Really, Eisen hadn’t meant to react as he had. But a combination of fear and his apparent burgeoning feelings, mixed in with exactly how fragile he knew Rory was right then? There was no other choice. Eisen had panicked. Begged Alex Bailey to beat on him instead (anything was better than having Rory deal with him) and probably put a lot more stock in the threats than was really necessary. But when you feel yourself almost certainly falling in love with your best friend, what else is there to do than put yourself on the line? Eisen would do it again if he had to. And again and again and again.
He looked at the clock from time to time, paying close attention to how long it took Rory to get there. He had it mostly down to a science, the amount of time it took to get from his apartment to the Spinelli’s with Rory alongside him was no more than ten minutes. And each second that ticked by past that ten minute marker made the panic bubble higher in Eisen’s chest. What if Bailey had been serious? What if he’d meant what he’d said and had stopped Rory on the way to Eisen’s to hurt him… or something? No. No, Eisen needed to think that it wouldn’t happen. He’ll be here. Stop panicking… he thought, eyeing the clock again and then walking over to the window. Come on, Rory… he thought.
Admittedly, it was only partially because of his worry for Rory that he wished he’d hurry. The longer it took Rory to get there, the more time he had to… think. Think about what Gio had said. Tell him how you feel, he’d said. What did that mean? Well, Eisen knew what it meant, of course, but what did Rory know? Had Gio told him? He’d said that he hadn’t, but now there was this gnawing panic in the back of his mind that Rory knew. He couldn’t know. Him knowing would be … well, terrifying was a start. Also potentially the end of their friendship, among other things. Gio wouldn’t do that, though. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
When he heard the doorknob turning, he whirled around and looked at Rory, at least a little bit of relief washing over him that Alex Bailey hadn’t gotten him while he was out. “Hey, Rory,” he started softly, not knowing what else to say.
Are you okay? No. Rory was likely anything but okay. I’m glad you’re here? No. While Eisen was glad that Rory was there? He wouldn’t turn this so it was about him. It wasn’t about him. It was about Rory, and it was Eisen’s turn to be there for him, like Rory had for Eisen so many times. I love you?No. As a starter, it wasn’t ideal. Maybe if things progressed the right way, he’d put his cards on the table, but he couldn’t… he couldn’t risk it.
“Come on and sit,” he said, walking over to the couch. He’d hug him when he could do it properly, without the chair getting in the way.