Chapter 2

Kyan's day went smoothly. As usual, he buried his feelings for Thom and went about the day without a hitch. During their lunch break, he had almost gotten up the courage to pull Thom aside, but backed down when Jai intercepted. He glanced at his watch- the day was closing fast. He knew this had to happen now. Carson was only too kind to drive the point home by giving him vocal and gestured countdowns.

"Thom, I was just wondering what you were doing tonight or tomorrow. I know this great Italian place in SoHo…"

He shook his head. He had to get Thom alone first before he started that speech.

"Hey, Thom, could I speak with you for a second? About what? Oh, uh, interior design." He wanted to vomit at the mere thought of saying something so stupid.

"How the hell do I get him alone without Ted and Jai getting all suspicious?"

Before he could even think of something, he heard the director's voice call the day a success: "That's a wrap!"

A hushed swear word fell from Kyan's lips. Quickly, he disappeared into his dressing room to change. His hands were shaking, and it took him three times to unbutton the button fly on his pants. He silently cursed Carson for making him wear them. Just as he was pulling his shirt over his head, there was a knock at the door.

"Please let it be him."

He opened the door, hopeful.

"Did you do it yet?"

Kyan's shoulders sagged. "Carson."

"Time is running out!"

"You think I don't know that?"

"So go over there and knock on his door!"

Kyan leaned his head to look down the hall. Jai and Ted were practically hovering around Thom's dressing room. Carson followed his gaze.

"I have to do everything around here, don't I?" Carson stated. "I need to ask for a raise, because I didn't sign up for this crap." He headed to the two men, giving a little swing to his hips.

Kyan had no idea what Carson had said, but seconds later, the hallway was empty and quiet. He started out, but then balked.

"One more check in the mirror," he coached.

Instantly, he was back in the room, crunching his hair through his fingers, rubbing some lotion on his hands, and popping in a breath mint. When he was completely satisfied, he pivoted to the door and inhaled deeply.

"Now or never."

The hallway seemed to be a hundred miles long. He swallowed thickly. He wasn't sure if he was going to be able to do this. Fear ran through his veins. Rejection just loved him, and he was quite aware of it. The last time he had asked someone out they had all but laughed in his face. He wasn't sure if he could handle it if Thom did the same thing.

"On the count of three…" He raised his hand and curled it into a tight fist. "One. Two. Thr---"

The door swung open.

"Oh my God!" Thom yelled, jumping back in fright.

Kyan yelped and stumbled, almost collapsing onto the white tiled floor.

"Jesus, you scared the crap out of me," Thom wheezed, holding his chest.

"Same here," Kyan grunted.

He laughed at the absurdity of it. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. You?"

Thom patted his chest with the palm of his hand. "Good to know the heart is still working." He tilted his head. "So, what's up?"

Kyan stole a look down the hall. "Are you busy right now?"

"Just on my way to the greenroom," Thom answered. He studied the man before him, sensing him being uncomfortable. "Something wrong? Do you need to come in?"

"Uh, nothing's wrong," he stammered. "But if you don't mind…" He stepped forward.

"Sure, sure." Thom held the door open and waited until Kyan had crossed into the room before shutting it.

"Tapings went well today, didn't they?"

"Easy as pie."

"Going anywhere over the break?"

"Nope. Just staying around here. I have a couple of jobs lined up."

Kyan nodded, remembering that Thom was still running his interior design business at the same time he was doing the show.

"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?" Thom asked, slowly, not exactly sure what kind of vibe was coming off the man in front of him.

"I just…" He shoved his hands in his pockets, then quickly took them out again in fear that it looked inferior and closed off. "Do you want to go out to dinner?" He blurted the question out.

Thom looked at his watch, unfazed by the proposal. "Sure. I have time. We've got Christmas gifts for everyone so it would be the perfect time. I thought we were going to meet in the greenroom though…"

His voice trailed off when he saw the look on Kyan's face and his brain caught up with the reality of what was really being asked. He licked his lips.

"Forget about it," Kyan sighed, praying that he would maintain composure until he reached his own dressing room. "I'm sorry I bothered you."

"Oh, Kyan, wait," Thom said, watching him head to the door. "I just misunderstood the question."

There was a rapping sound on the door, followed by Ted's voice. "Thom, hurry up! I have to get going. Barry is waiting for me outside."

"I'll be right there," Thom called out.

"Have you seen Kyan? He's not in his dressing room," Ted added.

Thom looked at Kyan, making solid eye contact. "Uh, no, Ted, I haven't seen him. I'm sure he's around." He paused. "Give me a couple of seconds, okay?"

"Okay."

The silence in the room was maddening as they waited until they were sure no one was hanging around the door, although Kyan had a mental picture in his head of Carson pressing his ear to the door.

"Thanks," Kyan managed, breaking the tension.

Thom nodded.

"Anyway, I need to go get everyone's gifts, so I'll---"

"You can't just walk away now," Thom argued.

"Why not?"

"You just asked me out, did you not?"

"And you just turned me down."

"I did no such thing! The context of the question threw me." He stepped forward. "Why don't you ask me again?"

"Please, Thom, I already feel humiliated enough, alright?"

"You don't know what I'm going to say."

Kyan groaned. He just wanted to be out of the room.

"Come on, Kyan."

"Okay, fine," he growled, giving in. "Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?" He paused for a half a beat. "Now, can I go?"

Thom smiled. "Yes."

"Great," Kyan muttered, then turning to the door.

"No," Thom said, laughing. "I mean, yes, I would love to have dinner with you."

Kyan stopped in his tracks and turned his head around. "Excuse me."

"How about Saturday night?" Thom continued. "I should be finished at six, so I can meet you at eight."

"Huh?" Kyan wasn't exactly sure what was happening. He had prepared himself so much for rejection that he didn't even consider he would get an acceptance.

"Kyan," he stressed, trying to bring him back to earth. "I'm saying yes, okay?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah." Kyan rubbed his eyes. "You are serious?"

"Oh my god, you've lost your mind," Thom teased. "How about we talk about this after we exchange gifts with the other guys? I'll call you tonight, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." He nodded, opening the door, thoroughly surprised not to see Carson standing there smiling like the Cheshire Cat.



By the time the Fab Five gathered in the greenroom, Kyan was calm, content, and happy. Carson saw the sparkle in his friend's eyes the second he entered the room, but was unable to press for details until they were safely in his car on the way home.

"I'd actually be shocked if he called me tonight," Kyan said.

"God, do I even ask why?"

"I made a complete fool of myself! He said 'Yes', and I somehow went into a catatonic state."

"Thom will not hold that against you. It's not like you don't know the man. You guys are definitely way passed the first impression phase."

"True."

"And stop being so negative! I've never seen this side of you before."

Kyan nodded, agreeing with him. It was time to get over his past relationships and automatically thinking Thom would join that group.

"Okay," said Carson, pulling up to Kyan's apartment. "Call me the second after you talk to him so I know when I have to be here to help you get ready."

"I think I'm old enough to dress myself."

"Nonsense! I'll have you looking irresistible."

"I won't win if I argue with you, will I?"

"Nope."

"Okay, fine," he sighed. "I'll call you."

They hugged briefly before Kyan climbed out of the car and ran up the flight of stairs to his home.



It was close to nine-thirty when the phone rang. Even though Thom had said 'Yes', Kyan still had to sooth his nerves before picking up.

"Hello." He hoped his voice didn't sound shaky.

"Kyan, it's Thom."

"Hey."

"Hey," he answered, smiling. "How are you?"

"Fine." Kyan sank into his couch. "You?"

"Wonderful."

"Good."

Thom chuckled. "You know why I'm calling."

"Yes," he said, almost blushing.

"So, what do you have in mind?"

Kyan closed his eyes, reveling in his voice. "I want to take you out to dinner, Thom."

"Anywhere?"

"Wherever you like."

"How about Chez Michallet?"

"Impeccable taste."

"It comes highly recommended from Ted."

His eyes snapped open. "Did you tell him?"

"Well, yeah. You know how Ted is. He mentioned to me that he thought you were a little off beat today. He wondered if I knew why. We started chatting…" He paused. "You aren't upset, are you?"

"No, of course not. In fact, I told Carson," he admitted.

"Oh, God- and between the two of them…"

"Jai now knows," Kyan finished.

"Exactly."

"Ah, well, whatever. They are friends. Let's get back to Chez Michallet."

"Yes," Thom said. "Is that okay?"

"Perfect."

"And very romantic," Thom added in one of his quirky voices.

Kyan laughed.

"So, Saturday night at eight?" asked Thom.

"Sounds good. I'll pick you up."

"Are you sure? I live so out of the way. We can meet there."

"I will pick you up," he repeated, sternly.

"Okay, okay. Good God. Saturday at eight. You'll pick me up," he repeated.

"Right." Kyan licked his lips. "So, uh, how's work coming?"

"After I left the studio this afternoon, I spent the rest of the day in my office talking to a lawyer who wants me to re-do his firm. I swear to God, it was like pulling teeth to get this man to talk. I'd just say screw it, but the money is just too good to pass up."

"How much?" Kyan asked.

"Half a million. Of course, my personal profit will only be a couple of hundred thousand after the expenses of the work."

Kyan didn't even balk at the mention of the money. The four guys had known before they even met Thom how much he was worth and how much money he had. The salary they received from the show was mere pocket change to him.

"I need the money to pay off the mortgage for my house upstate. It'll be one less bill."

Kyan glanced around his apartment and sighed. With the show's success the idea of buying his own home was more of a reality than before, but it still didn't help the fact that at the moment he was still stuck in a high-rise.

"Anyway," Thom continued. "This is all talk, talk, talk. I wouldn't even start that project until around March since we are totally booked for the next two months. I have another appointment with this guy after we get back from Wisconsin, and I'm finishing the final stages of the Atlantic apartments on Saturday morning."

"Oh? I thought you were done." Kyan remembered the fiasco at the beginning of the month when they had to rearrange the taping schedule so Thom could finish up the apartments and be there for the opening.

"A contractual obligation," Thom moaned. "I have to be there for the first open house, which is on Saturday. I'll get the rest of my pay after the event, and I'm sure I'll sign on a few more new clients."

"My God, Thom, when do you sleep, eat… have a life?"

"When do any of us?" Thom laughed. "I just have to get through February, and things will start to slow down. This whole promotional "tour" with the book, the CD, and the new season starting… it's going to kill me."

"Well, yeah, you don't stop!"

Thom took a beat before speaking, dropping his voice a little. "Why? Are you worried about me?"

Kyan's heart sprang to life, and his face grew hot. He wasn't sure if it was because he was embarrassed or if it had been Thom's voice that drove him to the reaction.

"What if I was?" he managed.

"You care that much about me?"

"You're my friend… of course…"

"Just a friend?"

Kyan bit his lip and took a deep breath. "What do you want me to say?"

Thom chuckled. "You've said enough." He paused. "I better get going. I have some things I need to do before I head to bed."

"Okay," Kyan answered, somewhat confused.

"I'll see you Saturday night?"

"Yes."

"I can't wait," Thom breathed. "Good night, Kyan."

He couldn't answer. The way Thom had said his name- the way it rolled off his tongue in a breathless sound- had him doubled over in overindulgent lust. He moaned as he tossed the phone to the other end of the couch, sunk into Thom's image, and hoped he would survive until Saturday.

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