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The hotel room was still dim, curtains drawn just enough to let a sliver of morning light spill across the unmade bed.
Ryan laid on his back, phone in hand, aimlessly scrolling through last night’s show mentions. It was always the same cycle—checking setlist tags, seeing blurry clips of their performance, skimming through praise and the occasional critique. Nothing new, really, but it gave him something to do while he woke up properly.
The bathroom door swung open, a rush of steam escaping into the cooler air of the room. Brendon stepped out, towel-drying his hair, already buzzing with energy.
“Okay,” Brendon announced, dropping the towel onto the nearest chair. “I have a great idea.”
Ryan hummed, still focused on his screen. “Mmm?”
Brendon flopped onto the bed beside him, bouncing slightly. “There’s this huge park like, right here. Golden Gate Park. You’ve probably heard of it before, but— I was looking it up before I got in the shower, and dude, it looks awesome.”
Ryan made a vague noise of acknowledgment.
Brendon nudged him with his knee. “We should go.”
Ryan blinked up at him. “Go where?”
“The park. Duh.” Brendon grinned, clearly expecting immediate enthusiasm.
Ryan groaned, rubbing his face. “Hey, I love that you wake up with this much energy, but I’m tired. I was working all last night, remember?”
Brendon rolled his eyes, nudging him again. “Yeah, yeah, rockstar life, so exhausting, super busy. But come on, what else are we gonna do? Sit in here all day? You’ll get a coffee first, I promise.”
Ryan exhaled, thinking about it. “Coffee first?”
Brendon nodded eagerly.
Ryan stretched, sighing dramatically. “Fine. But if I don’t get a good coffee, I’m blaming you.”
Brendon beamed, hopping up. “Deal. Now get your ass out of bed, we have a fun day to start!”
The morning air outside was crisp, carrying the scent of damp pavement and fresh bread from a nearby bakery. Ryan shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket, still shaking off the last bits of sleep, while Brendon practically bounced beside him.
The coffee shop Brendon had found was one of those cozy, hipster spots tucked into a row of colorful buildings, the kind with mismatched furniture and a hand-written menu above the counter. The door chimed as they walked in, the rich scent of espresso hitting Ryan immediately.
Brendon was already scanning the options, mumbling to himself. “Ooh, they have cinnamon oat lattes. That sounds yummy.”
Ryan barely glanced at the menu. “Black coffee.”
Brendon shot him a look. “You’re so boring.”
Ryan shrugged. “I like what I like.”
They ordered and waited by the counter, the warmth of the shop a welcome contrast to the cool San Francisco morning. Ryan’s fingers curled around his cup the second it was handed to him, savoring the heat. He took a sip, sighing at the first hit of caffeine.
Brendon, meanwhile, took one sip of his latte and lit up. “Okay, I was right. This is amazing.” He pushed the cup toward Ryan. “Try it.”
Ryan eyed it suspiciously. “I don’t know, man. Cinnamon oat sounds kind of—”
“Just try it.” Brendon all but shoved the cup into his hands.
Ryan took a small sip. It wasn’t bad. Smooth, a little sweet, the cinnamon just strong enough to be noticeable. He licked his lips, considering. “…Alright. That’s decent.”
Brendon grinned like he’d won something. “Told you.”
They stepped back outside, and Ryan was just about to suggest finding a bench to sit and drink when Brendon gasped.
“Oh my god.”
Ryan followed his gaze and immediately saw what had stolen Brendon’s attention—a woman standing nearby with two tiny Pomeranians, both fluffy and well-groomed, their tails wagging enthusiastically as they surveyed their surroundings.
Brendon clutched Ryan’s sleeve. “We have to say hi.”
Ryan huffed a quiet laugh but let Brendon drag him over.
“Excuse me,” Brendon said, practically vibrating. “Your dogs are adorable. Can we pet them?”
The woman smiled. “Of course! They love the attention.”
Brendon crouched immediately, hands outstretched as the dogs trotted up to him, sniffing curiously before one of them licked his fingers. “Oh my god, you’re perfect,” Brendon cooed, scratching behind its ears.
Ryan took a sip of his coffee, watching as Brendon melted into a pile of joy over two tiny dogs. He wasn’t immune to their charm, though, and when the second Pomeranian pawed at his shoe, he crouched down too, giving it a gentle scratch behind the ears.
Brendon beamed at him. “See? This is already the best day ever.”
Ryan rolled his eyes but couldn’t fight the small smile tugging at his lips. “We’ve been outside for ten minutes.”
“Exactly.” Brendon gave the dog one last pat before standing. “Alright. Caffeine? Check. Now, let’s go explore.”
Ryan sighed, shaking his head as he stood, too. “Lead the way, then.”
Brendon did just that, and with coffee in hand and the city stretching out around them, Ryan figured maybe today wouldn’t be so bad after all.
The walk to Golden Gate Park was short but felt like a breath of fresh air—literally. The city buzzed just beyond the park’s borders, but as they passed through the entrance, the noise started to fade, replaced by the peaceful sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls.
Ryan couldn’t help but take a deep breath. The air was cool but soft, and the scent of earth and grass lingered in the breeze. The park was sprawling—acres of greenery, shaded paths, and scattered benches, with people jogging, walking their dogs, or just lounging under the trees.
Brendon looked like he had just stepped into some kind of paradise, his eyes wide with excitement. “Dude, look at this place. It’s perfect.”
Ryan gave him a half-hearted smile, still sipping his coffee. “Yeah, it’s nice. Kind of a change of pace from all the noise.”
Brendon skipped ahead, his sneakers scuffing against the gravel path. “That’s the point! I’m so tired of city noise. You know what I mean?”
Ryan nodded absently, but a small part of him was still focused on the fact that Brendon had somehow talked him into this. Normally, he’d be inside, still half-asleep, nursing a cup of coffee and scrolling through his phone. But this? This felt like an adventure. And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to get into it.
They passed a couple of people sitting on the grass, reading books or chatting, and Ryan took a moment to glance around. The park stretched out in all directions—wide meadows, groups of trees scattered here and there, and the occasional fountain or sculpture. In the distance, he could see the edge of a pond, the water sparkling in the early sunlight.
His feet slowed as he took it all in. A part of him hadn’t realized how much he missed being outdoors, away from the artificial hum of tour life. The city’s energy had always been his thing, but something about the calm of this place made him realize how badly he needed a break.
Brendon, of course, had already darted ahead, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I want to go over there! Check out the pond!”
Ryan nodded, following him with a slight smile. “Yeah, let’s see if I can finally teach you how to skip rocks.”
Brendon looked over his shoulder, feigning shock. “You can skip rocks? What else do I not know about you?”
Ryan grinned, shaking his head.
They reached the pond, where the water reflected the clear sky and the distant trees, a few ripples dancing across the surface as ducks glided lazily by. The spot was tranquil, the kind of place that made you forget about everything else—work, stress, the city life waiting just outside the park’s gates.
Ryan grabbed a smooth rock from the edge, turning it over in his hand. “Okay, here’s the deal. I’m going to teach you how it’s done, and you’re going to stop embarrassing everyone with your rock-skipping skills.”
Brendon raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. “Oh, you really think you can teach me?”
Ryan smirked, lining up the rock in his hand. “Watch and learn.”
He flicked his wrist expertly, sending the stone skipping across the surface of the water with a satisfying series of skips. Ryan watched it glide before sinking beneath the surface with a soft plunk.
Brendon clapped sarcastically. “Wow, you’re amazing.”
Ryan chuckled. “I know, I’m basically a rock-skipper pro.”
Brendon just stared at him, shaking his head with a playful grin. “Okay, okay. Show me how to do it then.”
Ryan handed him another stone, positioning Brendon’s hand. “Okay, first you need to hold it like this—flat, not too tight. Now, flick your wrist like you’re trying to throw it, but just barely. You want it to skim.”
Brendon nodded, a little too enthusiastically. He took the stone, winding up dramatically like he was about to throw it through a hoop.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Okay, now you're just showing off.”
Brendon ignored him and let the rock fly. It plopped into the water with no skips, no finesse—just a sad little splash.
Ryan fought a laugh. “It’s not a baseball, dude.”
Brendon rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up. “It’s harder than it looks.”
Ryan stepped closer, his hand brushing Brendon’s. He adjusted Brendon’s wrist slightly, guiding him to the right angle. “Let me help you out here.”
Brendon’s breath hitched just slightly, but he didn’t pull away. Ryan focused on the movement of Brendon’s hand, guiding it softly with his own.
“There,” Ryan said softly, his voice a little quieter than before. “Now try.”
Brendon took the stone again, this time following Ryan’s instructions. He flicked his wrist, and the rock skipped—just once, but still.
Brendon’s eyes lit up. “Holy shit, it worked!”
Ryan grinned, his heart a little faster than it should be. “Told you. Not that hard.”
Brendon looked at him, still holding the stone. “Dude, I owe you one for this. You’re officially the rock-skipping mentor.”
Ryan chuckled. “Anytime.”
There was a pause as Brendon’s gaze lingered a little longer than usual, like he was trying to read something in Ryan’s expression. Ryan blinked, realizing how close they were standing, their hands still nearly touching. Brendon’s smile softened, and it felt like the air around them had just shifted, even if only for a moment.
Ryan laughed lightly, feeling slightly embarrassed, but also relieved that Brendon seemed just as awkward as he was.
Ryan turned, scanning the park for something else to do, but Brendon caught his arm and pointed ahead. “Hey, what about that tree over there? Bet I could totally climb that.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow, watching Brendon already sizing it up. “You’ve got a thing for heights, huh?”
Brendon grinned, his excitement building again. “Just wait. I’ll show you.”
Ryan’s brow furrowed. “You sure about that?”
Brendon was already sizing it up, running over to the trunk and eyeing the low branches. “Come on, have some faith in me.”
Ryan bit back a smile. “You’re gonna break something.”
But Brendon had already started climbing, pulling himself up with ease, his feet scrambling for purchase. He made it a few feet off the ground before his hand slipped, and he teetered dangerously, arms flailing for balance.
Ryan’s heart skipped a beat. “Hey, be careful!”
Brendon’s eyes widened, but before he could fall, he managed to steady himself and drop back to the ground with a soft thud.
There was a small pause.
“Okay, okay, I’ll admit defeat,” Brendon laughed, brushing dirt from his jeans.
Ryan let out a relieved breath. “You’re lucky you didn’t break something.”
Brendon just grinned, clearly undeterred. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll save the tree climbing for next time.”
Ryan shook his head, chuckling softly. Despite the near-fall, it had been kind of cute. In a reckless, Brendon kind of way. Brendon had that way of getting people to go along with whatever idea he had, even if it was borderline ridiculous.
They eventually made their way out of the park’s winding paths and toward a small food stand near the entrance. The smell of freshly made street food—hot dogs, pretzels, and sweet waffle cones—wafted through the air, making Ryan’s stomach growl louder than he realized. Brendon, on the other hand, was already eyeing the brightly colored ice cream cart that stood at the end of the line.
"Are you seriously getting ice cream in this weather?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow as Brendon skipped ahead, already pulling out his wallet.
Brendon grinned. “What’s wrong with ice cream? Plus, we’re on vacation. I’m indulging.”
Ryan shook his head, laughing, though it was obvious he wasn’t against the idea of a little treat himself. “I’m getting something more practical. You know, like real food.”
Brendon gave him an exaggerated, mock-disappointed look. “Boring.”
Ryan rolled his eyes but stood in line behind him anyway, ordering a hot dog with mustard, his usual when he wasn’t in the mood for anything fancy. He could already feel the warm, salty food filling a void in him, one he hadn’t realized was there. Brendon paid for his ice cream, a huge cone stacked high with chocolate and vanilla swirls, and then handed over a couple of bills to Ryan with a mischievous grin.
“Don’t say I never treat you.”
Ryan gave him a dry look. “Sure. Treat me to some overpriced sugar.”
As they waited for their food, they stood off to the side, watching the crowd around them. A young mom, pushing a stroller with a small baby inside, stood ahead of them in line. The baby was content, staring up at the world with wide, curious eyes. Brendon, always the extrovert, couldn’t help but wave at the baby with a friendly smile.
“Hi baby!” he called out, his voice light and playful. “You enjoying the sunshine?”
The baby blinked, eyes growing wide as it looked at Brendon, and the mother gave them a smile as she adjusted the stroller. Brendon then nudged Ryan with his elbow, grinning. “Come on, give it a try. Wave at the baby.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Uh, why?”
“Because it’s cute and fun! Just do it,” Brendon insisted, nudging him again, this time a little harder.
Ryan sighed, rolling his eyes but giving in. He half-heartedly raised his hand in a little wave, just as Brendon had done.
As soon as Ryan’s hand went up, the baby suddenly let out a loud, shrill cry. It wasn’t a soft, gentle sob either—it was a full-on wail, making the mother freeze for a second and shoot them an apologetic look.
Brendon blinked, clearly taken aback. “Well, that’s... not what I expected at all.”
Ryan immediately dropped his hand, trying not to laugh, though his shoulders were shaking. “What the hell, man? You’re the one who told me to do it!”
“I swear,” Brendon said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “She was fine when I waved. Maybe you’re just doing too much.”
Ryan snorted, glancing at the mom, who was now trying to calm the baby down, looking embarrassed but also kind-hearted about it. “I think that baby actually might have a thing against me.”
“Looks like it. She doesn’t appreciate your kindness,” Brendon teased, trying—and failing—to stifle a laugh. “I guess I’ll have to teach you how to wave to babies properly.”
“Yeah, I think it’s you who’s got the secret baby whisperer skills,” Ryan shot back with a smirk.
The mom, now calming the baby with soft coos, gave them both a polite, apologetic smile. “I’m really sorry,” she said, her voice laced with a nervous laugh. “She’s just a little unpredictable sometimes.”
Ryan, trying to be the polite one, waved it off with a smile.
Brendon smiled at the baby once more before returning to the food stand to grab their order. He couldn’t stop giggling to himself. “I swear, man, that might be the best thing that’s happened today.”
Ryan just shook his head. “Definitely not.”
Once they had their food, they moved to the nearby park bench under a large oak tree, both of them trying to stifle their laughter. They settled on the bench, Brendon instantly digging into his ice cream. Ryan unwrapped his hot dog, biting into it and savoring the savory warmth of it. The park felt even more peaceful now that they had found a spot to rest—sunlight filtered through the leaves above, creating dappled patterns on the ground below, and the sounds of the city were now just a soft hum in the background.
“You know,” Brendon said between bites of ice cream, “Maybe you had a bad look on your face for the baby to react that way.”
Ryan looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “I wasn’t trying to. Maybe that baby’s got her own issues with me.”
Brendon smirked, teasing, “Maybe.”
Ryan rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling at Brendon’s antics. “Let’s just eat before you get us kicked out for offending every child in the park.”
Brendon grinned. “Hey, I’m the innocent one here.”
Ryan’s eyes glinted with humor. “Right. Just remember that when the next baby starts crying.”
Ryan leaned back on the bench, feeling the weight of the day sink into his shoulders. As he reached for his soda, Brendon took a small, innocent bite of his hot dog without warning.
“Hey!” Ryan shot him an incredulous look, grabbing the food back. “That’s mine!”
Brendon grinned mischievously, holding his ice cream cone in one hand and balancing it expertly with his other hand reaching back for another bite of Ryan’s food. “You weren’t going to finish it, right? I’m just helping.”
Ryan frowned, dramatically holding the hot dog away from him. “You’ve got ice cream! How much more sugar do you need?”
Brendon rolled his eyes, licking his ice cream with exaggerated slowness. “It’s not my fault you didn’t get anything sweet. But fine, I’ll trade.”
He leaned forward and offered Ryan a bit of his ice cream cone with an exaggerated flourish. Ryan eyed it suspiciously.
“I’m not trading my hot dog for a couple of bites of sugar.”
Brendon’s smile widened. “Oh come on, you know you want it.”
Ryan, trying to act mad, narrowed his eyes, then took the ice cream, biting into it anyway. “You're lucky it’s good.”
Brendon laughed and shoved his hands in his pockets, leaning back into the bench. “You know, for someone who’s supposed to be the responsible one, you sure are a softy.”
Ryan rolled his eyes, finally sitting back. “Just don’t eat all my food, okay? Next time I’m eating your ice cream.”
Brendon just smirked. “I think you’ve got a sweet tooth, huh?”
Ryan grinned. “Maybe I do.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the people stroll by. Kids ran past, their laughter echoing through the air. A few couples walked hand in hand, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. The world was slow here, like time itself had decided to pause for just a little while.
Brendon, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold, turned to Ryan, his face softening. “Hey, I’m really glad we did this. It’s been a while since we just hung out in a place like this, y’know?”
Ryan’s smile softened in return. “Yeah, I’m glad too. I think we need to do stuff like this more often.”
Brendon leaned his shoulder lightly against Ryan’s, a playful smirk on his lips. “Does that mean I get to pick the next adventure?”
Ryan nudged him back. “We’ll see, Mr. Ice Cream Stealer.”
Brendon chuckled, looking out over the park. “Deal.”
Ryan leaned back against the park bench, the soft rustle of leaves above them providing a gentle soundtrack to their conversation. Brendon was finishing the last of his ice cream, glancing up at Ryan between bites, his eyes bright as always, but now carrying an undertone of curiosity.
“You know,” Brendon said, licking his cone slowly, “this is nice. Being here. It kind of reminds me of when I was a kid. I used to come to places like this with my mom.”
Ryan turned to him, giving a small nod as he took another bite of his hot dog. “Yeah? What was that like?”
Brendon paused for a moment, a faraway look in his eyes. “I think the one that stands out the most was this one day. I couldn’t have been older than five or six. We went to this park by a lake. I remember it was sunny, but there was this cool breeze in the air. My mom got me this big cone of ice cream—it was chocolate and vanilla swirls, kinda like this. And we sat by this big fountain, just eating our ice cream and watching the birds.”
Ryan smiled softly, his gaze softening as he listened. He could picture it in his mind: Brendon as a kid, sitting there with his mom, their laughter mingling with the peaceful sounds of the park. There was something so comforting about the image. “That sounds pretty perfect.”
“It was,” Brendon said, his voice warm, like he was still there in that moment. “Afterward, we fed the ducks. I remember my mom laughing because I was so insistent about giving them all my ice cream cone. She said they’d get a stomach ache, but I didn’t care. I was just so caught up in the moment.”
Ryan chuckled, trying to imagine little Brendon, big eyes full of innocence, sharing his ice cream with ducks. The thought was endearing, and it made him feel more connected to Brendon than he had before.
“That does sound like a day you’ll never forget,” Ryan said, his voice thoughtful. He couldn’t help but smile at the image Brendon had painted in his mind.
Brendon nodded, his smile a little wistful now. “Yeah, I think it’s one of the best memories I have with her. The simplicity of it, you know? Just the ice cream and the birds, and her laughing. I remember feeling so happy.”
Ryan took another bite of his hot dog, chewing slowly as he mulled over Brendon’s words. It was easy to picture it all, and it was strange how even though Ryan had never met Brendon’s mom, he felt like he understood her, just from hearing about that one moment. There was something so comforting in the way Brendon shared that memory.
“Did you ever come back to that park?” Ryan asked, his voice quiet.
“Yeah,” Brendon replied. “But it wasn’t the same. I think that was a day where I realized that some things only happen once and can’t really be recreated. I was a little sad, but it’s also kind of beautiful in its own way.”
Ryan let the thought sink in. It was something he understood all too well—those fleeting moments that felt like they would last forever, but only in the context of the memory.
“I get that,” Ryan said after a moment, his gaze turning toward the pond they’d passed earlier, watching the sunlight shimmer on the water. “I didn’t really go to parks much when I was younger. But when I was a teenager, I used to come to places like this to clear my head. I’d bring my guitar sometimes, just sit on a bench and play for anyone who’d listen.”
Brendon looked at him, intrigued. “You played for people? Like, street performing?”
Ryan nodded, a slight flush creeping up his neck at the memory. “Yeah. I wasn’t great or anything, but I liked the idea of playing for the people who passed by. Some of them would stop and listen, others wouldn’t even glance my way, but it didn’t matter. I think I did it more for myself than anything. To feel like I was part of something, even if it was just for a moment.”
He felt the weight of that old memory, and for a moment, he was back in those years—sitting on park benches with his guitar, trying to find his place in the world.
“That’s really corny, Ryan,” Brendon said with a teasing smirk, nudging him with his shoulder.
Ryan rolled his eyes. “It’s not corny.”
“Oh, it totally is,” Brendon insisted, but there was a light in his eyes. “I mean, come on. Sitting in a park, playing for the locals? It sounds like a movie or something.”
Ryan huffed, trying to sound annoyed, though the smile tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed him. “It wasn’t a movie, it was real life. Just me, my guitar, and the occasional tip from a passing tourist.”
Brendon grinned at him. “I still think it’s kind of corny.”
Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, of course you would.”
Brendon’s grin softened, his eyes lingering on Ryan for a moment longer. “No, but seriously though,” he said, his tone quieter now. “I think it’s really sweet. I like that it meant something like that to you. That you had something so personal, something that helped you make sense of things.”
Ryan blinked, surprised at the sudden sincerity in Brendon’s voice. His heart gave a little lurch at the way Brendon was looking at him, and for a brief moment, he felt vulnerable, like Brendon had just cracked open a door to something he hadn’t expected to share.
“You’re not gonna make fun of me for being corny again, are you?” Ryan teased, trying to deflect the sudden warmth spreading in his chest.
Brendon’s smile was soft, but his eyes were full of something deeper. “Not at all. Again, I think it’s actually really... sweet.”
Ryan didn’t know what to say, so he just smiled back, their gazes lingering for a moment. The park around them seemed to fade away as they sat there, lost in their own little world. Finally, unable to help himself, Ryan leaned in, his hand gently cupping Brendon’s cheek as he kissed him softly.
Brendon kissed him back, slow and warm, the kind of kiss that felt right in this moment.
When they pulled away, they both stayed close, breathing in the quiet of the park.
“This was really nice,” Ryan whispered, his voice still hushed from the kiss.
Brendon smiled, eyes still half-closed. “Yeah, it was. Best day ever.”
They sat there for a while longer, letting the moment stretch between them, both of them content in a way they hadn’t expected when the day began.
The hotel room was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant sounds of the city outside. After a long day in the park, Ryan and Brendon were both grateful to be back in the comfort of their hotel, though neither was quite ready to end the day just yet.
Brendon tossed his shoes into the corner, then pulled off his hoodie, leaving it in a heap on the floor. “I think I’m ready to sleep for a week now,” he muttered, stretching his arms above his head and yawning dramatically.
Ryan smiled as he peeled off his jeans and threw on a pair of soft sweatpants. “Yeah, I feel that. But I’m also kinda sad today is over. Today was really nice and pretty much perfect.”
Brendon nodded in agreement, reaching for the remote on the bedside table. “It really was,” he said softly. “I had so much fun today. I’m glad I dragged you out of bed.”
Ryan smirked, pulling the covers back. “Yeah, yeah. I owe you one for that.”
The two climbed into bed, the sheets cool against their skin. Ryan flopped onto his back, turning his head toward the TV. Brendon did the same, settling into the pillows with a contented sigh.
As Brendon flipped through the channels absentmindedly, the sounds of the city filtered through the window, distant but familiar. There was a warmth in the air between them, the kind that came from sharing a good day together, and it wrapped around them like a cozy blanket.
Ryan glanced over, his eyes soft as he watched Brendon fidget with the remote. “You know,” he said, breaking the comfortable silence, “I don’t think I’ve had a day like that in a long time. It was just... nice. No expectations, just us doing whatever we wanted. It felt really good.”
Brendon paused, his fingers stilling on the remote as he turned to look at Ryan. “Yeah,” he agreed. “I mean, it wasn’t anything crazy, but I think that’s what made it so great. It was simple, but we made the most of it.”
Ryan smiled, his heart warm at Brendon’s words. “Yeah. We really did.” He turned to face him fully, propping his head up on his hand. “Thanks for suggesting the park, B. I needed that. More than I realized.”
Brendon grinned, his eyes lighting up. “I’m glad you had fun. And hey, you weren’t that grumpy about it.” He raised an eyebrow, teasing.
Ryan rolled his eyes, though his smile never wavered. “I’m pretty sure I was, but whatever. You got me out there, so credit to you.”
They both laughed, the sound of it easing into the quiet of the room. For a moment, they just lay there, side by side, neither of them rushing to fill the silence.
“I don’t think I’ve had a day like that in a while, either,” Brendon said, his voice quieter now, almost like he was talking to himself. “You know, just... with someone who really gets it. Who doesn’t care if you’re being cheesy or dumb. Just... being there.”
Ryan’s heart gave a little skip at the vulnerability in Brendon’s voice. He didn’t always know how to respond to moments like this, but he was learning. “Yeah,” Ryan said gently, his voice softening. “I get it. It’s nice when you don’t have to put on a show, huh?”
Brendon chuckled, though there was a tenderness in his eyes that Ryan hadn’t expected. “Exactly. And today felt like we didn’t have to be anything other than... us. No pressure.”
Ryan nodded, the weight of Brendon’s words settling over him. “I like that. I like being with you, just... us.”
Brendon’s gaze softened, a quiet smile spreading across his face. “Me too. Thanks for today, Ryan. It was... everything I needed.”
Ryan’s heart melted at that, and without thinking, he reached over, placing a hand on Brendon’s. “Thank you for making me go with you. I needed that more than you know.”
They shared a small, sweet moment of silence before Ryan sighed contentedly, glancing at the TV again. “Alright, I think It’s time to sleep.”
Brendon laughed, his voice drowsy. “Yeah, I’m about to crash.”
Ryan settled back into the pillows, closing his eyes with a small smile. “Goodnight, B.”
“Goodnight, Ry.”
They turned the lamp next to the bed off, the soft sound of the city filling the background, and they both drifted into sleep, the peaceful feeling of the day lingering between them.