Equilibrium by Meredith Shayne

Author:Meredith Shayne [Shayne, Meredith]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

AUGUST They settled into a tentative relationship that consisted mainly of fucking each other's brains out, mostly at Ryan's place because it was more private than Michael's. If Ryan wanted to stay at Michael's, Michael made him park a couple of streets away and walk down so no one would recognize his car in Michael's driveway. They went on like this for two months before Ryan decided to upset Michael's carefully constructed equilibrium.

"It's my dad's birthday dinner Wednesday night. I'd like you to come."

Michael almost dropped the phone. He stood in the middle of his kitchen struck dumb, not able to think of a thing to say.

Ryan's voice had a sharp edge to it when he said, "Are you there?"

"Yes. I—yes, I'm here."

"Well?"

Michael was silent still, Ryan's frustration evident in the stony silence on the other end of the phone. "I... is that all right?"

"What? Of course it's all right, Michael. I'm asking you, aren't I? I wouldn't be asking you to come if it wasn't going to be all right."

Michael flushed. Funny how Ryan could embarrass him even now, and just over the phone. "Right. Of course."

There was silence on the line again, Ryan eventually breaking it with a, "Well? Will you come or not?"

Michael hesitated a moment longer, then said, "Ah. Yes. Yeah, I'll come. If you want me to."

"Good. Thank you." Ryan's tone hadn't softened. "I'll see you at my house at seven. You don't have to bring anything."

Michael opened his mouth to say something more, but Ryan had already hung up. Michael stood for another few seconds listening to the dial tone, then hung up. If this was any indication of how the evening was going to go, he couldn't wait.

* * * *

Michael's stomach was a twisted knot of nerves when he drove up to Ryan's house on Wednesday night. As Michael walked up the stairs to Ryan's veranda, Ryan opened the door. Michael smiled tentatively, unsure of the reception he was going to get, but Ryan's smile was his usual bright, open one.

"Hi," Ryan said, pulling him in for a kiss.

"Hi." Michael held up a six-pack of beer. "I know you said not to bring anything, but more beer can't hurt, right?" He hesitated. "Peace offering."

Ryan's expression softened. "You don't need a peace offering, Mikey," he said gently, kissing Michael again. "If anything, I should be giving one to you. I got grumpy, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

Michael relaxed, smiling more sincerely now and dismissing Ryan's apology with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it."

"I'll try." Ryan looked at his watch. "We should go over. Ready?"

Michael's nerves kicked in again, and he took a deep breath, nodding. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Ryan smiled and stepped out of the doorway, pulling his door shut behind him. "It'll be all right, Mikey. It's just dinner."

Michael wasn't too sure about that, but he didn't argue as they started to walk down Ryan's driveway to the main house. Ryan kept close to him, their arms brushing as they walked.

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