Page 111 of Tough Guy
“I don’t know what I see in you,” Shane grumbled.
“Yes. You say that every day.”
Ryan couldn’t help but smile at them. Suddenly things made a lot more sense. “Your secret is safe with me,” he promised.
He left in a hurry, feeling embarrassed but also very keen to see his own boyfriend. He and Fabian were here for the week, and then they were heading to Atlantic Canada so Fabian could play some shows and they could both have some family time.
Ryan wasn’t sure how it was going to go with Fabian’s family. The Salahs knew they were dating, but Fabian said he didn’t think they would actually believe it until they saw them in person. Whatever happened, Ryan would be right by Fabian’s side.
He found Fabian sitting on a bench outside their hotel. He looked fucking gorgeous in his blue floral-print romper, enormous black sunglasses, and bright yellow espadrilles. Ryan was wearing track shorts, flip-flops, and a gray camp T-shirt.
Fabian stood when he saw him, and handed him a small white bag. “I got you an almond croissant.”
Ryan looked in the bag. “Weird that they sold it to you with a bite out of it.”
“Iknow! I should complain.”
Ryan kissed him, right there on the sidewalk. “You smell nice.”
“I may have sampled some fragrances at Holt Renfrew.”
Ryan buried his face in the crook of Fabian’s neck and inhaled. “I like this one. Did you buy it?”
“No, darling. That’s your job.”
Ryan grinned and kissed his neck. “You had a good day, then?”
“I did, but it’s very hot and I was hoping we could retire to our air-conditioned hotel room.”
“Sounds like a plan. You have any ideas about dinner? Besides pastry, I mean.”
“None. But... I do have something to show you.” He handed Ryan his phone. “Tell me what you think.”
Ryan thumbed through the gallery of images. They were all photos of rooms in a small townhouse near the Village. “This is for sale?”
Fabian bit his lip. “It isn’t cheap.”
Ryan closed the gallery and looked at the price. It was almost half of what his sky-rise apartment had cost him. “We could do this.”
“Could we? Vanessa and Tarek said they would check it out for us and let me know if it’s worth pursuing.”
Ryan loved the idea of Fabian filling these rooms with color and ornate knickknacks. He loved the idea of building a home and a life with Fabian. He didn’t care where they lived, but he knew Fabian wanted to stay close to his friends. Close to his community. Ryan was happy to do that, even if it meant ridiculously high real estate prices.
They walked hand in hand through the sliding glass doors into the hotel lobby, Fabian swinging their joined arms playfully.
“Don’t tell Mom and Dad,” he said, “but I am extremely grateful that they took in hockey players when I was growing up.”
Ryan laughed. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I’m sure they didn’t intend to play matchmaker for their son, but it certainly worked out.”
“It did.”
“Maybe I’ll thank them at our wedding.”
Ryan snorted, dismissing the idea as if it were ridiculous. As if he hadn’t been thinking about proposing since the moment Fabian wrapped his arms around him after his album release show.
As they waited for the elevator, Ryan blatantly ogled Fabian in his cute little romper. His lean bare legs and arms were thoroughly distracting. Fabian must have noticed Ryan’s interest, because he licked his lip and, presumably, locked eyes with him. It was hard to tell with the sunglasses covering most of his face.
When they were alone in the elevator, Fabian scoffed at the obvious erection that was straining the fabric of his romper shorts. “Great. Look what you did.”
Ryan chuckled and thought about all the ways he’d like to alleviate Fabian’s problem.
“I hope you’re happy,” Fabian scolded.
Ryan grinned. “I really am.”
