becoming us by Anah Crow Page B

know.”
    “No. No. It’s... it’s good.” Bryce bit his lip, then moved, leaning over to catch Zac’s mouth with his own. His kiss was awkward and sudden, but full of meaning.
    Oh . Zac couldn’t help but smile against Bryce’s mouth, and then he kissed Bryce back, sweetly and softly. Good .
    “I like you, too.” Bryce sounded so insecure. He touched the back of one of Zac’s hands, running his fingers over Zac’s. “I mean. A lot.” His cheeks were still dark red. “It feels nice when you’re around. It always has. And...” He swallowed hard and shrugged, looking down at their hands. “I never thought of... doing things... before. But I do now. Just. Only with you.” He looked at Zac now, looking a bit frightened by the admission. “So far.” Zac put his coffee on the table by Bryce’s and leaned forward to kiss Bryce again, softly, on the corner of his mouth. “I don’t, like, date guys. I mean, I haven’t. Just girls,” he admitted. “I only really ever just had sex with guys. But I want. I mean...” He looked at Bryce helplessly. He was supposed to be the one who knew what was going on, but he was just as nervous as Bryce, in some ways. “I wanna be with you.”
    “Oh.” The word was soft and shocked. “I. Really?” Bryce looked at Zac obliquely, blushing all over again. “You and me?”
    “If. Um.” Zac bit his lip and nodded. If he spoke out loud, he was pretty sure his voice would crack, given how hard he was blushing.
    “Yeah. I think...” Bryce ran his fingers over the back of Zac’s hand, blushing just as fiercely.
    “Maybe if we had some kind of arrangement, it would be good. I mean... I don’t want to wreck being friends, either, Zac. I don’t want to have some stupid breakup and not have my best friend anymore.” His eyes were dark and sad and frightened when he admitted, “But I want you. A lot.
    A lot of the time. It kind of sucks, except that it doesn’t.”
    “Yeah.” Zac nodded. He didn’t want to lose his best friend either. When things were good with them, they were amazing, whether it was video games or sex. “I think. I think we could figure something out.”
    “You’re more important than some girlfriend.” Bryce twined his fingers with Zac’s. “Or some boyfriend.” He had to swallow hard after saying that. “But I wanna be with you, Zac.” His voice wavered. “It’s like the whole world gets more right when we’re together.” Becoming Us - 54

    “Me, too,” Zac admitted, squeezing Bryce’s fingers gently. So gently. He didn’t want to hurt Bryce’s hands any more than they were already hurt. “We don’t hafta tell people, or anything. I know you can’t really... But as long as we know, then, maybe it’d be good?”
    “Yeah. And then, I mean... if we change things, no one knows but us, right? Even... even after last night and everything, the only person I wanted to be with when I was all fucked up was you.
    You sure you want me all fucked up?” Bryce bit his lip, looking worried.
    Zac smiled. That, he had an answer for. “I’m sure I want you. All fucked up or not.” Bryce leaned over and kissed him, very tentatively, just like the first time. “Guess that means you got me, then,” he murmured as he hid his face in the curve of Zac’s neck. His cheeks were hot and his breath was soft on Zac’s skin.
    Zac wrapped his arms around Bryce and petted his hair. The embrace was feeling familiar, now; they’d been like this so often lately. He hadn’t really expected Bryce to say yes, especially after last night. He hadn’t expected any of it, but at least they were still together.
    “I trust you,” Bryce said, shifting to be closer. “ So much. It’s so good. And... you know...
    someday. I wanna tell people, Zac,” he mumbled shyly. “If it’s okay with you. If there’s something to tell by then.” He cuddled up against Zac with a slow sigh.
    “I...” Zac smiled and snuggled Bryce against him, kissing the top of his