Here for You by Skylar M. Cates Page A

that this was exactly the problem, and he was tired of waiting for Ian to understand that.
    Ian got it now.
    Within a month of moving, Sam had fallen for Roger, a software consultant for a big firm in Detroit. Ian had met him once. Roger was a big fellow, with a slight paunch and a wry smile. For Sam, he hung the moon.
    Sam answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
    “It’s me.”
    “Oh, hey… I was thinking about you earlier. How was the funeral? That poor kid.”
    “Yeah. It was—” Ian paused, no accurate adjectives in his head. “—sad.”
    “I bet.”
    “And weird because—”
    “Because?” Sam prompted.
    Since Ian had used the FaceTime option on his phone, he could see Sam’s expression all too well. Ian sucked in a deep breath. “Because tonight one of Brendan’s housemates came here, and we….”
    “What?” At Ian’s silence, Sam added, “Really? No shit. Well, the guy must be in all kinds of emotional upheaval and needed comfort. You know?”
    “I know. He was. I did.” Ian shifted in his chair. “But now I don’t know whether to simply let him go or pursue him.”
    “What’s he like? What’s his name?”
    “Cole? He’s young. Too young for me. And a bit of a player. Well, I thought so. He works at this bar downtown. He’s fucking gorgeous, like he could be in the movies. Kind of knows it too. And… he’s got this huge heart. He desperately wants to hide it, I think, but it’s easy to recognize. When you meet him, you can see his every emotion right there on his face. He feels it all so earnestly. It’s like… he’s absentminded one second, superintense the next. I’ve never met somebody so— He’s not what I expected.”
    “I’ve never heard you go on and on about somebody this way.” Sam paused. “I wish you’d sounded like that about me, the way you did just now about this guy.”
    “Christ, Sam. That was insensitive of me.”
    “No, it’s okay. It took me by surprise, but—” Sam drew an audible inhale. “—I’m happy for you.”
    “Thanks. You’re a good person. A better friend than I deserve too.”
    “Untrue. You were good to me too, Ian. It just wasn’t…. Anyhow, it’s ancient history. I have Roger, and I want you to have somebody too.”
    “I don’t have Cole. He made it pretty clear as he left.”
    “He slept with you, didn’t he? From the way you describe him, he could have gone to his bar and found somebody else, but he wanted you. I’d give him some time. You’re good at that—patience. And it sounds like he needs it. I’d wait a few weeks, give him a little healing space. And then….”
    “Yes.” Ian nodded. He’d already decided Cole was his. Whatever it took, Ian would go after him and figure it out. The only thing stopping him from the pursuit right now was Cole’s obvious pain.
    He’d back off, if it were possible, at least. Ian was usually good at being patient, but he wasn’t sure he could be objective about Cole. Not when part of him kept replaying how soft Cole’s lips had been, how warm his skin. Just thinking about him, Ian’s heart picked up speed.
    He’d try to give him a little space, a few weeks to clear his head. He respected letting Cole mourn awhile, and he didn’t want the next time they were together to be about Brendan’s death and the heavy burden of grief. He wanted it to be about everything good and light in the world.
    And there would be a next time. Ian would make certain of it.
    “Earth to Ian? Are you still here?”
    “Sorry, yes. Thanks for listening to me go on and on, Sam.”
    “Well, that’s okay. You listen to me sing Roger’s praises often enough.” Sam sighed into the phone. “It’s not easy, though, this staying-friends thing, is it? But keep me posted on you and Cole, okay? I do want you to be happy.”
    “You too.”
    They hung up.
     
     
    T HE ONLY problem with waiting Cole out was that Ian wasn’t entirely sure what had driven him away. Yes, Cole was grieving. Yes, his