“Why—Did I snore?”
“No.” He laughed. “But yes, we had a game. Just finished up. It was quick, five-minute quarters. I decimated their asses.”
“So violent, Nicky. Be nice.”
“Yeah, yeah. What’s Kent making good?”
“Pancakes!” Kent and Reece answered simultaneously, and Reece laughed.
“Kenny really knows how to spoil a guy. What a treat for my first day back. Oh! Kenny, can there be chocolate chips?”
“Already added them.”
“Oh wow.” Reece beamed at Kent and then looked back at his phone screen, to Nick, who was in the middle of toweling off his excess sweat on his way to the showers. “Want to call me back after your shower, Nicky? Uh—or later, or tomorrow, or whenever?”
He almost winced, thinking he’d gone too far with his clinginess, but Nick just smirked. “I’ll call you back, Kitten.”
Reece crossed his ankles to keep his feet from swaying. “Okay, Nicky. Talk to you soon then.”
They ended the call, and when Reece looked over to Kent, he found the older man watching him, a fond expression in his eyes that brightened all his features. Neither of them said anything, but Reece felt safe. And happy. Like he was really home.
The only thing missing was Nick.
* * *
It almost seemed as if every single day without Nick was a little longer than the last. Reece looked forward to his mornings, because Kent was there to greet him with a smile, a hug, and breakfast, but lately, he found himself dreading everything else except for Nick’s calls and texts.
Work was a drag, and Reece looked forward to his work for the most part, but Nick was so close to being back home, and that was all Reece wanted. All he could think about. Each second felt like hours.
Just one more work day, one more night of restless sleep, and then Reece would be rushing to the airport to meet him and the rest of the guys. But this day felt endless, and anything that could go wrong had. After the most boring interview of the century, Reece went to his only photo shoot of the day only for the photographer of all people to be a no show. They waited forever—for hours that felt like weeks—only for the woman to never turn up. It was a huge waste of Reece’s time when he could be in Nick’s bed thinking about his return.
That wasn’t even the worst of Reece’s day, though. After the ruined and non-existent photo shoot, Reece walked to the nearest ice cream shop, daydreaming about Nick and chocolate ice cream. He deserved a sweet treat after a miserable day.
The lady that took his order seemed to be having a worse day than Reece himself and clearly wanted to be anywhere else. Reece understood that because he didn’t want to be there either. He wanted to be with Nick, wherever he was. So many sighs escaped him throughout the day that it was becoming frustrating even to himself.
Reece still thanked the lady when he got his ice cream cone, not letting it bother him when the sentiment wasn’t returned. He just walked out with another long sigh, wondering if Nick was already sleeping on the plane. He’d probably be exhausted whenever he finally did make it home.
Lost in thought, Reece didn’t see the kid skateboarding down the street until it was too late. He’d been right in the way, leaving the kid two options, run Reece over, or hit a light pole.
Reece took the hit, which wouldn’t have been too bad if not for his hand smacking back against his own chest, his chocolate ice cream mushing against his shirt. The impact made him gasp and step back, pulling the cone away from his shirt, brows furrowing as the scoop plopped onto the sidewalk.
“Oh no…”
“Hey! Watch where you’re going! Stupid kid…”
“Harrison?” Reece looked up from the ground to the man who’d spoken up in his favor. It had been a while since they’d run into each other and his hair was different, longer it seemed, and tied up in a loose bun. His narrow eyes looked as harsh as ever, even his brows were pinched together.
He looked like he came straight from the gym, judging by his joggers, t-shirt, and the unzipped jacket that matched. Nick wasn’t going to like this one bit.
“Reecey,” he said, scowl morphing to a tight smile that held none of the warmth he was trying to convey. “You ruined your shirt—I’ll give you mine.”
“W-what?”
Reece blinked, staggering back in surprise as the buttons of his shirt were swiftly being undone. Even if he did accept a replacement shirt—
“I can’t change out here! That’s… scandalous.” The guy knew no boundaries and Reece was affronted. Harrison’s hands were quick enough to have Reece’s shirt open and hanging off his shoulders. Reece’s arms wound around his chest to try and maintain his dignity. “What are you doing?!”
“Chill, Reecey,” he huffed, taking off his jacket and offering it to Reece.
