The Long Wait for Tomorrow Read Online Free PDF

possibly
be
wrong. Kelly’s eyes were wide. Wide with what, exactly—surprise, amazement, bewildered fear, perhaps all of the above—that would have to wait. Patrick was more alarmed that Kelly should be in the grip of
any
of those emotions. It was the unspoken urgency of it all, the way Kelly stood poised with one hand on the door frame, the other fast on the knob. There was also the glaring detail that Kelly, fond of sleeping in the buff, hadn’t bothered to cover up before heading to the bathroom.
    Letting it all hang out, just standing there in his birthday suit.
    Patrick found his voice, coughed. “Everything all right, Kelly?”
    Kelly looked as though he was actually considering the question. Not so much considering, it was more than that. He narrowed his stare, leaned close toward his best friend’s mouth, as though wondering if Patrick had even
asked
the question.
    And Patrick thought maybe it was worth repeating: “Everything all right—”
    “Patrick?”
    A fairly simple question, although the uncertainty in Kelly’s eyes, the honesty of the inquiry, left Patrick at a loss. Unable to answer, and for a moment, it seemed as though nothing would happen unless Patrick did. All the makings of an endless staring contest, but then …
    “Patrick!” Kelly announced, answering his previous question with a delighted cry. He took Patrick by the shoulders, looked him up and down. Marveling at the sight of his best friend, Kelly then yanked roughly, pulling Patrick into a massive embrace.
    Patrick’s body went stiff. Playing possum as Kelly used his superior build to rock them back and forth in what felt like an extremely inappropriate slow dance. Kelly didn’t seem to notice, and he rubbed his hands against Patrick’s back, pulled away just in time to get his hands around Patrick’s head.
    Once again, Patrick remained still as could be, some primal instinct insisting his head was about to be ripped right clear from his shoulders. No worries, though. Kelly merely grinned,pressed his forehead against Patrick’s, and let out a rapid, breathless rasp.
    “Look at you, Patrick,” Kelly whispered.
    Kelly stepped back once more, gave Patrick yet another once-over. “Look at you! Look at you, you … look … aces!”
    Patrick was trying to figure out which one of them was still dreaming when Kelly began to laugh. Slow and uncertain, as though trying it out for the first time. Truth be told, it was the first time Patrick had heard this particular sound coming from Kelly. It was pure, giddy, and, under different circumstances, it might have been contagious.
    Time being, Patrick remained unable to even speak as Kelly brushed past him.
    The laughter continued, rising and falling on the back of invisible waves, as Kelly reached out to touch the hallway walls. Fingertips exploring with light strokes, as though checking for wet paint, Kelly made his way to the stairs, where he broke into a sudden trot. Down, down, down he went, thunderous footfalls rattling the house.
    Patrick watched this mad dash, finally finding his voice: “You want anything, Kelly …? I could … cook up some eggs, I guess.”
    We’ve already done that
, Patrick’s angels reminded him.
    Patrick took the stairs two at a time, leaped past the last five.
    He ran into the kitchen.
    Glanced left, then right; caught sight of Kelly’s ass disappearing through the doorway to the den.
    When Patrick caught up with him, Kelly was walking around the extensive, L-shaped couch, fingers stroking the brown leather, bare feet brushing along the gray carpet. Patrick watched from the doorway, debating whether to descend those four steps into the den. Kelly glided alongside the large glass table stationed between the couch and the flat-screen TV. He didn’t bend down, didn’t try touching this time; just moved his hands far above the transparent surface, as though preparing for the final act of a magic trick.
    He paused. Cocked his head to the side, listening …