Love Is Always Write Volume 4

place. "I would have gone with you, jackass! What do you think best friends are for?" Derek had growled into the phone.
    Chad knew exactly what his best friend was for, which was why he hadn't invited Derek to the concert in the first place, and why he wouldn't let him come over Monday when Derek insisted all he needed was beer, football and friends to get it off his mind. It's also why Chad was here home tonight instead of out at the bar with Derek and some of their other friends when Derek tried to talk him into going out drinking to 'get it out of his system'.
    He had the movie all set up and was about to press play when the buzzer went off for the lobby door.
    "Shit." Chad knew exactly who it was – Derek. Coming, of course, to save the day. Or at least save Chad from moping. Couldn't Derek see that Chad needed to mope? That some people needed some down time of feeling shitty before they could get back on their feet?
    He reached the buzzer and considered being a jackass to his friend, but changed his mind at the last minute and pressed the button with a mild, "Yes?"
    "Hey, it's Zeb." Chad's heart jumped and hit at his chest so fast he got lightheaded.
    "Oh, hey," He managed weakly. Oh My God. What was he doing here?
    "Can I come up?" Zeb's voice floating out of the speaker interrupted his panic.
    "Yes. Of course." Chad hit the button and stood there for a moment, stunned. His throat was bone dry so he went to the sink to grab a glass of water before Zeb got up there. Even with the elevator being slow he knew he only had a minute to find his composure. Some deep breaths, a nice long gulp of water, and he would have been doing a lot better if it weren't for noticing his hands were shaking.
    He jumped at the knock, even though it was expected. Closing his eyes and taking one more long breath, he opened the door.
    Zeb stood there with an unsure smile on his face, looking gorgeous as always. Chad eyes devoured him and noticed… flowers ? A couple dozen, Chad was sure, in every color. What the…
    He cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
    "Groveling." Zeb pushed the flowers towards him and raised an eyebrow when Chad didn't move forward to take them. "Or, at least, that's the plan. I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I just picked whatever looked pretty. So…" Zeb bit his upper lip and looked down at the flowers, then back up at Chad. There was a strange look in his ex's eyes that Chad couldn't quite pinpoint. "Or, maybe, this isn't how guys are supposed to do it. I mean, flowers are kinda—"
    "No!" Chad was finally able to move his feet forward. "No, I love them. Really." Gently he took two of the flower arrangements from the other man and motioned for him to follow into the apartment. "I'm sorry. You've kind of surprised me here."
    He'd never gotten flowers before and didn't have any vases, so he grabbed the tallest glasses he could find and filled them with water. Three should do it. Still trembling slightly, he kept his focus on his task. He could hear Zeb behind him, shutting the door then walking in behind him, shuffling his feet.
    "You have the same place."
    "Yes. Didn't make sense to move. I like it here."
    "I always did too." Okay, now that was an opening if Chad had ever heard one. But he let it go and bit his lip.
    Chad finally turned around to face Zeb, knowing he couldn't do any more fiddling with the flowers since he had no clue what you were supposed to do with them other than the vase and water. He leaned back against the kitchen counter and crossed his feet, attempting to look casual but probably failing.
    Zeb stood with his hands in his pockets in the center of the small room and just stared back. Chad still couldn't believe he was here, in his kitchen. His eyes swept over the beautiful man – the styled hair, the dress shirt and pressed slacks. Zeb looked so different than what Chad was used to. Still delicious, just different.
    "Did you have to be in town for a meeting or something?" Chad asked, wondering at the formal clothing.
    Zeb's head tilted to the side. "Um, no." Chad's eyes darted down to his clothes again. "Oh. No. Like I said, I'm here to grovel." Zeb pulled his hands out of his pockets and raised his arms a little like he was on display. "Dress to impress and all that. Don't you like it?" Zeb asked the question hesitantly and stepped from one foot to the other, then pushed his hands back into his pockets.
    "I like it. You look very nice. I just