When I realize I’m stroking my morning wood while listening to Rama talk, I almost topple off the bed in my hurry to get my hand out of my pants.
Fuck.
We talk for a while before I tell him goodnight. Sitting on the couch drinking my coffee, I feel hollow with missing him.
In the past week or so, there has been some buzz about a season two. Evidently, Tida mentioned the possibility and the fan sites picked up on it. Would Rama be willing to do another season?
A smile stretches my face. Rama called me. I hadn’t expected that. Well worth waking up so early when I didn’t have to.
Sighing, I look over at my art supplies. I promised myself I would paint every day, and I plan to keep that promise. I’m meeting Kiet for lunch. If Rama didn’t call, I probably would have slept until the lastminute. Now I have plenty of time to start on the painting I promised him.
Setting my empty cup on the table, I rise and set up my easel. I wind up so immersed in my work I’m a little stunned when I next look at the clock and see it’s time to shower if I’m going to be on time to meet Kiet. I just need to finish the background first.
I wind up being late, and Kiet rolls his eyes at me when I approach him at the outdoor table of the restaurant. “I was just about to call you.”
“Sorry, I got caught up in painting.”
Kiet grins. “Well, that’s good. It means you’ve broken through your dry spell.”
I nod. I haven’t felt very inspired lately.
“How’d you do it?”
“I promised a painting to Rama, and I guess that motivated me.”
Kiet gives me a knowing look but whatever he’s about to say gets lost when the waitress approaches to take our order.
“You really like him, don’t you?” he asks when we’re alone again.
“Who?”
Kiet gives me a long-suffering look.
“Of course I like him. You know I do. We get along great.”
“If you ask me, I think you’ve got a little bit of a crush on him.”
“Good thing I didn’t ask you, then,” I say, taking a sip of fruit juice.
“That’s cold, man,” Kiet says, shaking his head. “I’m just looking out for you. The guy’s straight—although you wouldn’t know it from the way he acts around you. I saw some of those event videos. His ass touched your lap more than it did any chair.”
“I like it when he sits on my lap,” I say.
“I’ll bet you do.”
I sigh. “Cut it out. There’s nothing between us but friendship.”
“We’ve been best friends for years, and I’ve never sat in your lap.”
“Do you want to?” I ask teasingly.
“God, no. One poke of your boner, and I don’t think I could ever look you in the eye again.”
I chuckle. “Think a lot of yourself, don’t you? What makes you think I’d have a boner?”
“Well, just look at me.” Grinning, Kiet gestures to himself. “It’s amazing you’ve kept yourself in check all these years.”
Putting on a mock-serious face, I say, “I’ve done it for our friendship.”