Lose Yourself

Rainbow Confetti

Em followed Sam's car, parking the driveway behind him. He approached the car slowly, listening to the familiar beat.

"Do you want me to move my car? I know you have to work in the morning."

Sam shrugged. "I don't recall asking you to stay the night."

Em's face fell so dramatically that Sam laughed. "I'm kidding. I want you to stay but you'll have to get up and move your car."

"Oh, OK." 'Em frowned. "Were you listening to Til I Collapse?"

"Yeah, I listened to it about 4 times on the way here." Sam's lips quirked with a smile. "I was feeling romantic."

"That's no love song." Em argued.

"Maybe not to you. What were you listening to on the way over here?"

Em's eyes traveled the length of Sam's tall, lean body. "Total silence. I was trying to think of what I could say to get you to sleep with me again."

"Start with please." Sam's voice was soft and steady.

"Please? I'm not above begging for you to—"

Before Em could finish his sentence, Sam grabbed the front of his jacket and yanked him forward. Em hesitated for a split second, they were on Sam's front porch, totally exposed. But kissing Sam's cold lips and warm mouth felt like a bolt of electricity was coursing through him. His toes curled and he instinctively reached out to hold Sam's face in his hands. Sam twisted the front of his coat, pulling them closer and closer until there was no space between them at all.

"We need to take this inside" Sam practically growled, hauling him inside the warmth of the house.

2 months later:

Em scrambled when he heard the phone ring in his pocket. There were only a few numbers he was willing to answer. In his contacts, he'd labeled Sam's phone number My Home.

In the midst of a sea of voices, Em struggled to keep his voice low. "Hey, are you gonna be watching the Super Bowl tomorrow?"

"Nope."

Em didn't know how to respond. Then Sam laughed. "I'm kidding. I wouldn't miss it. Daphne and I are going to watch it at Bailey's house."

Em slid out of the posh restaurant booth to the outdoor patio. He had a magnificent view of the LA skyline, but he was more interested in his phone. Between travel, press interviews, and show rehearsals, he hadn't seen Sam in 10 days. He pressed a hand over his ear, struggling to hear over the volume of the restaurant. He missed his boyfriend so much that it made his bones ache. Since they had decided to have a serious relationship, they had slept in the same bed almost every night, and Em was hopelessly addicted to Sam.

"Wish I could see your face right now. I miss you so fucking much."

"Do you want to FaceTime?" Sam offered.

Em looked around. Unlike Detroit, where people were friendly but gave him space, everyone in Los Angeles seemed intent on being seen with him. His every move was being tracked, he was being recorded by dozens of people's phones at this very moment. "Too many assholes are up in my space here."

"Only 2 more days until you're home," Sam reminded him. He paused to send a picture of himself in bed, wearing a Lion's shirt and his glasses.

Em's heart flipped. "Are you seriously trying to kill me?"

"Your turn. Send me a pic."

Em scrolled through his phone and send a picture of the meal he'd just finished: grilled chicken and charred carrots. He took a moment to appreciate that he'd managed to get 50 Cent in the background.