en close, but something shift

ays been there but had just started taking shape. Arthur couldn't identify t

n there was nothing left to say. Maybe it was the way Nick's touches had begun to feel different, not in their placement, but in their int

ck was simply being Nick: casual, loving, and tough

dense with the fragrance of barbecue and the slight bitterness of alcohol. Arthur wasn't mu

said, clinking thei

his eyes but

, Ken, came over and struck up a conversation with Arthur. Ken

howeve

closer, his body language altering. At first, it was subtle, a tiny grima

g out to brush a stray hai

espond when Nick grabbed hi

Nick replied, h

inked. "G

him along until they were away from the part

arm free. "What

ght. "That guy wa

d. "He was ju

e tinged with something strange, somet

ed, crossing his arm

ing a hand through his ha

e air between them,

breath

d at the same time Arthur did, and f

ean.

d closer. "Sa

ed. "You'

u can't just say something

ed at him, and something in his

tlamp above them flickered, creating s

s lips, his thro

o close their breaths mingled. "You hav

gers hesitating before brushing over his jaw. His contact was

Nick kis

low and delicate, like he was worried Arthur c

into nothing. All that existed was Nick, the way his lips brushed against

ter who had been by his side for years, who had been there for every b

orehead resting against Arthur's

vous breath. "I don'

his fingers tracing patterns a

or a long time, just br

terrace, Nick turned to him, ey

ords he had been keeping in for so l

and knowingly. "Too

uffed. "

cross to connect their f

eath caught

h, I have loved y

s tightening around Nick's h

thin

r pleaded, his voice barely above a

his hand. "

, too, that you won't betray me, Ar

ime, he felt like h