Page 5 of A Sugary Life

“What are you working on?” Phoenix sat his container of donut ingredients on the island. While he waited for Shay to answer, he pulled the length of braided threads from his pocket and attempted to tie it around his wrist.

Shay stood and circled the island. He answered as he tied the bracelet for Phoenix. “I’m on break. Things get kind of boring around here. I’m guilty of doodling to pass the time.”

Fuck, he smelled good. He had been drawing, not writing. Shay was talented as hell. Phoenix had forgotten all about the way Shay would draw all over everything, including him. “Oooh, let me see.”

Shay beamed. He grabbed the sketchbook and handed it to Phoenix. “It’s nothing big. You know me. I’m just killing time.”

It was a sketch of Phoenix walking along the bluff. Phoenix’s throat swelled. Shay had captured the sadness in Phoenix’s every line. He felt again exactly as he had last night, just by looking at the drawing. “You’ve always been amazing, but wow, Shay. This is beautiful. All your practice shows. You’ve become a real artist.”

Shay’s face was red. He shrugged as Phoenix handed back the notebook. “Like I said, I’m just killing time. No one is stupid enough to attack this place.”

Phoenix couldn’t step back and put space between them. He had the strongest urge to hug Shay. “Do you like your job here?”

The smile was back. “I like the money. The job is easy… You’re here.” Shay moved away and gathered his colored pencils. “Anyhow, I need to get back to it. I just wanted to come by and say hi.”

“Hi.”

Shay chuckled.

Phoenix couldn’t take Shay's obvious discomfort. He looked exactly like a man running from a situation. Phoenix would know. That was his forte. “We should sit down and catch up.”

Shay paused. His gaze collided with Phoenix’s. He licked his lips as if nervous. “I don’t have anything going on tonight.”

Phoenix shrugged. “Me neither.”

Shay nodded, looking solemn. “I can swing by your room around six to meet up.”

Phoenix tried not to smile and show his happiness. No one had ever broken him the way Shay had. He hadn’t forgotten that. “Sounds great.”

Shay never as much as blinked. “I could take you to dinner.”

That did it. He couldn’t hold back his smile any longer. “Okay.” Gah. Even he heard the happiness he showed in that single word. Why was he like this when it came to Shay? All Phoenix saw when he looked at Shay was the boy who had been at his side for as long as he could recall. The other half of him. The longing that flooded him felt too familiar, making Phoenix realize he had never let go. Not even a little.

Shay walked backward for a moment, holding his gaze. “It’s a date, then.”

“It seems so.”

A bright smile exploded across Shay’s face. “I’ll see you then.” He turned and walked away, giving Phoenix a tempting show of wide shoulders and sexy ass. Life wasn’t fair in the least. Not once had he dreamed he would be in this position again. Apparently, some dumbass fantasies never died. He was an idiot.

The day had been long as hell. Shay couldn’t recall the last time he wanted time to move its ass the way he had all day. Phoenix had agreed to go to dinner with him. Shay had been floored when Phoenix suggested they sit down and catch up. He had lain awake all night plotting ways to let Phoenix know he had too many regrets to count. The thing was, when Shay looked back on things, there was no way Phoenix hadn’t known Shay was all the way in love with him. He had told himself no one would bat an eye over certain things he did with and for Phoenix because Phoenix was his best friend and openly gay. Of course, Shay would treat him like the out and proud guy he was. That meant yellow roses for special moments and friendship bracelets. They had been glued at the hip since that shipping container. As far as he knew, no one had side-eyed a single thing they did together. Where there was one, there had been the other, and that was just how it was. Shay wanted to remind Phoenix of those moments. That was the only shot he had of gaining forgiveness.

Shay took his time showering and picking out his clothes. He felt a little dumb about how nervous he was. Shay had told himself he needed to look perfect and be flawless. That was what Phoenix deserved. When the time came to make his way to Phoenix’s room, he gave himself a pep talk on the way out. He could do this. Shay would do this right. He had to. Shay opened the door. A Tupperware container sat right outside. It had two cupcakes inside and a sticky note on top.

For later.

A smile exploded across Shay’s face. He eyed the cupcakes as he moved them to the sideboard next to the door. They were cookies and cream. His favorite. With new fire under his feet, Shay made his way to Phoenix’s room. The door was slightly ajar. He knocked even as the motion pushed the door wider open. At the sight of Phoenix and his room, Shay couldn’t stop smiling. The entire floor was covered in discarded clothes.

“Well, you have arrived, I see.”

Phoenix looked up from where he worked to scoop outfits from the floor. He wore a bright smile. “Yeah, well. You know me. I’m not happy unless I’ve tried on a few dozen outfits.”

Shay’s face hurt from grinning so big. “You’ve always been a tornado.”

With a chuckle, Phoenix tossed the clothes onto the bed. “I’ll deal with this later.” He headed Shay’s way. “So, where are we going?”

His eyes didn’t want to budge from Phoenix. Everything about him was beautiful. His gray eyes mesmerized Shay. His full lips had always been a temptation so great that his insides ached. There was a smattering of freckles across his nose. Fuck, he was just flawless.

Phoenix's eyebrows rose, and Shay realized he hadn’t answered. He forced himself to focus on the moment. “I thought we’d hit that fifties-style diner you always liked—”