Love and Other Hot Beverages by Laurie Loft

Author:Laurie Loft [Loft, Laurie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Published: 2017-04-06T04:00:00+00:00

Sebby worked late, trying to bury himself in paperwork, but even his orderly columns of numbers could not ease his anxiety. Finally he gave up. After all, he had said he could make plans, so why didn’t he? He texted Barry and Lawrence and convinced them that a movie night at his house would be more fun than clubbing.

They were several screams and clutches into the movie The Descent when the landline rang.

“It’s Todd!” Lawrence said, upon viewing the caller ID. He was nearest the phone, and Barry was on the other end of the sofa, the two of them flanking Sebby.

Why was he calling on the landline? Sebby raised his head from Barry’s shoulder. “Should I answer?”

“Yes!” Barry and Lawrence declared in unison, and Lawrence grabbed the cordless phone from its dock and shoved it into Sebby’s hands. Barry paused the movie, and both regarded Sebby expectantly.

“Whatever,” Sebby huffed, and pushed the Talk button. “Hello?”

“Sebastián. It is I, Todd. You didn’t answer my texts. Are you mad? Can I come over?” Sebby recognized that Todd was echoing his own words back at him, and it made him smile, but before he could answer, Todd went on, “I miss you.”

“Oh, Todd. I miss you too.” Relief made him go limp and lean back into the cushions. Barry and Lawrence high-fived over his head. Sebby elbowed them. “But maybe not tonight.” Barry and Lawrence shook their heads frantically. Lawrence leaned over the edge of the sofa, and a second later Todd’s voice came over the speaker as Lawrence sat back with a smug look.

“I understand. I don’t expect you to break plans for me. I’ve been miserable this week, and I unreasoningly felt”—Sebby wrestled his way across Lawrence and turned off the speaker, remaining there, draped across Lawrence’s lap—“that you wouldn’t want anything to do with me.” Playfully, Lawrence tapped the speaker on again. “I’m an ass, and a coward, and—” Sebby slammed his hand down on the speaker button, glaring at Lawrence. Lawrence and Barry raised their eyebrows at each other and giggled behind their hands. “Is someone there?” Todd asked.

“I have friends over, but I’m not kicking them out just because you don’t want to be alone on a Friday.” Barry and Lawrence’s eyes went wide. They mouthed silent oohs. “I want to see you, but, you might as well know, I’m pissed off. What the fuck was up with you all week? But I don’t want to talk about it on the phone, so are you coming over or what?”

“I’ll be there directly,” Todd said humbly.

Sebby’s voice softened. “Good. Um. Okay. I’ll watch for you.” He hung up, sighing.

“Byeee.” Lawrence hopped up.

“Sebby said he’s not kicking us out,” Barry reminded him.

“That was just for show. C’mon.”

“No, I meant it,” Sebby said. An idea bloomed like a crocus through the snow. It was time to shake things up. Show Todd what he was missing.

Make him want to stay.

“This might be your chance,” Sebby said.

“Ohhh. Our chance.” Lawrence sank back down.

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