Heartfelt Makeover #4
It’s hilarious how simple a moment it is, yet both Qi and Marcus are riveted to Tristan’s back. I chuckle lightly and tug on Tristan’s arm to let him know he can turn around. Marcus’s eyes widen at the look, but Qi simply drinks him in.
Marcus whistles with appreciation. “Wow, it’s so good. I came up to tease him, but there’s nothing to tease. You’re a miracle worker, Qiang.”
Qi lets out a hiss of air. “Hey, Marcus, it’s not like they had that harsh of a canvas to start with!” he points out defensively.
Marcus just shrugs at that. “True, but still.”
Tristan looks at me, then flicks his gaze towards the bathroom. “Should I take it off before we head down?”
Qi pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and shakes his head. “No, leave it on for a bit. I’ll help you take it off later,” he says suggestively, and I roll my eyes.
I place all my bets that it’s not even a sexual suggestion; it’s just him getting all giddy about making out in the bathtub later if they make it that long, since they’ll most likely be making out before the movie is even over.
Tristan’s grin only grows as he flits his hand down the length of Qi’s arm. Qi and he exchange a glance that holds the universe that exists only for them in it before Tristan turns to look at Marcus.
“Okay, Marcus, come down with me and help me choose what to order for dinner.”
Marcus just shrugs and leans against the doorframe. “I want the pad kaprow from the Thai place.”
“Okay, but come help me order it,” Tristan prods, giving Marcus a ‘not even a little bit subtle’ look.
Marcus frowns and looks at Tristan. “I already said what I wanted.”
“Marcus,” Tristan hisses again while flitting his eyes meaningfully between Qi and me.
“Oh,” Marcus exclaims, finally catching on. “But I need to see if they have the mango sticky rice or not,” he chimes in ridiculously.
It’s taking everything in me not to laugh at these two right now.
What’s sad is that this isn’t a gimmick at all; it’s very much how they always are.
It’s hilarious how people on the outside seem to think these two are suave heartthrobs, instead of the very awkwardly adorkable men they actually are.
It doesn’t help at all that it only makes Marcus that much more desirable.
The ever-present ache in my chest throbs a bit mournfully in agreement with the thought before I tuck it away and focus on Qi.
Qi looks over at me after they leave the room and shakes his head with bemusement. “They are about as subtle as a freight train in the living room.”
I snort at that. “Right?!?”
We both start laughing for a moment before the reality of why Tristan wanted to get Marcus out of the room settles back in. As our chortles die down, I look over at Qi.
“I’m going,” I say simply.
Qi frowns and looks up at me, his eyes probing mine. “You’re going where?”
“Tristan is gonna help me look for a therapist, and then I’m gonna go do what I should have done four years ago,” I explain, focusing more on putting my makeup away than on his face for a moment.
“Yeah?” His voice is quiet, but there’s so much hope in the one-syllable word that it just chips further away at that crack Tristan put in my chest earlier.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I lied to you. It was easier to lie than face it, and it was really selfish, and I’m sorry,” I add, looking everywhere except him.
I really suck at apologizing and at knowing how much eye contact is appropriate in moments like these. It’s all just very uncomfortable.
“Qiang?” Qi calls, grabbing my attention.
“All I really care about is you. I don’t like seeing you self-destruct when I know how much better you are than that.
And I really don’t like being lied to, but I can move past it if you just try to work through some of this,” he says sincerely, reaching for my hand.
I slip my fingers between his and look up at him. “Will you go with me?”
Qi’s brow furrows. “To the therapist’s?”
I nod and look a bit past his shoulder. “Obviously not in the room, and it’ll be kind of boring to just sit in the waiting room, but I think it’ll help knowing that you’re there; that you’re close by, you know.”
Qi squeezes my hand, and I catch the spread of a smile across his face. “Of course I can do that. There’s nothing I won’t do for you, you know that.”
Those stupid tears try to come back again. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve–” I start to say, but I’m interrupted by a flick on the forehead.
“I really hate it when you say that,” Qi huffs out.
I chuckle at that, rubbing my forehead lightly. “I agreed to therapy; can we just say yay to small victories?”
Qi rolls his eyes. “It’s not a small victory, Qiang. This is a big step, and I’m so proud of you. Don’t downplay it. And for the record, you’re just as awesome as I am, and good things are allowed to exist without always having to earn them.”
I grin up at him, wanting to get the lightness from earlier back. “Good things like Thai food and goth rock operas,” I suggest, wiggling my eyebrows at him.
He laughs at my ridiculousness. “Sounds good.”
“Right?!? They aren’t even gonna know what hit them.”
“Not even a little bit; we’re about to warp their fragile little minds.”
“It’s gonna be so much fun!” I exclaim, linking my arm around Qi’s and heading out of the room to join Tristan and Marcus.