For Steve

[latermaybe]

Heaving a sigh, I slammed the lid on my laptop.

I'd been puttering away at what I hoped would turn into a publishable article for longer than I'd realized. When I emerged, dry-eyed and my back aching, I glanced at my phone, shocked by how late it had gotten.

Somehow, I'd missed a text. Hearts and kisses from Elio, who'd decided to leave me to my work and head out for dinner with friends. Chuckling, I responded, telling him to have fun and that I'd see him before bed.

With a groan, I stood, arms stretching overhead, spine cracking, and went to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

In the middle of scooping grounds, I jolted as someone unexpectedly knocked on the door. "I'm coming!" I called out, snapping the coffee basket shut and starting the machine, and made my way to the door.

Peeking through the peephole, I frowned, surprised to see one of Elio's friends. Throwing open the door, I half expected him to tell me something had happened, and blurted an impatient, "What is it?"

Comments

[haplesshairpile]

Steve blinks when the door opens in a rush, surprised to see Oliver there instead of Elio. They'd made plans last week to get together and listen to the new album of a local band they both like when it came out, and Steve had come over with the album tucked under his arm to do just that.

"Hello to you too, big guy," Steve replies, brow furrowing slightly at Oliver's brusque tone. He kind of looks like shit, all red-eyed and bleary, and Steve tilts his head a little. He and Oliver aren't close, but he seems like a good dude. Always nice at game nights, and he has good taste in beer. "I'm here for your more dramatic half."

[latermaybe]

"Sorry, hey," I said, huffing out a sheepish laugh and stepping aside to let him in. Glancing at the record under Steve's arm, I vaguely recalled Elio mentioning that he might come over, though it seemed that Elio might've let time get away from him.

"Sit down, I'll get you a beer," I said, shutting the door behind him. "Elio's out, but he should be back any minute."

On my way into the kitchen, I grabbed my phone, sending off a text to Elio: Steve's here.

[haplesshairpile]

Steve steps into the small apartment and it's quiet enough that he isn't entirely surprised when Oliver tells him that Elio isn't here. Elio's a big presence, takes up a lot of space for someone so skinny, and Oliver is calmer despite his size. They sort of remind Steve of him and Maeve in some ways.

"He forgot, didn't he?" Steve asks with a laugh, just as Oliver's phone buzzes with a text: oh goddamnit. i'll be back soon.


"What a dick," Steve adds, but there's no heat in it. Elio is sort of scatterbrained, and so is he. It wouldn't be the first time they've mixed up plans, but Steve is pretty sure he's in the right this time. He glances over at Oliver to try and gauge the situation, but Oliver doesn't seem bothered by his presence, so Steve shrugs and sits down on the sofa, leaning back against it and propping the record up on his hips. "Do you want to listen to some Darrow new wave?"