Adam was an amazing hugger. Harry felt warm, cherished, and adored every time Adam’s strong body surrounded his own. It was amazing, really, how a simple hug could make him feel so much better, putting a spring in Harry’s step for most of the day. The only downside was, Harry had had to work hard on strengthening his mental shields, careful not to read Adam’s mind without his permission. Harry was no saint. He’d always been naturally curious, and he was really, really curious about what Adam thought of him, but he didn’t want to exploit his telepathy. It felt dishonest. Adam didn’t deserve that.
“Is your boyfriend coming today?” Samantha said, tearing him away from his thoughts.
Harry looked at her with a small frown. “What?”
Samantha grinned. “Come on, Haz, don’t play coy. I’m not stupid!”
“I don’t understand,” Harry said slowly. “What are you talking about?”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “Tall, dark and handsome, comes here every day like clockwork? Gives you obscenely big tips? Ring any bells?”
Harry laughed. “Adam? Don’t be silly, he’s not my boyfriend! He’s a friend.”
Samantha stared at him. “Are you pulling my leg?”
Harry swallowed his confusion—he didn’t understand what pulling Samantha’s leg had to do with the conversation, but the context was pretty clear, so he didn’t ask—and said, “No, I’m not. I’m serious. Adam’s my best friend. I have a—fiancée back home.” Not to mention that Calluvians didn’t have boyfriends or girlfriends. They had bondmates, and Adam obviously wasn’t his.
Samantha looked at him oddly. “Harry, you sit in his lap when there are no other customers,” she intoned.
Harry’s frown deepened. “So?” he said defensively. “I like it and Adam doesn’t mind!”
Samantha’s expression turned skeptical. “Look, I’m all for men expressing their emotions and being comfortable with physical touch—it’s the twenty-first century—but you have to admit it looks pretty strange when you sit in his lap for half an hour and cling to him like a baby koala.”
Harry pursed his lips, starting to get upset. “Are you implying it’s not normal for friends in this country?”
“It really isn’t,” Samantha said with a pinched look. “I’m sorry, but how can you be so socially inept, Haz?”
Harry looked down, picking at a brownie on the plate in front of him. He hated feeling so stupid and socially awkward. He had friends back home and he certainly didn’t hug them— adults didn’t hug each other on Calluvia—but he thought it was normal for humans. Adam was his only friend here. How was he supposed to know their friendship was strange by human standards? Why hadn’t Adam told him that Harry was behaving weirdly and was being too clingy for a friend? Harry knew Adam had a soft spot for him, but surely that wouldn’t stop him from telling Harry to be less of a weird idiot?
“I didn’t know,” Harry muttered, his mood ruined. He had been so looking forward to the end of his shift—Adam usually showed up around that time, too—and now he kind of dreaded it, horribly embarrassed.
Why didn’t Adam tell him?
The question bothered him for the rest of his shift.
When he heard the chime of the bell as his shift neared its end, Harry didn’t need to turn around to know it was Adam. He knew, somehow.
Harry took a few deep breaths, trying to fight the feeling of mortification and failing.
“Hey, babe,” Adam said.
Reluctantly, Harry turned around.
The easy smile on Adam’s lips faded. “All right, Haz?”
Normally, at this point, Harry would approach him, put his head on Adam’s shoulder and lean against him, silently asking for a hug. Adam would oblige, securing his arms around Harry, and they would talk for a while, discussing their respective days, or just chat about everything and nothing. Harry hadn’t realized how weird it was—or how much he wanted it until he couldn’t do it anymore.
“Why didn’t you tell me I was being a terrible friend?” Harry said.
Adam’s expression didn’t change. “What?”
“Samantha told me friends don’t hug so much,” Harry said, lowering his gaze to the counter. “That I’m too clingy.”
Silence.
Then Adam rounded the counter and tipped Harry’s face up with his fingers. “Hey, don’t be silly. You’re not a terrible friend. I’m more than happy to hug you if that’s what you want.”
Harry’s stomach dropped. “But what about what you want?”
A strange look flickered over Adam’s face. “I happen to enjoy hugging.” He chuckled, his teeth flashing. “Did you really think I was just putting up with it? I have too little patience for that.”
“But you don’t hug Jake at all and he’s your friend, too,” Harry pointed out, suddenly realizing that he’d never seen Adam hug Jake.
Adam raised his eyebrows. “How do you know? Maybe we cuddle all the time when you don’t see us.”
An unfamiliar, unpleasant feeling settled low in Harry’s stomach. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he didn’t like it. “Do you?” he said, trying not to think of Jake wrapped in Adam’s arms. It felt wrong, somehow.