Page 110 of If the World Was Ending

“Congratulations,” Leandra said, and her smile was small but genuine. “I love your band. And that song that won the Oscar is incredible. So was the film. So yeah. Good job. Congrats. You both did it, and I’m happy for you.”

“Why are you serving? I thought you were a nurse?”

“I am.” She nodded, then stared at the tray she held, which had one lone champagne flute left. “But Estelle died last month, and her son fired me. And dumped me. Again. We’ve been on and off the whole time, and when we’re off, I stay in hotel rooms. So I don’t have enough cash for a deposit on a new apartment of my own. I’ve been crashing with two other girls I teach yoga with and… I’m doing this part-time during award season to try and get my own place that much quicker. And I’m back at the hospital working in the dementia ward.”

“Oh.” Colby swallowed. “Sorry?”

Leandra laughed. “No, you’re not, and I don’t blame you. Or Hunter for that matter.”

“Leandra, I don’t wish this on you. Or anyone. You’re talking to two guys who spent a lot of time on the struggle bus, remember?” Hunter said softly. His voice was nothing but empathy, and it made Colby want to hug him. He was such a good person. He forgave so easily.

“I lived in a crushed van, remember that?” Colby added. “And whatever happened between all of us in the past, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

“You two look good together. And happy,” she said suddenly, and they both bristled. She noticed and smirked. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

“There’s no secret. We’re friends,” Hunter said firmly as his eyes bounced around to see who might be watching or listening.

“Ex-roommates, yeah, I’ve read the articles.” Leandra nodded, her long pony swishing like a horse’s tail. “But I know you, Hunter. You’ve told me about your experiment in high school, and I felt a vibe before I moved out. It’s not at all why I moved out. I was cheating before Colby showed up but… I gotta tell you, if you’d looked at me the way you look at him, I might have… No. I still would have cheated because I’m an idiot. But I feel a little better knowing that I didn’t break your heart that badly. Because I didn’t have it. Not like he does.”

They stared at each other, watching the color drain from each other’s faces. “Anyway, again, congrats. You two are proof dreams do come true.”

Leandra walked away. Just like that. Hunter and Colby looked at each other for exactly two heartbeats, and then Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, and Colby cleared his throat.

“I’m gonna call it. I have a flight to Croatia tomorrow afternoon.”

“More superhero business?” Colby asked.

Hunter nodded and turned toward the entrance. Outside his SUV was waiting. And so were the photographers who were still looking for pap shots. “You staying? Or do you want a lift back to the hotel? We’re both staying at Beverly Wilshire.”

Colby smiled but not deep enough to show off the dimple. “Yeah. You’re in 234. View of Tiffany’s. Briar made sure to let me know.”

Hunter huffed out a laugh. Colby’s dimple finally appeared. “Let’s go. I’ll text Hannah and tell her to share my SUV with Mikayla.”

Back at the hotel, no one paid them much attention. They stepped into the elevator together, and Colby punched his floor. Hunter didn’t punch his.

“You’re staying alone? In a suite?”

“Yeah. The label bought it for me. I had to do one of those Get Ready With Me viral videos for Rolling Stone, and they wanted it to look baller, I guess,” Colby replied. “But now I’m all alone in a massive suite with a king-sized bed and a shower built for ten.”

Hunter side-eyed Colby and smiled. That smile made Colby’s dick grow so fast he was surprised he didn’t get dizzy. Their fingers brushed as they clocked the security camera in the corner of the elevator, knowing they couldn’t do more. The doors opened on Colby’s floor, and they both walked out. Hunter walked a half step behind Colby, as casual as ever. Hunter pulled out his phone and pretended to be enthralled with something on it as Colby dug out his room key and swiped it. Colby held the door open for Hunter. Never taking his eyes off his phone, Hunter stepped inside.

Hunter walked leisurely into the suite, but as soon as the soft click of the door closing hit his ears, he let his phone fall from his hand, making a soft thump on the lush carpet, and he turned, grabbing Colby by the shoulders and pinning him against the back of the door. His mouth crashed down on Colby’s, his tongue slipped into his mouth, and he kissed him until they ran out of air. Colby used his fingers, which had somehow found their way into Hunter’s hair, to tug his mouth free.

“I missed you too.” He panted.

“Get naked so we can show each other how much,” Hunter said, and he was already undoing his shirt.

Wordlessly, they both stripped. Once naked, their bodies crashed together again. They kissed, tongues battling, leaning into each other so their naked bodies pressed and touched everywhere. But the urgency of their kisses started to wane, and suddenly they became soft, thoughtful, deep. And then they stopped altogether as Hunter pulled back and picked up the key that dangled around Colby’s neck. He smiled. Colby wrapped his arms around Hunter’s shoulders, buried his face near his collarbone, and gulped in some ragged breaths.

Hunter wrapped one arm around Colby’s bare waist and slipped a hand into his hair. They held each other—tightly, desperately—in the middle of the dark hotel suite, like they were each other’s lifelines. Because they were. Hunter closed his eyes and inhaled the scent that was Colby. God, he missed this man so much. More than he’d ever missed a girlfriend.

“Who have you been with since me?” Colby’s voice was soft, not accusatory, just curious.

“Two firefighters. A nurse. A pizza delivery guy who likes to greet every guy in the frat house he’s delivering to with a blow job,” Hunter murmured, and Colby pulled his head back so their eyes could meet. “Porn. That’s it. No time for anything else. I mean, there’s a cute makeup artist who flirts with me on set but… this shoot is so horrible already I don’t want to make it worse.”

Colby tilted his head in confusion. “It’s not good?”

Hunter shook his head. “The Byrne brothers are toxic nightmares. The director is at her wits' end. So is the crew. And those dudes treat me like I’m a glorified extra. They toss around words like homo and faggot even though they’ve been chastised by everyone, even studio execs.”