Nate’s Apartment - Evening

Ryan stretched out lazily on the couch, his legs draped over Nate’s lap. He’d kicked off his shoes the moment he sat down, letting his socked feet rest on Nate’s thigh, completely at ease. Nate didn’t seem to mind, though his attention was focused on the laptop perched on Ryan’s legs. The light from the screen illuminated his serious expression, the glow contrasting with the warm lighting of the room.

“Okay, so I’ve narrowed it down to two places,” Nate said, scrolling through the vacation rental listings. His tone was thoughtful, as if every decision had weight, even something as simple as picking a beach house.

Ryan leaned his head back against the armrest, staring up at the ceiling, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “As long as it’s right on the beach and the place has a hammock, I’m good,” he said, his voice light and teasing. He kicked Nate gently, prompting a raised eyebrow in response. “You know I’ve been dreaming about that hammock.”

Nate snorted, shaking his head, but a small smile formed as he glanced over the listings. “Sure, Ryan. I’ll make sure they include a hammock just for you. Meanwhile, I’m trying to make sure we don’t end up in a shack. Some of these places look... sketchy.”

Ryan chuckled, folding his arms behind his head as he relaxed even further. “I trust your judgment. You always pick the good stuff.”

They were planning a surprise. Next week, spring break was going to hit, and instead of the usual routine of hanging out at someone’s place, the three of them were heading out for an adventure—a beach vacation. Ryan had been the one to suggest it, of course, eager to escape the cold and the monotony of college life, but Nate had taken the lead in figuring out the details. It was the perfect opportunity to spend a week together, unwinding by the ocean.

“Are you sure we should only get a one-bedroom?” Nate asked, pausing his scrolling to give Ryan a sideways glance. “It might be a little cramped.”

Ryan smirked, giving Nate another gentle nudge with his foot. “You really think we’re gonna sleep anywhere but the same bed? Come on, Nate. It’s a vacation, not some business trip. We’ll be fine.”

Nate sighed but didn’t argue. He knew Ryan was right. The three of them were so used to crashing together at sleepovers that it didn’t really matter. He scrolled a bit further, clicking on a rental that caught his eye. “This one looks good. Right on the beach, decent size, and a nice balcony.”

“Does it have the hammock?”

“No, but it does have a hot tub.”

Ryan grinned wide. “Sold. Book it.”

Nate rolled his eyes but was clearly amused. “Let’s wait until he gets here before we finalize everything. You know he’ll want to add his input.”

Ryan shrugged but couldn’t hide his excitement. “Yeah, yeah. He’ll love it, though. Can’t wait to see his face when we tell him.”

Just then, the familiar sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the apartment. Nate’s eyes flicked to the door, and Ryan’s grin widened.

“Speak of the devil,” Ryan said, swinging his legs off Nate’s lap and sitting up just as the door began to open.