He rang the bell because... he didn't think he would feel right walking into the place where Aldon and Gregg lived together. The idea was off-putting but he... he was trying. That had to count for something, didn't it? Didn't it?! Ryland felt a sort of hot desperation gripping him as he stood there, half wanting to barge in and half wanting to skedaddle off into the middle of nowhere before Aldon arrived at the door.
Oh, he was going to be sick. There were too many emotions and so much anxiety that his head felt like it was swimming. Clutching the collar of his hoodie like it was some kind of security blanket, he held his breath and listened--and he heard cursing? Or muffled grumbling? Something to that effect.
When the door opened, he fully expected to see Aldon and Gregg standing there together with their arms wound around each other and some puppy between their legs, looking like the perfect holiday card. To his relief, it was just Aldon. Although he looked like he might have stubbed his toe by the way he was grimacing.
"Hey."
Ryland knew it was a lukewarm greeting but he was still half afraid to show his feelings when they were so deep and so hard to contain. His heart already beat too fast coming here and now it beat even faster upon seeing Aldon's face. Really, it felt like it had been too long. All they did before was argue about things and Ryland was pretty sure he rebuffed him plenty of times, but especially with this weirdness of having an... open relationship. (Because what else did he call it? He didn't know--he wasn't well versed in any type of relationship outside of the typical two person deal.)
Is it just me? he wanted to ask as he stood there, windswept hair in his face. The cool air from the strange and sudden storm had buffeted his face; he knew his nose and cheeks were a little red with cold.
Oh, he was going to be sick. There were too many emotions and so much anxiety that his head felt like it was swimming. Clutching the collar of his hoodie like it was some kind of security blanket, he held his breath and listened--and he heard cursing? Or muffled grumbling? Something to that effect.
When the door opened, he fully expected to see Aldon and Gregg standing there together with their arms wound around each other and some puppy between their legs, looking like the perfect holiday card. To his relief, it was just Aldon. Although he looked like he might have stubbed his toe by the way he was grimacing.
"Hey."
Ryland knew it was a lukewarm greeting but he was still half afraid to show his feelings when they were so deep and so hard to contain. His heart already beat too fast coming here and now it beat even faster upon seeing Aldon's face. Really, it felt like it had been too long. All they did before was argue about things and Ryland was pretty sure he rebuffed him plenty of times, but especially with this weirdness of having an... open relationship. (Because what else did he call it? He didn't know--he wasn't well versed in any type of relationship outside of the typical two person deal.)
Is it just me? he wanted to ask as he stood there, windswept hair in his face. The cool air from the strange and sudden storm had buffeted his face; he knew his nose and cheeks were a little red with cold.
