“I love you, Lay-lay,” he whispers into her hair. She’s obviously straightening it these days, because he knows if she wasn’t, it’d be as wild and curly as Skyler’s.
“Love you too, big brother.”
Trevor's eyes widen as they pull apart, and he’s worried he might start to cry.
But then she punches him on the shoulder and says, “Go on then.”
So he does. He takes off, rushing out of her apartment and running the short distance to the elevator. If this were one of the romcoms Skyler loves, it would be the scene where the music crescendos and you know something pivotal is about to happen. And Trevor’s not sure if it’s fitting or obnoxious that the music he hears in his head now is a damn Boys Will Be Boys song.
When you think you can’t go on
When you think you’re all alone
I’ll run to you
I’ll run, run, run to you
He jabs his finger at the up-arrow button, impatient to get to Skyler. The elevator dings only seconds later, and when the doors open, the love of his life is standing right there, holding a Tupperware container full of cookies. Trevor surges forward with no hesitation and kisses him, pushing him backward against the elevator wall.
There’s no finesse in the way he presses his mouth against Skyler’s, only a sense of urgency, like if he doesn’t do this now, he could possibly lose his chance forever. And Skyler kisses him back in the same way. Caught up in the feelings ofyesandgoodandright, Trevor only vaguely registers the sound of Tupperware hitting the floor as both of Skyler’s arms wrap around his waist.
He brings one hand to the back of Skyler’s neck, applying the slightest pressure until the weight of Skyler’s body sags into him. His other hand cradles Skyler’s jaw, so he feels it under his fingertips when Skyler opens his mouth wider, letting him in.
They kiss each other like they’ve gone five years without it and they’re making up for lost time.
The elevator doors could reopen at any moment and someone could catch them. But Trevor doesn’t care. Because he means it, he means it, he means it.
Eventually, after who knows how long, they need to stop to catch their breath. When they pull apart, Skyler’s mouth still hangs open a bit and his eyes are shining with happiness, and Trevor wants to kiss him again. But Skyler beatshim to it. He takes Trevor’s hand and leans in, calm and sure. It’s much gentler this time, and unhurried. A few soft caresses of their lips against each other’s.
Something settles in Trevor’s chest, a feeling of ease and contentment. They still have so many things from their past they should talk about and work through. But they never needed to work at this part. They were always so good at it. Kissing Skyler has always come as naturally to him as breathing.
Skyler’s eyes shift down to the floor, and when Trevor looks, he sees the Tupperware container.
He giggles. “Sorry about your cookies.”
Skyler grins. “I’m sure they’re fine. And anyway, that was so worth it.”
Trevor tries not to blush as he picks up the container, handing it to Skyler. “I think Layla’s waiting for us.”
Truthfully, she may not be expecting them anymore, having an idea of what Trevor ran out of her apartment to do. But Trevor knows how much spending time with his sister means to Skyler, since they usually live so far away from each other.
Skyler tucks the cookies safely under one arm and reaches for Trevor’s hand again. He doesn’t let go as Trevor knocks on Layla’s door or after she pulls it open. And she must notice, but she doesn’t comment on it.
As they step inside, Skyler passes her the Tupperware and proudly announces, “I made Snickerdoodles. Your favorite.”
She eagerly pulls off the lid, but her grin turns into a frown as she peers inside the container. “Why are some of them broken?”
Trevor snorts, and Skyler elbows him in the side. Layla glances back and forth between the two of them before rolling her eyes in exasperation.
And everything is exactly as it should be.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Before
SKYLER
Sitting at the smalltable in their hotel room, Skyler grew restless. His fingers itched to fidget with something but couldn’t, because Trevor was holding his left hand steady as he painted Skyler’s nails lime green while the right hand dried. Skyler smiled at Trevor’s precision. He’d gotten so much better at this since the first time.
