Nick looked up from the game on the TV, and looked across the couch at Monroe. He was transfixed by the man's beautiful blue-grey eyes, and his strong, gruff features. Suddenly, Monroe looked up from the game, catching Nick's gaze.
"Something the matter?" He said, cocking his head to the left a little, catching the ample light in his gorgeous eyes.
"Hm? Oh, no, everything's fine." Nick said, trying to wipe the goofy grin from his face. He focused his eyes back on the game, and grabbed some popcorn. Monroe switched off the TV.
"Nick, come on man." He said, resting his hands in his lap.
"Monroe, nothing is wrong!" Nick said, walking to the kitchen.
"You want another beer?" Nick called from the kitchen doorway. He turned away so that Monroe couldn't see his blushing face.
"Nick, come on Buddy." Monroe sighed, standing. "Something's wrong, I can tell. And not just because I can smell it on you." He met Nick in the kitchen. "Now, tell me what's going on." He said, sitting at the table.
Nick sighed. "If I tell you this, do you promise not tell anyone, ever?" Nick said, still not facing his friend.
"I swear."
Nick drew in a deep breath, and cracked open a fresh beer. "Monroe, these past three months have been amazing. Staying with you has been a blessing. If it hadn't been for you, I might have been living alone in some shitty apartment on the west side of town, vulnerable and lonely. I can't begin to thank you for what you did for me." Nick took a long swig of his beer.
"But that's not the big secret, is it?" Monroe said, leaning back in his chair.
"No, of course not." Nick squeezed his eyes shut. "Monroe, these past few months have made me realize something: It's not being alone I was afraid of. It was being away from you. I- I love you, Monroe. Not just as a friend, more than that." Nick bowed his head in shame.
Suddenly, Nick felt his head being lifted, and a pair of soft lips on his own. He was too shocked to kiss back, at first. But sooner or later, he started to kiss back with a fierce passion. After about a minute or so, both men pulled away, gasping for air.
"So, I guess that means the feeling is mutual?" Nick said, laughing.
"Yeah, yeah it does."