Some irresistible compulsion took hold of Kennet, knocking aside any semblance of decent behavior. He shrank into the shadows, pulled himself small and silent. His ears bulged against the night, but he couldn’t discern words. Only the slow, slurring ups and downs of two deep voices. Two feet of space separated Minor’s right shoulder from O’Hara’s left, making a third entity that shimmered and stretched.

It almost seemed to yearn.

Slowly, Kennet became that space, condensed into the essence of patience.

He waited.

And watched.

O’Hara’s head dropped, his fingers laced at his nape.

Minor drained the last of his beer, then set the bottle down. He slid closer.

O’Hara moved over a little, head still bowed.

They sat still a long time.

Kennet barely breathed.

Minor put his hand between O’Hara’s shoulder blades. Above it, O’Hara’s head was shaking. No. I can’t.

Minor’s hand made a few easy circles before gliding up to rest at the back of O’Hara’s head, on top of O’Hara’s twined fingers. His torso expanded and contracted in a big sigh that materialized as steam, then dissolved.

O’Hara seemed to shrink, down and to his left. His dark head now lolling on Minor’s shoulder. Nodding. Yes. I can.

Minor set his chin on O’Hara’s crown. They held still. Breathing.

Kennet swore he could feel their combined heartbeats through his feet. Minor’s face was in profile, showing his guarded, brooding, scarred side.

His twin’s side.

Lauren, Kennet thought. Say her name. Lauren. Birdie. Don’t fly away this time. No more leaving. Stay. Stay with him. Let him feel this moment with his entire, twinned soul. Stay, little bird. It’s safe here…

Minor turned his mouth down into O’Hara’s hair. His eyes closed and his hand caressed O’Hara’s head. He and O’Hara were rocking a little. Leaning on each other. Testing the tenacity of the night. Following where it led.

Little by little, Minor’s fingers, soft and easy on O’Hara’s head, began to stretch out wide. Taking hold. Taking ownership. They dug furrows into O’Hara’s hair and slowly pulled.

O’Hara’s chin came up. His head dropped into the cradle of Minor’s forearm, face to the sky. A cloud of his breath rose as Minor pressed his mouth into O’Hara’s throat.

Stay, Kennet thought. Without him being aware, his palm had lifted, as if making a place where a bird could perch. Stay, please stay.

A ripple went down the back of O’Hara’s jacket. Now his head canted toward Minor. His hand slid along Minor’s jaw.

They kissed each other.