Lola was popular at school, a cheerleader. Sure, Ray was into sports; he was a star basketball player, but he always kept himself to himself, while Lola liked to spread herself around, get to know a variety of different groups and people. He wished he could be more like her.
Like clockwork, the next words out of her mouth were, “Look, I’m not spending the entirety of my high school reunionwith you in a corner.”
Ray sighed, swigging back another gulp of his beer. “Agreed,” he said reluctantly.
Lola’s eyebrows raised. “Hey, maybe Andrew will be here.”
Ray swallowed. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t already scanned the room for him. Twice. Okay, so maybe five times, sue him. The mere mention of the name from Lola transported him back to fifteen years ago, like it was yesterday. To the locker room and being the only two people left inside. To Andrew’s lips covering his own in a tentative kiss, before it caught fire. It had felt as though the world had stood still. It was his first kiss with a guy. His second came months later with Andrew at a party; it was brief, a stolen moment. Ray had attempted to ask Andrew what was going on between them, if he wanted something more. Hell, Ray would’ve loved to have gotten to know him, to date him, but after a few murmured responses, Andrew had acted as though they didn’t know each other at school. Ray did the same, even though it cut him deep. They’d remained friends on social media, and Ray had watched over the years as Andrew had come out as gay, gotten married, and since divorced. He himself had never got close to marriage, but he’d had a few long-term relationships over the years.
“Let’s go.” Lola took him by the hand and dragged him over to a group of people.
After a few handshakes andwhat are you up to nows, he already felt his attention span drifting, drifting, drifting…over to him. Andrew.
Their gazes locked and held across the hall. Ray would’ve recognized him anywhere, how could he think he wouldn’t? Andrew had the same blond curls, same gray eyes, same half smile that made him weak at the knees.
Ray swallowed. All of the other voices and noises dimmedto a low hum.
Andrew inclined his head.
Ray frowned. Was he mistaken or did Andrew want him to come over and talk to him?
Well, no. They weren’t teenagers anymore. Andrew could come to him. Ray broke their gaze.
The evening brushed by him like a whisper. He needed some fresh air. He murmured as much to Lola who smiled at him but was busy flirting with a guy Ray didn’t recognize.
There was a decked area, with fairy lights hung around some seats, looking out over a small lake. This was where he headed before a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Wait,” said Andrew, his hand lightly brushing on his arm. “Want some company?”
Ray turned toward him, and it was as if no time had passed.
Andrew’s throat bobbed. A sign he was nervous.
Ray shrugged. “Sure.”
They walked out in silence, stopping to stand at the edge of the lake.
“You probably want to push me in for how I acted toward you.” Andrew chuckled lightly.
Ray’s gaze flew to him, his heart racing, but he tried to keep his face a mask of calm.
He raised a brow. “You sure think an awful lot of yourself if you think I’m still cut up about that.”
Well, he kind of was. But he wasn’t going to let Andrew know that.
Andrew studied him for a moment, considering. “Well, I think about it a lot. I think about you a lot.”
Ray’s heart raced. Before he could say anything, Andrew asked him another question.
“So, how’s life treated you?”
It was a question that had been asked of him many times that night, but Ray thought this was the first time that someone truly cared about his answer. They updated each other about their lives, and time flew by. Before Ray knew it, people were trickling out of the hall, making their way home.
“I want to see you again.” The words tumbled and fell out of Andrew’s mouth. “I wasn’t ready back then, and that’s no excuse for how I treated you in high school, but if you would be willing to give me a chance…”
Ray swallowed. Was this actually happening? He would pinch himself if that wouldn’t look completely crazy. Instead, he nodded.
“I would like that. So…a date?” Ray felt the need to clarify, given their past.
