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"Long time no see." Jake’s eyes ran over Samuel.
It was weird to see him again. There were so many things between them unspoken, things he had wanted to tell him. He had counted down the days of Samuel’s release every day for the past two days. And here he was, in front of him.
"You look good," Jake said when Samuel didn’t say anything.
Samuel raised his eyebrows."You’re staring at my chest."
"I’m not." He was but nobody could blame him for that. He quickly looked away and then Samuel laughed. It started as a small chuckle before Jake joined him and they were both laughing.
"Fuck," Jake said and with a few steps he crossed the space between them. "I missed you."
"I know."
"You fucker wouldn’t let me visit you."
"Yeah."
"I came to see you every visit day for months! And every time you didn’t want to see me." Jake’s hands grasped Samuel’s collar. Samuel didn’t even want him to pick him up. Jake had no idea why. Maybe he didn’t want Jake to see him like that. Because even though it was true, Samuel did look good— he always did— Jake could tell that the time there had been rough for him.
"Jake. Get your hands off me."
"What? You want to fight again?"
"Don’t we always do that?" Samuel asked.
He was right. Every time they met again, they usually would immediately go back to fighting. Not this time. Not when the last time they saw each other before Samuel was arrested was when they finally admitted their feelings for each other. Okay, it had been Jake who said it, and Samuel had laughed and told him to get over them and forget him in the years. But not without kissing Jake.
And… fuck. How was he supposed to forget about Samuel when that was the last thing he left with him? A kiss that had been too short, the lingering feeling of Samuel’s lips on Jake’s that he had ached for every day after that.
There was no way Jake could just get over Samuel when they had finally kissed after Jake had thought about it unfortunately too often. Even caught himself thinking about Samuel when he was supposed to hate him. Except Jake had never really hated Samuel, probably not in the same way Samuel had hated him.
Jake had just been frustrated, upset, felt betrayed.
"I don’t want to fight anymore," Jake admitted.
"Have you become soft?" Samuel asked.
Jake laughed. "Nah. Just don’t want to fight you anymore. I’ve waited so long for you, you know?" He lowered his gaze to Samuel’s lips and then up again to his eyes. "Even before you got locked up. I’ve waited for you."
"Wrong. That was when I waited for you."
"No, dumbass. Waited for you to come along." Jake lowered his hands. "I don’t want to waste any time anymore."
Samuel stared at him. Then he shook his head before taking out a pack of cigarettes from the front pocket of his shirt. "You were just wasting your time. I heard about what you’ve done while I was gone. Heard you build up Big Deal again."
Jake smiled. "Yeah."
"Good for you."
"What’s that supposed to mean? You’re part of Big Deal."
Samuel laughed as he lit his cigarette. "Big Deal? I haven’t been a member for years. I have bigger aspirations, Jake. You know I always have."
"Fine. But you have nowhere to go for now," Jake said. "So come back at least for now."
Samuel narrowed his eyes. "I’ll pass."
"What?!"
Samuel turned around but Jake caught his arm.
"I don’t get it. Why did you even come here when you knew you weren’t going to say?!"
Samuel turned around. His eyes lowered to Jake’s hand that was grabbing his arm. "You know why."
"No! I don’t! I never get you. You always do things I don’t understand. Like when you betrayed us. When you then tell me about your plan. When you fucking— when you kissed me after I told you I love you."
He must’ve not expected Jake to mention it judging by Samuel’s shocked expression. "That was two years ago. I told you to get over me."
"And I didn’t. Didn’t back then, won’t now. You’re stuck with me, okay? I build Big Deal up again with all the others. Yes. But we did it with a spot open for you."
Samuel laughed. "Nobody but you wants me there."
"Sinu wants you back too."
Samuel clenched his jaw. "Jake. Do you think I haven’t made any connections while I was in there? I have another place now."
"Wrong."
"What?" Samuel furrowed his brows.
"Yeah, that’s where you’re wrong, man."
"You can’t just say I’m wrong."
Jake shook his head. "Nah. You’re wrong."
Samuel glared at him and shook Jake’s hand off. "You’re just being childish now."
"And you’re not? How long are you going to run away from me? You know your place is here with me. We both know it. We’re stronger together," Jake said.
It’s always been them. Jake and Samuel. With the two of them together, he was sure they could do anything.
"I’ll give you a week," Jake said and held up his index finger. "One week to settle everything and complete your unfinished business."
"And then what?"
"And then come back to Big Deal. What else?" Jake grinned.
Samuel was grinning now too but his smile was menacing. "I forgot how annoying you can be."
Jake laughed. "I can try."
"And if I don’t come back?"
"I’ll just drag you back! A week, remember?"
Samuel clicked his tongue. "I won’t come back."
He came back.
It was a bit over a week— by 36 minutes to be exact— but he was back.
"I fucking hate you," Samuel said begrudgingly after he had sat over ten minutes in his new car to debate whether or not he should come back.
Jake laughed. "I know. Come in."
Samuel looked around. It was an upgrade from where Jake used to live before. Samuel has heard how Big Deal was been growing and flourishing lately. He heard of the young leader being the reason for it. As far as he knew, Sinu was still recovering mentally but knowing Jake, he probably was just waiting for Sinu to take over one day.
Samuel would laugh at him because Jake was holding onto Big Deal’s Golden Era too much. They’d never come back to it, there was no use to holding a spot for Sinu as the leader any time soon, and for Samuel. But he was here now too, right? So in a way, he was holding onto that time as well.
"Jerry didn’t think you’d come back."
"I’m sure he didn’t want me to come back," Samuel said. That guy always idolized Jake to no extent. The loyal huge puppy followed Jake everywhere. It was no surprise that Jerry isn’t too fond of Samuel who had done nothing but push Jake away over and over again.
Jake chuckled. "To be honest, I had no idea if you were going to come back either."
"Where’s all the confidence gone?" Samuel teased.
"Yeah, I got cocky. But then you didn’t come and days passed and I started to freak out, to be honest." Jake laughed. "Like, maybe I was holding onto it too much and you moved on. I’m glad you didn’t."
Words were stuck in Samuel’s mouth. He had thought of what he’d say to Jake way too many times. Even between the visits, he had thought about how he maybe would be ready to talk to him next time. But he never had been. At some point, he had just stopped trying and told himself it was better for Jake to just completely forget him. Stubborn asshole didn’t give up for months though.
"I don’t think I’ll stay though," Samuel said. "This was never for me."
"I know. Just want you to have a place to, you know." Jake shrugged. "Come home to eventually."
The words stuck Samuel. His heart felt heavy and the strong facade shattered. He bridged the small distance between them, pulled Jake down by his collar, and kissed him. The height difference between them wasn’t big and barely visible but Samuel noticed it now more than he used to. Did Jake grow even more?
Jake responded after a short moment of surprise and kissed Samuel back. Arms found their way around Samuel's frame and he pushed him closer, closer until there was no space between them.
When they broke their kiss, Jake smiled. "Which one of my words made you do this? Just so I can write it down to know so it’ll happen again."
"Shut up," Samuel said and kissed him again. And again.
Shit, he loved Jake. He knew he should hate him but while they were separated, the feelings have faded. Replaced by the need to see him again and also the fear of seeing him again.
"So, you’re back?" Jake asked.
Samuel hummed. "Yeah. For now."
"Welcome home."
"When I leave again," Samuel said. "Would you go with me?" He had asked him this before because he knew back then as well that they were better together.
"Samuel. There was a time while you were gone that I would’ve said yes… but I’ve built all this up again. I can’t leave them and Sinu anymore. I may be wildly in love with you but I wouldn’t."
"Okay." Samuel let his thumb run over Jake’s lower lip. "Just stay here." Jake was right. He wanted to have a place to come home to.
"Okay."
"I love you too."
The corner of Jake’s lips curled up. "You finally said it."
"Don’t make me regret it."