The front door clicked open, and Ryan abandoned the controller without a second thought as he rose.
"You're back." The words tumbled out with a smile that transformed his entire face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He crossed the room quickly, his arms already opening. "I missed you."
Theon stopped three feet from him. His hands remained at his sides.
Ryan's momentum faltered. His arms hovered in the space between them, waiting for an embrace that wasn't coming. The smile began to thin at the edges.
"Do you?" Theon asked.
Ryan's arms lowered slowly, his brow furrowing as he studied Theon's face. His voice softened, cautious now. "Are you okay?"
Theon almost laughed. The sound that escaped his throat was hollow, broken at the edges. That question. After everything.
"Tell me about your wife." He blurted.
Ryan froze. The silence that followed was answer enough.
