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Go home go home go home go home go home, buzzed Ryland Grace’s brain as he powerwalked from the conference center to his hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, trying his absolute hardest not to cry in public. He could hold back the angry tears until he made it to his room but only just. Only just.
He couldn’t stay here and be ridiculed any further. He needed to get out, back to the safety of his barebones apartment in Los Angeles. He needed the California beach sea breeze, the warmth of the sun as it streamed through his window. There was something rotten in the state of Denmark and it was this fucking UNESCO conference and that “staggering waste of carbon” claiming to be a microbiologist and he just wanted to get out and get home.
Ryland wadded up his clothes and threw them in his suitcase, then angrily sagged on the bed. He pulled at his hair in frustration and let a few tears fall. He scrubbed his eyes, then pulled up his airline reservation on his smartphone and scrolled to see if there was any way he could move up his return flight to Los Angeles. Thankfully, it wouldn’t be too hideously expensive to make that happen (god bless his airline miles credit card) and he could get out in the next two hours. He finished repacking his suitcase, then loaded up his carryon backpack and headed to the lobby to check out of the hotel.
Was it so impossible to stand by what he believed, to defend his life’s work, his fucking doctoral dissertation? He was Doctor Ryland Grace for a reason! Who were they to ridicule and criticize him, just for pushing back on established ideas? For pursuing something new? How dare they? How fucking dare they?
Ryland thanked the front desk concierge profusely for letting him check out two days early at no extra charge (thankfully, UCLA had paid his lodging expenses for this conference so it was no loss for him), then hailed an Uber and headed for Copenhagen Kastrup International Airport. Once there, he dropped off his suitcase, drifted through security, and got to his gate.
Ryland did not love flying as a rule but, the situation being what and where it was, he had no choice. At least it was a direct flight, so no layovers. Small mercies. Oh, and one better - somehow, he got a whole row to himself so he could stretch out during the flight! As a matter of fact, the plane wasn’t very full so he could freak out in peace breathe a little easier while being trapped in a flying metal tube for the next 11 hours.
During the flight, Ryland drifted in and out of sleep. Despite having more room to lay his lanky legs, it still wasn’t the most comfortable situation. He was a nervous flyer at minimum and he had forgotten to take his usual pre-flight anti-anxiety medication, so he powered through as best he could. He sipped at water and weak coffee, nibbled on Biscoff cookies. He scrolled through the Delta streaming library and eventually settled on a Tom Ryder movie from a couple of years ago, on the off chance that he’d spot his twin brother Colt’s face in one of the more intense stunts.
Ryland smiled wistfully at the thought of Colt. They hadn’t physically been together for a few years because of their respective work schedules, specifically how often Colt needed to travel for stunt work, as well as his recovery after his back injury. He decided that he’d call his brother when he landed at LAX and see if he wanted to grab dinner or something, since he now had the rest of Spring Break free. That sounded nice.
The overhead audio system announced that they were beginning their descent into Los Angeles. Ryland sighed deeply and stretched, eager to get back on solid ground. He could already imagine the softness of his bed. He pondered running his blankets through the laundry to warm them up and make them extra cozy.
Once he landed and got through Customs and Immigration - a thankfully easy process, as he had acquired nothing of value in Copenhagen but a deeply bruised ego - Ryland made his way to the LA Metro station. He turned his phone off of airplane mode, nearly forgetting to do so with the ease of his airport experience.
His phone buzzed to life with a voicemail from an unlabeled number, although the area and central office codes looked familiar. Ah, that was a UCLA number. He gulped, and let the message play.
Hello Dr. Grace, this is Dean Ramirez from the UCLA College of Science and Mathematics. This message is in regards to your uncalled-for behavior at the UNESCO conference yesterday. Effective immediately, your postdoctoral research position has been terminated and your funding guarantors are being contacted to retract any future payments. Please come to clear out your office space by the end of the month or there will be a $500 cleaning fee billed to you. Thank you, goodbye.
Well. Shit. All of that good fortune in transit just went up in flames, didn’t it?
Your postdoctoral research position has been terminated. Your postdoctoral research position has been terminated. Your postdoctoral research position has been terminated.
Now it could be an extended Spring Break. Very extended, open-ended.
Ryland took a deep, shuddering breath as he felt the tears start dripping from his eyes. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to laugh or to sob. Possibly both. Possibly neither. Either way, he pulled into the nearest bathroom stall so he would be away from prying eyes. He shuddered as he let out a quiet “Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck meeeeeeeeee.”
After a few more minutes, he stood on wobbly legs and decided that he felt okay enough to start trekking back to his apartment. Better to go home, sleep this off, and then decide on a plan of attack.
Wait, his apartment. Oh fuck, how was he going to afford rent without his stipend? How was he going to eat? What the fuck was he going — Ryland took a deep inhale through his nose and mentally declared: Nope, stop it, no more spiraling until I am out of this airport and in my pajamas at home. Enough, Ryland Grace, you are better than this. Now get moving.
Ryland got onto the LA Metro platform just in time for the train going to his neighborhood to arrive. Thankfully, the train car wasn’t too full and he could sit comfortably. He cued up the album Home by The Chicks - what could he say, it ran the exact length of time he’d need to get to his home stop and he still loved The Chicks; specifically, this album always made him feel nostalgic for middle school afternoons, doing homework at a coffee table with Colt by his side, sharing a set of Apple earbuds - and zoned out as he watched the cityscape pass by.
Unfortunately, he didn’t notice the gathering, darkening clouds, so when he got off at his stop, Ryland immediately got hit with a deluge of rain. And he hadn’t packed an umbrella. Figures. Luckily, his apartment building was only five blocks away. He sighed and trudged through the storm, avoiding as many puddles on his way as he could.
By the time he got to his fourth floor apartment door, he was soaked and shivering. He parked his suitcase and set his backpack atop it so he could have both hands available to find his keys. Uh oh, they weren’t in their usual pocket; Ryland started frantically taking things out of his bag. Oh no, what if he dropped them in Copenhagen or at LAX?! He heard footsteps at the staircase and hoped it would be someone understanding, willing to call the building supervisor or a locksmith. Wait, was that jingling he heard too?
“Hey, did someone drop their keys?” asked a voice, one that sounded a bit familiar. “I found these about 2 floors down on the stairs so I hope - wait, Ryland!? Oh my god, is that you?”
Ryland turned and looked in the surprised face of his twin brother, Colt. He was balancing a couple of grocery bags on his left arm and holding out a set of keys. He pulled down the hood of his jacket and shook out his dishwater blond hair. “H-hey Colt,” Ryland shakily replied, “what brings you here?”
Colt set his bags on the welcome mat across from Ryland’s apartment. “Just needed a few things from the store.” He crossed the hallway and pulled his twin into a bear hug. “Bud, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I moved in but I genuinely forgot this was your building when Jody and I signed the lease. We wanted something a little out of the way from work, ya know?” Colt chuckled softly, then noticed how Ryland’s hands were shaking as he gripped the back of his jacket and how quickly he was breathing. “Hey whoa hey, what’s happening? Everything okay, Ry? How was your conference?”
Ryland buried his face in the crook of Colt’s neck and shook his head as he tried not to cry for the third time in the last twenty-four hours. He really tried, but everything came crashing in on him and he couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “Colt, I’ve missed you so much, I’m s-sorry, I can’t - I can’t stop -” Ryland sobbed with a great wail, and that was all he managed to say. Ryland cried and cried, and Colt held him as he did so.
“Shhhhhh hey, Ry, you’re okay,” Colt crooned, starting to gently sway back and forth with his twin in his arms. “It’s okay, baby brother, I’m right here, shhhhh. I’ve got you.” He traced little patterns on Ryland’s back and shoulders, keeping his arms just the right amount of tightness. He didn’t ask any more questions, just letting his brother cry himself out.
When Ryland had reduced down to a few stray hiccups and sniffles, he pulled away from Colt’s shoulder. He gave his brother a watery smile and said, “You’re only 14 minutes and 52 seconds older than me, Colt, that hardly counts enough for me to be your baby brother.”
“Nope, sticking with it,” Colt replied with a smug smile on his face. The brothers laughed and Ryland wiped at his eyes as a few stray tears dripped down his cheeks. Colt cradled his brother’s face in his hands and continued, “Hey, do you wanna come over for dinner? We can call it a housewarming and you can meet Jody.”
Ryland instinctively nodded, then paused with a deer-in-the-headlights look and said, “W-wait, I don’t want to impose on -”
“No way, we made plenty of food,” Colt interrupted. “‘Sides, I get the feeling you shouldn’t really be alone tonight. Come on, Ry, please? When was the last time we even had a drink together?”
True. Between Colt’s stunt work and healing after his surgery, plus Ryland’s research and teaching schedules, it had been a long while. Not even last Thanksgiving or Christmas, yikes. Ryland sighed, then replied, “Yeah, you’re right. It has been a minute.” He sniffed at the air, picking up the scents of garlic and tomatoes, and he noticed a bag of bread sticking out of one of Colt’s grocery bags. “Something Italian, I’m guessing?”
“Jody makes a mean tortellini soup,” Colt replied with a grin, “just the thing for a chilly spring day. She sent me out for one of those take-and-bake garlic bread loaves and a few other things.”
Ryland’s stomach grumbled in response, reminding him how little he’d actually eaten while he’d traveled back here. He put a hand to his torso and said, “Alright, but at least let me drop off my luggage.” He took his apartment keys from Colt’s outstretched hand, then quickly opened his door, set his suitcase and backpack in the entryway, and hung his wet jacket on his coat hook. He pulled his cardigan around himself as he shivered with the lingering dampness. He locked his door back up and rejoined Colt, picking up one of the two grocery bags as his brother unlocked his apartment. What were the odds that Colt forgot he lived here but still got the spot right across the hall?
Colt opened the door and toed off his shoes as he set down his grocery bag, Ryland doing the same. “Jo, I’m back,” Colt called into the living space.
Out from the kitchen came a blonde woman, wiping her hands on a red and white apron that read Kiss The Cook. “Everything alright, darling?” she asked. “I heard crying and I thought - oh, who do we have here?”
“Jody Moreno, meet my twin brother, Doctor Ryland Grace,” Colt introduced. Ryland gave the woman a smile and her face lit up with recognition. “I totally forgot he lives here when I found this place, he’s right across the hall from us!”
“Oh, so this is the smart one!” she exclaimed, gently swatting Colt’s arm as she came closer to the twins. “Hello, Ryland, so lovely to meet you in person!”
“Hi Jody, nice to meet you too,” Ryland replied, smiling shyly at her. “Colt’s talked about you a lot.”
“All good things, I hope.” Jody smiled and pulled Ryland in for a hug, kissing him on the cheek. She gasped and said, “My goodness, how far did you walk to get so wet?” She stood on her tiptoes and placed the back of her hand to his forehead, checking for a fever. Ryland nearly melted at her touch, huffing out a sigh. “Oh, you poor thing, and you’re shivering too! And that must have been you out there - oh, sweetheart, what a day you must have had!” She gently tugged his arms out of his cardigan sleeves, then set said cardigan by the roaring fireplace. “Colt, dear, your poor brother is sopping wet after being out in that storm. I drew a bath that I meant for your back, but would you mind terribly if Ryland went and had a soak before dinner?”
“What? No, no, Jody, that’s really not necessary, I’m fine,” Ryland spluttered, then sneezed.
“Ry, it’s totally fine,” Colt reassured him. “You go get warm while we finish making dinner, hm?” He fished the keys out of Ryland’s cardigan pocket. “Better yet, how about I go get you some comfy clothes to change into when you’re done soaking?”
Ryland tried to refuse but sneezed again and replied sheepishly, “Yeah, okay. Thank you both, that’s super nice of you.”
“No trouble at all, Ryland,” said Jody, gently holding him by the shoulders. “I bet the layout of this place is a mirror of yours, can you find your way to the bathroom alright?” At Ryland’s nod, she added, “Perfect. Dinner’s probably about fifteen to twenty minutes out, just enough time for you to chase those nasty chills away. Off you go, then!” She and Colt retreated to the kitchen to take care of their groceries.
Ryland took off his wet socks, then shuffled his way down the hall to the bathroom. Thankfully, Jody was right and it was a similar layout to his own apartment. He found a bathtub filled with warm water, framed by several lit candles. Sandalwood and mahogany, balmy gentle scents. Ryland felt a little guilty for co-opting the bath that had clearly been meant for Colt, but he was also grateful for the warmth of the water and of Jody and his twin.
Ryland stripped out of his wet clothes and placed them in the laundry hamper in the bathroom, then took off his glasses and set them on the vanity. He stepped in and lowered himself down into the bath water. It was just the right temperature and the tub itself was just the right size for him to comfortably sink into it without having to bend his knees or anything. He thought Jody might have added epsom salts to the mix, as he could already feel his muscles relaxing even more than they would with just hot water. Even with getting to stretch out across a full row, his lower back was not happy with having been in airplane seats for 11 hours so the heat felt wonderful. Ryland exhaled deeply and closed his eyes, resting the back of his neck on a small pillow. Ahhhhhhhh that’s the stuff. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken an actual bath but he might have to start making them a regular thing after this. He inhaled, then exhaled, letting his mind drift as the warmth of the water soothed his tired, cold limbs.
Soon, there came a soft knock on the bathroom door. Ryland muttered for the person to come in, and Colt entered the space, carrying a fresh set of clothes.
“Hey Ry, how’re ya feelin’?” Colt asked, taking in the sight of his brother before him with a smile. He knelt at the side of the tub.
“Not gonna lie, I could easily fall asleep right here if you left me to it,” Ryland replied softly. “Haven’t been this relaxed in a looooooong time.” He gave a thumbs up to Colt, then let his hand drift back underwater.
Colt chuckled softly. “No doubt, bud, no doubt.” He rolled up his sleeve and put his arm in the water just past his wrist, sighing at the warmth. “Ahhhh, Jody made a good bath, nice.”
“Sorry, I know this was supposed to be for you,” Ryland mumbled.
Colt shushed him. “No, no need to apologize. Jo saw you coming into our place looking like a sad, wet cat and made a decision. ‘Sides, I can always take a bath later.” He reached in and grasped Ryland’s hand, thumb stroking the inside of his brother’s wrist. Ryland melted even further at the gentle touch. “I’m just glad you’re here, Ry. I’ve missed you.”
“Me too, Colt.”
After a few minutes of the twins quietly enjoying the cozy bath vibes, Colt stood and stretched his back, then offered a hand to Ryland while reaching for a towel with the other hand. Slowly, Ryland stood and got out of the bathtub with his brother’s guidance. Colt draped the towel over his head and began gently drying him off, eventually passing over the towel as he neared more intimate spaces.
“Come on out when you’re all dressed, okay?” Colt said as he left the bathroom. Ryland nodded and continued drying himself off, then slipped on a fresh set of boxers, navy blue sweatpants, a plain white tee-shirt and socks, and a worn golden yellow hoodie with UCLA on the chest. The clothes held a lingering warmth to them - perhaps Colt had set them by the fire before bringing them to him? He smiled sadly at the logo on the hoodie when he saw his reflection in the bathroom mirror, but put it out of mind as he padded back out to the living room.
Ryland sat on the couch, sighing contentedly as he listened to the fireplace roar. He curled his legs inward, trying to contain the warmth of his clothes and the space in his body.
Jody came out from the kitchen and gently draped a nearby throw blanket over Ryland’s lap. “Feeling better, Ryland?” she asked, cupping one of his cheeks in her hand. Ryland nuzzled into her touch. Definitely not beating those wet cat allegations, am I?
“Much,” he replied, “thank you, Jody.”
“You’re welcome, honey, any time. Are you ready for dinner? We’ll come sit with you out here so you don’t have to move.” As she spoke, out came Colt with a dining tray loaded with dishes. Ryland shifted into a seated position and they all tucked into the warm soup and bread.
As they ate, Ryland asked about Jody and Colt’s relationship - or rather, how they had rekindled it, since Colt’s injury put a hard halt on things. The two regaled him with the story of how they finished shooting Metalstorm, put Tom Ryder in his place (Ryland had never been super fond of the actor, from the times when he had visited Colt on sets), and got back together. When their tale was finished, Colt looked across the table at Jody warmly.
“I’m glad you two found each other again,” Ryland said. “And like you said, Colt, what are the odds that you a) forgot where I live and b) got the apartment right across from me?”
“Hashtag Twinning, baby bro,” replied Colt with a grin.
“Jody, he’s only older than me by 14 minutes and 52 seconds, don’t listen to him,” Ryland quipped as he sipped at the remaining broth in his bowl. Mmmmmm, good soup.
Jody giggled, “I’m an only child, I can’t relate. But seeing the two of you together, he does act like he’s just slightly older.”
“That’s because he’s got all those beefy muscles, he’s used to looking out for me,” Ryland replied fondly. “Always has been.”
“Always will be, Ry,” said Colt, reaching up to ruffle his twin’s hair. Jody cooed at them.
Ryland’s phone vibrated once, then several more times in rapid succession. He’d forgotten to turn off the silencer, so no doubt there were a few messages waiting for him.
A few was an understatement.
Marissa: omg Ry what happened?!?
@UNESCO on X: Molecular Biologist forced out at UNESCO Denmark
Huffington Post on BlueSky: UCLA Molecular Biology Professor Calls Leading Member of His Field a “Staggering Waste of Carbon”
Instagram: You have 13 new messages
Snapchat: Marissa sent you a Chat
Marissa: please tell me you’re okay
Ryland scrolled through the notifications and got paler by the moment. He was feeling fine, his belly was full, and then suddenly the reality of his situation came crashing back to him. He set his phone down and put his face in his hands, groaning, “Ohhhhhhh my fucking goddddd.”
“Whoa there, Ry, everything okay?” asked Colt. He put Ryland’s empty soup bowl on the table. “It’s rare to hear you curse like that. You never did tell me what was going on when I found you earlier? Not trying to push, but is this related to the notifications you just got?”
Ryland nodded his head minutely, then murmured, “I got fired from UCLA.”
Colt’s spoon clattered in his bowl. “What?!? Oh my god, what happened?” He moved to sit on the couch beside his brother, ready to embrace him once again.
Ryland exhaled shakily as he started to explain what happened at the UNESCO conference. “Everything went wrong. My presentation went sideways, everyone kept questioning me about my work, picking apart every little thing I said.” He could feel the tears starting to fall again, what a surprise. “No one wanted to believe in me or my research, and then Dr. Scyther - he’s the biology chair at Oxford, the bigwig in my field - called my work a staggering waste of time, resources and energy, so I turned around and called him a staggering waste of carbon.”
Colt barked out a laugh and squeezed his twin’s hand. “You always were quick with your words, Ry.”
Ryland smiled for a moment, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Too quick this time. I got forced out of the hall, I’d be shocked if some sneaky asshole didn’t record that and put it on Instagram.” He sighed and rubbed at his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache coming on. “I couldn’t stay there anymore, so I left the conference 3 days early. And then when I landed at LAX, I got a voicemail from my dean that I was fired for my behavior and my funding got cut. So now I have to get all of my shit out of my office, figure out what the hell I’m gonna do next, and find a way to afford next month’s rent and not starve.” By this point, Ryland was steadily crying again. “Colt, what am I gonna do? I’ve never had a job outside of academia, I have no trade skills, I don’t have a car, I’m fucking stuck!” Ryland tried not to swear for professionalism’s sake, but since he no longer had a job to maintain, his frustration threw that restraint out the window and let curse words flow with his tears.
Colt gathered Ryland into his arms again. “Ry, I’m so sorry. That has to feel awful, to have everything you’ve worked for be torn down and picked apart like it means nothing, and then pulled out from under you. I never wanted you to feel like that, ever.” He gently wiped away a few of his brother’s tears and held him close, tucking him under his chin. Softly, he asked Jody, “Could you get a glass of water, please? I’m worried that he’s dehydrated.”
Ryland sniffled and whispered, “I’m sorry for being such a baby and ruining your evening, Colt.”
Jody returned and sat on Ryland’s other side, guiding the cup of water into his hands. “You have nothing to apologize for, Ryland. Colt and I are both delighted to have you here.” She leaned over and kissed him gently on the forehead. “And whatever you need while you figure out your next steps, we’ve got you. I’m great at polishing up resumés.”
Ryland gave her a weak smile. “Thanks, Jody. That really means a lot.” He slowly sipped his water. “And I’m glad you two are living here together, I like seeing my brother so happy.” He leaned back against Colt, who nuzzled his cheek softly against Ryland’s hair. Once he’d drunk all of the water, he set the cup on the table and let his eyes drift to half-mast as he listened to his brother’s steady heartbeat.
“Are you still hungry, either of you?” Jody asked after a bit. “There’s plenty of soup left.”
“It was delicious, Jo, but I think someone might be a bit tuckered out,” Colt replied. He gathered Ryland into his lap. “Ry, do you think you’ll be okay in your own bed, or do you want to sleep over here tonight?”
Ryland yawned, then held up two fingers to indicate his preference for the second option. “Don’t wanna be alone,” he said softly.
Colt hummed in response, then slowly rose from the couch with Ryland held in a princess carry. When his twin squeaked at being lifted like that, Colt chuckled and said, “I know you’re perfectly capable of walking on your own, but consider that you’ve been mostly awake for well over twenty-four hours, you got caught in a rainstorm, and you had to deal with a lot of big feelings today. Let me do this, Ry.”
“But your back -” Ryland tried to protest, but Colt shushed him again.
“Nah, I’ve still got plenty of muscles to do this,” Colt replied with just a hint of smugness. “‘Sides, you’ve always been a little lighter than me. Let me be the big brother, really.”
Ryland sighed in fond exasperation, but gently looped his arms around Colt’s neck and tucked his head in the crook of his brother’s shoulder. Like much of this day, he’d lost this battle. At least there was somewhere soft for him to land this time.
Colt nudged open the door to the guest bedroom with his foot and gently set Ryland atop the queen-size bed. He coaxed his brother under the covers and loosely tucked him in, then smoothed his hair away from his forehead.
“Stay with me? At least until I fall asleep?” Ryland asked through a yawn.
“Of course,” Colt replied. He pulled over an ottoman from the end of the bed and settled beside Ryland.
Jody came into the room, carrying three teacups. “Mint tea for me and you, Colt, and honey chamomile vanilla for you, Ry,” she said as she divvied up the drinks, winking at Ryland. “I heard you’ve got a wicked sweet tooth, so I picked something yummy for you.”
Ryland cradled his teacup in his hands, relishing in the warmth. “Colt, you’re gonna wanna lock things down with Mary Poppins over here before someone else does. She really is practically perfect in every way.” He laughed when both Jody and Colt flushed pink and the latter snorted into his tea.
“Ryland, that is incredibly sweet of you,” Jody replied once she was a little more composed, “but you’ve got nothing to worry about there.” She locked eyes with Colt as she took a sip of her tea. “I’m afraid no one else will do, for me.”
Colt went, if possible, even pinker. “Y-ya mean that, Jo? For real?”
“For real, forever,” she said, with what looked like happy tears in her eyes. “Especially if it gets me such an adorable little brother-in-law as consequence.” Jody knelt beside Ryland and took one of his hands in hers. “Do you have everything you need, sweetheart? Are you warm enough?”
Ryland nodded drowsily, the herbs in the tea already starting to help his nervous system slow down. “Thank you for all of your kindness, Jody,” he said, “you’re a true gem.” He linked their fingers together, running his thumb over her knuckles.
“You are so welcome, dear Ryland,” Jody replied softly, and gave him one last kiss on the forehead. “Sweet dreams. I think we’ll go for a spa day this week, get your mind off things, hm?” They smiled at each other, two peas in a pod. Then, she turned to his twin. “Colt, you’re coming too, spa days are important for everybody.”
Colt smiled widely at her. “Sounds great, honey. I’m gonna stay with Ry for a bit, but do you want any help with the dishes?”
Jody shook her head. “No, I’ll just wrap up the leftovers and let everything that can soak overnight. Come to bed when you’re ready. Good night, Ryland.” She smiled at the twins, then lowered the main room lights and left them with the side table lamp as their sole source of illumination.
Once Jody left the room, Colt grabbed one of the throw pillows and swatted Ryland with it. “You silly dingus, I was planning to propose to Jody in a few weeks anyway,” he chuckled.
“Hey, at least now you know she’s amenable to it!” Ryland replied. “I really do like her, she’s fun and so kind. I get why you love her, Colt.”
“Yeah, I do,” Colt sighed dreamily. He stretched his arms up, then rolled his shoulders back and forth a few times. “I felt so bad when I left her high and dry after I fell, Ry. It felt like ripping a piece of my heart straight out of my chest, but I couldn’t bear to have her see me that broken, that weak. But she loves me whether I’m on top of the world or I’m engulfed in flames. She keeps me humble but she’s so gentle. She’s just - augh, she’s just the best, isn’t she?”
Ryland smiled to see how happy Colt was. “Mmhmm, you deserve each other. You’re both so good and warm.” He drank the last of his tea and then snuggled down into the bed covers, yawning as he set his glasses on the side table.
“You doing okay?” Colt asked, taking Ryland’s left hand in his and stroking at the pulse point with his thumb.
Softly, Ryland said, “I will be.” He blinked, Colt’s gentle touch leading him further into relaxed bliss. “Long as I’ve got you here, I’ll be just fine, Colt.”
Colt leaned over to stroke Ryland’s hair, tucking a piece behind his ear. “You’ll always have me with you, baby brother.” He stayed right there, quietly soothing away aches and making sure he was warm enough, until at last Ryland’s tired blue eyes drifted shut and he fell asleep.