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Tyler glanced at him. “Hey, I met the guy twice.”
“I know, but you told me about his abuse. Imagine if I turn up on his doorstep asking him if he wants to collaborate on a book with me. He’s going to wonder how I know and he’s going to be pretty mad at you. Maybe.”
Shit. Tyler wished he hadn’t told Holden. He was right. Finn could be so mad at him he could break off any fledgling friendship they might have had. And with that soft, thick sock cushioning his stump just right that day, Tyler didn’t want that. “Maybe it was a bad idea,” he muttered.
Holden bit his lip. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“You probably will.”
Holden blew out his breath. “Then would you like to write a book with me about how you came to lose your leg?”
Tyler stiffened. He put the paintbrush in the can. “Not funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
Tyler got to his feet. “I get that you’re a writer, but actually, that doesn’t give you open season on everyone’s feelings.”
Holden looked hurt and ashamed. “That wasn’t it.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“No, I just wanted…”
“Yeah, to earn some money at my expense. And Finn’s.” He moved forward and Holden blocked him, grabbing his arm.
“Wait.”
“Get off me.”
“Tyler, please…”
Tyler didn’t look at those dark, beseeching eyes. He tried to shrug Holden off, but he didn’t try very hard because he knew he could hurt the guy, one leg or not, and he didn’t want to do that, no matter how mad he was. “Let me go, Holden. I’ve done your painting; I need to rest.” It wasn’t strictly true because his leg was feeling fine, even from kneeling on the floor. More, he needed to rest his mind and decide what had happened here today and how much further he should let his acquaintance with Holden go.
“I’m sorry,” Holden said and a glance at his face showed Tyler he was mortified. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I wasn’t even serious. I was just desperate. Not that I’d have to be desperate to write your story, I mean, I just…” He let go of Tyler. “I’m worried about money. I’m worried that I’ve dried up and can’t write a word and I know that’s not your problem and…” He stopped.
Tyler stayed in place, their gazes fixed.
“I know you’re so much worse off than me and I appreciate you talking to me last night because it made me feel as good as it made you, trust me. I want to help you and…”
Tyler rested his hands on Holden shoulders as he was talking. He moved closer. He looked down into Holden’s handsome upturned face and then he cupped his cheeks in both hands, searching his eyes.
Holden stared up at him, eyes wide. His eyes were beautiful, so dark they were almost black, the sooty lashes framing them adding to their expressive nature. They were also filled with misery and suffering. Tyler wanted to make it better. He wanted to make himself better by losing himself in Holden. He lowered his lips slowly, seeking Holden’s mouth.
Holden closed his eyes. He waited for Tyler to kiss him and Tyler closed his own eyes in anticipation as their lips almost touched.
A knock came at the door.
Holden drew back, cursing. He was flushed and he darted Tyler a little embarrassed look as he went out into the hallway. Tyler heard him exchanging words with a guy after he’d opened the door, then he closed it again and came back, holding up a small, flat cardboard package.
“Didn’t realize Amazon delivered here,” Tyler said. He had regained his senses and now felt embarrassed that he had tried to kiss Holden. At the same time, he wondered if Amazon hadn’t banged on the door, whether he and Holden would now be semi-naked on the couch.
“Sure,” Holden said. He tore the package open and peered inside. “Yeah, here it is.” He reached free a small, semi-opaque envelope and held it out. “I got these for you.”
Tyler stared, because he recognized the glassine package and what it usually contained. And what it definitely did contain in this case. It wasn’t sealed and corners of colorful bits of paper stuck out. He took it and pulled out a few with his thumb and forefinger.
“I’m sorry,” Holden said when Tyler looked at him wordlessly. “I saw your stamp album. I wasn’t snooping. I thought you might like these. They were only cheap though. I don’t think you’ll find any penny blacks or one cent magentas.”
Tyler spread some of the stamps onto the palm of his hand and saw one with a flower from Hungary, one with a beach scene from St. Kitts and Nevis, some definitives with the late Queen Elizabeth and a historic building from Romania. He looked up at Holden. Two gifts in two days. More gifts than he’d had in years. He raised an eyebrow. “How do you know about the one cent magenta?”
