The knock on Marcus's door came just after seven in the evening. He'd been dozing on the couch, half asleep and half awake, his body still aching with every movement he made. The sound startled him enough that he sat up too quickly, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through his ribs.
Marcus got to his feet slowly, one hand braced against the armrest of the couch for support, and made his way to the door.
When Marcus looked through the peephole, his heart skipped a beat.
Ryan stood in the hallway, holding what looked like several takeout containers stacked carefully in his hands. He was dressed casually in dark jeans and a simple gray sweater, his hair a little messy like he'd been running his hands through it.
Marcus unlocked the door and pulled it open, unable to stop the smile that spread across his face despite how tired he felt.
"Hey," Ryan said, his voice soft. His eyes scanned Marcus quickly, like he was checking to make sure Marcus was really okay. "I figured you might be hungry, so I brought food from the restaurant."
Marcus felt something warm settle in his chest at the thoughtfulness of it. "Thank you."
Ryan smiled, stepping inside when Marcus moved back to let him in.
Marcus closed the door behind him and watched as Ryan walked into the apartment, setting the containers down on the kitchen counter. Ryan looked around the space, taking in the high ceilings, the expensive furniture, the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the city.
The apartment was spacious and modern, everything sleek and carefully designed. It was the kind of place that screamed money, the kind of place that didn't quite match up with the story Marcus had told about working as a manager.
Ryan turned back to Marcus, his expression curious but not suspicious. "This place is really nice," he said, glancing around again. "Your manager job must pay pretty well."
Marcus felt his stomach tighten slightly. He'd known this moment would come eventually, that Ryan would see where he lived and start asking questions. He just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
"Yeah, it pays decently," Marcus said, trying to keep his voice casual. He walked over to the kitchen counter, moving slowly because his body still ached. "The company I work for is pretty generous with their management positions. Plus, I've been there for a while now, so the salary is good."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Apex Holdings did pay well, and Marcus had been working there since he came back to the country. He just left out the part about being the CEO's son and the fact that his apartment was paid for by family money, not his salary.
Ryan seemed to accept the explanation without question, nodding as he started unpacking the food. "That's good."
Marcus felt a pang of guilt at how easily Ryan believed him, but he pushed it down. He'd tell Ryan the truth eventually, just not right now. Not when things between them were still so new and fragile.
Ryan had brought a variety of dishes, some pasta, grilled chicken, a side of roasted vegetables, and even a small container of soup. The smell filled the apartment, warm and comforting, and Marcus realized he was actually hungry for the first time since the accident.
They moved to the couch, Marcus settling into the cushions carefully while Ryan handed him a plate and utensils. For a few minutes, they just ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds coming from the occasional scrape of forks against plates and the distant noise of traffic outside.
"How are you feeling?" Ryan asked after a while, glancing over at Marcus with that same concerned look he'd had at the hospital. "Are you following the doctor's orders? Resting like you're supposed to?"
Marcus smiled slightly, setting his plate down on the coffee table. "I'm resting. What else am I supposed to do? I can barely move without everything hurting."
"Good," Ryan said firmly. "You need to take care of yourself."
"You sound like you're worried about me," Marcus teased, his voice light.
Ryan didn't deny it. He just looked at Marcus, his expression open and honest in a way that made Marcus's heart beat faster. "I am worried about you. You were in a car accident, Marcus. You could have been hurt a lot worse."
Marcus felt something shift in the air between them, something heavier and more significant than the casual conversation they'd been having. He set his fork down and turned slightly on the couch so he was facing Ryan more fully, even though the movement made his ribs protest.
"I'm okay," Marcus said softly. "I'm here, and I'm okay. Thanks to you."
Ryan shook his head. "I didn't do anything."
"You came to the hospital," Marcus pointed out. "Even after I made things weird between us. You still came."
Ryan was quiet for a moment, looking down at his own plate. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, more vulnerable. "I was scared when I got Ethan's message. I didn't know what had happened or how bad it was. I just knew I needed to see you."
Marcus felt his heart beat faster in his chest. They'd been dancing around this for weeks now, around whatever this thing was between them, and Marcus was tired of pretending it didn't matter. He was tired of holding back.
He finished eating and set his plate aside, then shifted closer to Ryan on the couch. Ryan looked up at him, something uncertain in his eyes, and Marcus reached out slowly, resting his head on Ryan's shoulder.
Ryan went very still for a moment, like he wasn't sure what to do, but then Marcus felt him relax. Ryan's hand found Marcus's, their fingers sliding together and interlocking in a way that felt natural and right.
They sat like that for a while, neither of them speaking, just existing in the quiet comfort of being close to each other.
Finally, Marcus lifted his head from Ryan's shoulder. He turned to face Ryan fully, ignoring the dull ache in his ribs, and brought his hands up to cup Ryan's face gently. His fingers rested along Ryan's jaw and the side of his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin.
Ryan's eyes met his, dark and searching, and Marcus could see everything Ryan wasn't saying reflected back at him. The fear, the want, the uncertainty about what they were doing and where this was going.
Marcus leaned in slowly, giving Ryan plenty of time to pull away if he wanted to. But Ryan didn't move. He just watched Marcus with those intense eyes, waiting.
When their lips finally met, it was soft and careful at first, like they were both afraid of breaking something fragile. But then Ryan's hand came up to the back of Marcus's neck, fingers threading through his hair, and the kiss deepened.
It was intimate in a way that made Marcus's chest ache, slow and tender and full of everything they'd been holding back from each other. Marcus could feel Ryan's breath against his skin, could taste the faint sweetness of whatever Ryan had been drinking earlier.
Time seemed to slow down, the world narrowing to just the two of them on this couch, to the press of Ryan's lips against his and the way Ryan's fingers tightened slightly in his hair.
When they finally pulled back to catch their breath, they didn't go far. Their foreheads rested together, both of them breathing a little harder than before, and Marcus could still feel the ghost of Ryan's lips on his own.
Ryan's arms came around him then, pulling Marcus into a hug that was warm and secure. Marcus buried his face in Ryan's shoulder, breathing in the scent of him, and let himself just exist in this moment without overthinking it.
"I want to be with you," Marcus said quietly, the words muffled slightly against Ryan's sweater. "I really want you to be mine. I want this to be something real."
Ryan's arms tightened around him, and Marcus could feel the slight tremor in Ryan's hands where they rested against his back. For a moment, Ryan didn't say anything, and Marcus felt a spike of fear that maybe he'd said too much, maybe he'd pushed too hard.
But then Ryan pulled back just enough to look at Marcus, and the expression on his face was so open and vulnerable that it took Marcus's breath away.
"I want that too," Ryan said, his voice rough with emotion. "I want to be with you too."
Marcus felt relief wash through him, so strong it almost made him dizzy. He leaned in to kiss Ryan again, this time with more certainty, more confidence in what they were building together.
They were still kissing when Ryan's phone started ringing in his pocket.
At first, Ryan ignored it. Marcus could feel the phone buzzing between them, but Ryan's hands stayed on Marcus's waist, his lips still moving against Marcus's like he had no intention of stopping.
But the phone kept ringing, insistent and loud, and finally Ryan pulled back with a frustrated sigh.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, brushing a thumb over Marcus's cheek. "I need to take this."
Marcus nodded, though Ryan could see the faint disappointment in his eyes.
Ryan stepped a few paces away, pulling the phone from his pocket. The screen lit up with Matt's name. His brows drew together. Matt never called unless it was serious.
He hesitated, part of him didn't want to answer, but then he exhaled and pressed the phone to his ear.
"Matt?" he said quietly, turning slightly so Marcus couldn't read his face.
Matt's voice came fast, low, urgent. "Ryan, you need to come over. Right now."
Ryan frowned. "What's going on?"
There was a pause, then Matt's tone dropped even lower.
"I just found out something….. about your friend… Marcus."