Time to Shine

Every day I feel so lucky to be around you. You're interesting and funny and I hate that it's going to end soon. I fucking hate it, because I know I'll never meet anyone like you again.

Casey could withstand being teased, and maybe even being embarrassed, but he knew if his teammates ever did anything to really hurt him, the worst part wouldn't be the humiliation, or the disappointment. It would be the loneliness.

I'm now launching Operation: Get the Fuck Out of This Party and Kiss Landon All Night and Maybe All Day Tomorrow.

Landon never thought he could actually have this, had barely dared to fantasize about it, but now he'd always know how it felt to have Casey in his arms, to have his heart-stopping smile pressed against Landon's own bewildered one, making the kiss ridiculous and sloppy and perfect.

Would it be a really terrible idea if I kissed you?

"I'm not in love with him," Casey grumbled. It felt like a lie.

Oh no. It was a lie!

"Hey, isn't this Antton's shirt?"

"Yep." Casey said at the same moment Landon said, "What?"

Clint burst out laughing. "Damn, Stacks. You're coming for Antton's job and his closet?"

"I like Stackhouse. He's good for you."

"He's too good for me."

Lee's arm tensed, and then relaxed. "Ah," he said. "It's like that"

"It's not like anything. We're friends. Teammates. Roommates. Whatever"

"But you want more."

Landon wasn't sure what the gesture meant, but it was so tentative—so considerate—that Landon couldn't help returning it. For a few electric seconds, their fingers exchanged the gentlest caresses while tingles raced through Landon's body.

It was too much. It was the barest of physical contact and he couldn't breathe. He covered Casey's hand with his own to stop it, and Casey took it as an invitation to flip his hand over and tangle their fingers together.

And the thing is, sometimes you get so lost in your own grief when you lose part of your family, and you don't realize that you're damaging your relationships with the people who are still here.