “I could make us lunch. Or we could hang out.”

“Yeah,” Kieran said. “I’d like that.”

They climbed out and Kieran followed Rory inside. Rory tossed his keys on the counter and opened the fridge. “Sandwiches okay?”

“Perfect.”

Kieran sat at the small kitchen table and watched Rory pull out bread, deli meat, cheese, mayo.

“You know,” Kieran said, “a few months ago, if you’d told me I’d be sitting in a kitchen in Encinitas watching my boyfriend make me a sandwich after we both got STD tested together, I would’ve thought you were insane.”

Rory paused, turning to look at him. “Boyfriend?”

Kieran’s face heated. “I mean—is that—are we—shit, that came out unexpectedly.”

Rory set the butter knife down. Slowly. Crossed his arms. Leaned against the counter with an expression that gave away absolutely nothing.

“I really appreciate you saying that, but…I’m sorry. I don’t think so.”

Kieran’s stomach dropped through the floor. “I…okay. That’s—yeah, no, that’s totally fine. I shouldn’t have assumed. We never even talked about it and I…”

“Kieran.”

“—threw it out there like an absolute moron, and if that’s not what this is, then—”

“Kieran.”

He stopped. Rory was smiling. Not a little smile. The full one. The one that crinkled his eyes and made him look ten years younger and infuriatingly pleased with himself. “I’m kidding.”

Kieran stared at him. “You’re kidding?”

“Yeah.”

“You just watched me have a cardiac event. Over sandwiches.”

“Turkey and Swiss, specifically.”

“Fucking asshole.”

“Hey now, that’s not very boyfriend behavior.”

Kieran opened his mouth, closed it, then picked up a chip from the bag on the table and threw it at Rory’s chest.

Rory caught it. Ate it.