Page 15 of Someone Like You

Despite Phil’s tone, Ian suspected it wasn’t entirely an insult. He stalked off to their usual table by the window, trying to keep his cool. It wasn’t every day that he found someone intellectually stimulatingandfun.

No one came to take their orders: Sandra and Anna knew their habits by now and shortly after sitting down they already had their coffees laid out on the small table.

Ian grinned inwardly watching Phil add sugar to his cup: he’d gradually cut down to half a sachet and could now handle his espresso quite decently, although his microexpressions were still as comical as ever. Phil raked his hair back as he stirred the sugar and a pattern of veins surfaced up his forearm, the sleeves pushed back to the elbows. A pink bracelet stood out among the dusting of pale hair.

“I really like this place,” he observed after downing his water. “I always tell myself I should get my laptop out and spend an afternoon here, see if I can get some words down…”

“Then do it.”

“I don’t know…” Phil rubbed a hand behind his neck. “Since starting the medication, I haven’t been able to… tofeelproperly, you know?”

Ian didn’tknow, nor could he imagine what it must be like. All he knew was that it sounded awful.

“How long is the treatment supposed to last?”

“Until I feel better. So maybe forever.” Phil exhaled a colourless laugh. “What’s the point of being alive if the only thing keeping me going is a stupid pill?”

“A stupidPhil,” Ian corrected. “It was a good one,” he protested when the object of the pun pierced him with a scowl that may or may not be tainted by a trace of mirth. “You could’ve gone down the easy route,” he insisted. “Instead you chose to fight.You, not the pills. The pills do their job because every morningyouwake up and choose them over giving up. Quit being such a cunt to yourself.”

Phil laughed — heartily, this time. “Getting my ass handed to me by a surly Scot wasn’t on my bucket list.”

“Get used to it.” Ian made a pause, then remembered what had sparked the debate in the first place. “Give it a bash — the laptop thing. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Nothing, I guess. I’m just really good at finding excuses not to try new things.”

“What happened to getting out of your comfort zone?”

“Smartass,” Phil huffed before cowardly hiding behind his coffee.

“So, this dinner...” Ian slumped back in his armchair and crossed his arms. “Do I need to dress up? Bring anything?”

“Dress however you like and bring…” Phil made a vague gesture. “I don’t know… Dessert?”

“Hm.” Ian would have to ask Sandra to bake him a cake. He wasn’t a great cook.

“Any allergies I should be aware of?”

“Just idiots,” Ian deadpanned.

Phil pursed his lips, nodding sympathetically. “Autoimmune diseases are the worst.”

Ian had a hard time fighting back a snicker. This guy never missed a beat.

They both managed to keep a straight face, but the laughter was right there, in the smug look they shared. A look that was longer and way more intense than necessary.

Ian had the unpleasant feeling that something was slipping out of his hands one inch at a time — something he should be holding on to but couldn’t. He didn’t want to give it a name, didn’t even want to think about it, but he felt it, the pull of Phil’s gravity drawing him in, towards this man who walked with his personal hell in his pockets and still managed to effortlessly keep up with shameless teasing and quick-witted jests.

“You’re a clever bastard, Phil, I’ll give you that.”.

“Takes one to know one.” Phil held out his cup mid-air; Ian half-heartedly clinked his own against it.

Phil had this glint in his eyes, a light that hadn’t been there the first time they had met. It made him look younger.Stronger.

It made the flare in Ian’s chest warmer.

* * *

He didn’t know how he was supposed to dress for an informal dinner. Most of his wardrobe was occupied by cheap workwear and workout clothes. He found a blue pullover that seemed decent and threw it on the bed with his newest pair of jeans and a leather jacket which he hoped didn’t make him come across as aggressive.

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