It didn’t matter anymore. He was positive they’d never see each other again.
He glanced at his phone, noting it was barely 8:30. His big Friday night—going to bed early and alone. Angus was too exhausted to care.
* * * *
Loud knocking pulled him from a restless sleep. Someone was at his door and the entire building knew it by now. Angus grabbed his phone from the nightstand and saw it was 10:30 P.M. He groaned. When had he turned into an old man? He pulled himself up and swung his legs off the bed as his eyes adjusted to the darkened room. He rubbed his face and stared blankly at the wall. What was he doing again?
More knocking jarred him out of his thoughts and he rose from the bed, padding down the hall in bare feet. He’d been sleeping in only fleece pajama bottoms and didn’t bother to put on a shirt. Whoever was at the door was probably someone he knew. Who else would come to his apartment unannounced this lateon a Friday night? He flipped on the switch in the entryway and reached for the door handle.
He opened the door and found Ben standing there, hands braced on the doorjamb. Angus stared. Damn, what was he doing here?
“I was worried about you,” Ben told him.
Crap. Had he spoken aloud?
“You going to let me in?” Ben raised an eyebrow as his gaze slowly traveled down Angus’s body.
Angus stepped back and pulled the door wider, unable to speak. Ben stepped in and glanced around the tidy living room. Angus closed the door but remained silent.
Ben smiled at him. “I guess I woke you up.”
Angus nodded, still not understanding what the hell was happening.
Ben pulled off his jacket and set it on top of the black leather recliner before turning his attention to Angus. Something in the way he stared made Angus shiver, and it had nothing to do with being cold.
Angus swallowed hard and tried to calm his growing nerves. “W-what are you…?” His voice trailed off as he swung his arm out to the side, gesturing at the living room.
“What am I doing in your apartment?”
Angus nodded.
“I told you. I was worried about you.” Ben took a step toward him.
“I-I’m fine,” Angus lied.
Ben looked like he didn’t believe it. “Really?” Big brown eyes stared him down.
Angus’s shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “No,” he whispered. What was it about Ben that made him want to reveal everything?
Ben moved quickly and, before Angus could even process what was happening, he was wrapped in Ben’s arms, held tight against Ben’s broad chest, their hips and thighs pressed together. He breathed in andsmiled, remembering just a few hours earlier when he thought he’d never see the man again. Angus wasn’t sure why he’d been wrong, but he wasn’t going to argue while he felt so incredibly secure in Ben’s embrace.
“I shouldn’t have let you leave,” Ben murmured, his lips so close, Angus felt hot breath against his ear.
Angus pulled back a little and looked into Ben’s eyes. “Of course you should have. You had a class to teach. And why would you chase after me? You barely know me.”
A small smile played on Ben’s lips and his eyes flashed when he looked at Angus. “You’re right. I barely know you. But getting to know you is my new goal in life.”
Angus’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why?”
Ben chuckled. “Because you’re smart, interesting, sexy, and you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.”
Did he just call me sexy? Angus untangled himself from Ben and stepped back, narrowing his eyes.
Ben’s brow furrowed. “What?”
Angus didn’t say anything as he scrutinized Ben. Was the guy messing with him? He knew he wasn’t sexy.Hell, he was so skinny, he used to be called Skeleton in high school. But this wasn’t high school and Ben’s demeanor seemed genuine. Still…
Ben took a step forward.
“Don’t.” Angus put out his hand to stop Ben. “Is this some kind of setup? Or are you so upset someonedoesn’t like motorcycles, you’re here to sweet talk me into changing my mind?”
Ben’s eyes rounded in surprise and his mouth gaped. “Is that really what you think?”
Angus stayed silent, staring at Ben.
“Shit. I guess I really messed this up,” Ben mumbled, shoving his hands into his front pockets. “All I wanted to do was make sure you were okay. I really was worried about you.” He looked down at the floorand sighed.
Shame welled inside Angus. He had truly misread the situation. “I…I’m sorry, Ben. I…your compliments…I’m sorry.” He shrugged in defeat. “It’s been a hard couple of days. Dealing with…everything.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. I got the feeling earlier that what you told me…wasn’t something you usually talked about.”
Angus walked around the coffee table and plunked down on the sofa, letting his head fall back. He threw his arm over his eyes and fought back tears. “Yeah. Actually you’re the only person I’ve ever told.”
Ben joined him on the sofa, settling just inches away. “Why?”
Angus lifted his arm to look at Ben. “Why did I tell you? Or why haven’t I ever told anyone else?”
“Both.”
“I don’t like talking about how my brother died. I mean, people know he passed away, but they don’t know it was my fault.” His voice hitched and he lowered his arm back over his eyes. “It’s too…heavy…to burden anyone with, if that makes sense.”
“It does.” Ben’s voice was soft.