Free Actually by Mia Watts Page A

everything too?”
Aaron got momentarily lost in Ian’s soft blue eyes. They looked at him with patience and understanding, not pity, not disgust. He smelled like basil from the pizza and like laundry detergent. Heated by his body, it created a comforting cocoon of scents that reminded him of all the times he’d imagined being this close to Ian and what he’d want to do if given the opportunity.
Now he was this close. He could see the glint of strawberry in his blond hair up close, and he detected a little green cloudiness to the pristine blue of his eyes. His stubble had grown in like blond frost, barely perceptible at a distance, and deceptively rugged from this angle.
“You’re going to be okay,” Ian murmured. He sounded gruff as though the emotion of everything Aaron struggled with were shared by him, as well. Like they really were in this together and Ian really would be there to help him through it.
Kindness, the need, the tenderness of the man holding him, undid Aaron. He slid his hand up behind Ian’s head, spearing his fingers through the short, soft strands and pulling him down the two inches it took for Aaron’s lips to meet his.
They were soft, dry, smooth, warm, all the things he remembered they were and more. Aaron shifted to find better contact. The doorbell rang and Ian snarled unhappily.
Aaron ducked out of his embrace. “I’ll get it.” He swung open the door and invited the uniformed police officer in.
The officer glanced between the two men. “Which of you is Aaron Hedlund?”
“That’s me,” he answered easily.
    The questions seemed to go on forever. Ian tamped down his impatience all over again. He had no right to want to steal Aaron for himself again. Mike was more important that what had gone on between Ian and Aaron before the officer arrived. He helped by flipping through the phonebook, locating the parents of the students Mike associated with based on Aaron’s list.
“What precipitated his departure?” the officer asked.
    Aaron’s pen paused mid-address. He glanced at Ian. He shouldn’t have felt embarrassed, but he was. Because like it or not the cop would have an opinion about the kiss on the cheek he’d been given by Aaron moments before Mikey took off. Aaron might be out to people, but Ian wasn’t.
    “There’s a lot,” Aaron said.
“Start at the beginning,” the officer said, flipping a page in his notebook. “My parents died in a car accident a few months ago,” Aaron began. “He was asked to
    identify their bodies. He’s been through a lot.”
“And now? What happened last night that made him leave?” the officer pressed. “Mr. Mitchell, Mike’s history teacher at Westwood High, used to be my teacher too. He
    knows our family pretty well. He’s come over to help us out when things get tough.” Aaron shot Ian another glance. The officer followed it, his brows lifting. “Yesterday, Ian came over to make us dinner so that I could study after work. I needed
the help. It’s been difficult. Anyway, I kissed Ian on the cheek and my brother saw it. He blew up at Ian with an off-color remark and slammed the door behind him. That’s the last I heard.”
    “Did you try his friends?”
“I did. Specifically his girlfriend, but her mother hadn’t seen either of them.” Aaron handed him the list he’d been working on. “This is everyone I know about. His girlfriend and some old friends I haven’t seen around this year. He’s been kind of a loner.”
    “Drugs? Alcohol?”
“No, sir. Nothing like that,” Aaron answered.
“Nothing you’re aware of,” the officer corrected.
“I see him at school regularly. He’s been missing a lot of class, but he’s not behaving like
someone who’s strung out,” Ian said stepping up to defend the kid.
    The officer tucked his notebook away. “Yet when I first asked you who you thought he might be with, you told me that his girlfriend is known for being a pothead. Chances are good he’s into it too.”
    Aaron nodded