Page 81 of Love Unlimited

There was a little shuffling around. Dustin gave Ash the electric guitar back and picked up the acoustic. They set the speaker on the coffee table and Landon leaned down right in front of it. Zhong put his fingers on top. He wouldn’t hear anything, but he’d feel the beat.

Ash stumbled through it, checking Dustin’s fingers when they forgot. It was so much harder playing while they were singing, but they sang their heart out. “I used to think maybe you loved me/Now, baby, I'm sure... “

Landon and Zhong both beamed at Ash.

It was funny. They’d been singing that song all day because they loved the bouncy beat. And because they were walking on sunshine tonight. But maybe there’d been a bit more truth in it than they realized. Not that Dustin had said he loved them… but emotions meant something.

They finished the piece with what was supposed to be a flourish, but got kind of mangled. Everyone applauded anyway. They shook their fingers out, waiting for the sting to die down.

So should we expect more concerts in the future? Landon asked.

I think so, Dustin answered. He looked relaxed and happy, the way he was supposed to.

We’re gonna be rock stars! Ash added. How were the movies? They really wanted to know how it went. Not the movies themselves, but Landon and Zhong’s quasi-date.

We read the schedule wrong, Zhong answered. They were both horror flicks. You two would have hated them.

Ash shivered. Soooo glad I wasn’t there. But you two had fun?

Yep. Landon turned to Dustin. We were thinking about going to the whole summer series. It’s every Wednesday and they always have subtitles. Next week is the sci-fi thing we thought was this week, and then it just rotates. You two might like some of them.

Dustin looked over to Ash, a question on his face.

Ash answered it. I think this should be your special thing since you both love movies. We can all watch movies together at home sometimes. They didn’t even think until after they said it, that they were thinking of home as where they were sitting right now. Having a key just made it official.

Landon and Zhong looked at each other, still showing a bit of the nervousness Dustin had earlier. It was all still baby steps.

Sounds good, Zhong agreed first.

I’m in, Landon echoed.

Awesome. So does that mean that Wednesday night is also band practice?

Dustin shook his head fondly, since the two of them were never going to play for anyone but the audience standing in front of them. Sure. It’ll be band practice.

Hooray!

Landon looked like he was going to say something, but then he yawned and stretched.

It’s late, Zhong commented. Time for bed. That was his no nonsense Daddy face.

Ash pouted, even though they loved it. But Landon yawned, not me!

You’re sleepy too, Daddy told them confidently. Let’s go.

OK, Daddy. They lifted their arms so he could pick them up, then wrapped their legs around his waist. They were still humming as he carried them up the stairs.

Chapter 13

Dustin

Dustin surveyed the grid of cards on the coffee table. He could maybe think of a clue, but it wasn’t going to be a good one. The four of them were playing Codenames: Duet again, but now the group knew better than to put Ash and Zhong on the same team. Since the two teams were ultimately collaborating, the whole group would just lose.

So Dustin was nuzzled up against Zhong’s shoulder on the couch. The other team was signing to each other behind a box lid from another game, and Dustin was feeling like he never wanted to move again.

Zhong ran a hand up his arm and then twined their fingers together. Dustin nuzzled against his cheek, just absorbing the smell and feel of his best friend. Zhong’s hands were strong and felt just right in his.

He hadn’t realized how much he wanted this until he had it. It was like, now that he got to snuggle with Zhong with Landon’s blessing, he craved it all the time. He’d even stopped feeling guilty about it after the first three or four times Landon and Ash practically pushed the two of them together.