Will you stay for tea, Officer Danforth?

That March night in New Mexico turned out to be particularly gloomy and disturbing. The whole sky was filled by thunderclouds, ready at any moment to irrigate, probably, most of the town. Because of the thick clouds, not only the shining of the stars, even the moonlight didn't penetrate the empty streets. Indeed no one was going to look at a constellations on the street; neither drunk students nor lost loners nor sweet couples wandered between the lanterns in the middle of the night. The oppressive silence before the rainfall almost physically hurt the ears. That March night, his only companion was insomnia.   Ryan wrapped in his satin sapphire-colored dressing gown stood at the window in his bedroom and peered uneasily into the darkness of the road along his house. The heartbeat reverberated loudly in his head, temples, even in his fingertips, which made him just shrug his shoulders and shrink even more. The recent incident never left his mind. Before his eyes sometimes appeared those scary and awful minutes, when he in the middle of a peaceful evening in a cultural company of a glass of wine heard the sound of a broken window in the hallway, heavy footsteps and the sounds of falling and breaking things, very unfriendly voices approaching faster and faster. Ryan managed to get through to the rescue service but a faint quick thud of slippers on the stairs attracted the robbers to the second floor where they found the owner of the house scared to hell. He’ll never forget those small dark eyes watching him as he sat in a chair with a gun to his nose. Plunged into such dark memories again under the influence of a nasty atmosphere Ryan sighed loudly and reached for the phone with his slightly shaking hand. This number was saved in speed dial so he didn't have to say anything; only after hearing short beeps and fast answer “Already on the way” Ryan hung up and taking his time, carefully descended to the first floor. Every time he nervously looked back at the closed doors of empty rooms, which gave him goosebumps. He still lived alone in a huge comfortless house. Ryan heard the doorbell ring three minutes after dialing the number, and then his expected guest opened the door himself. Evans stayed in the hallway in front of the entrance door watching as the policeman looks around warily with a gun held out in front of him. Immediately noticing Ryan six feet away from him he raised his eyebrows wonderingly, holstered his weapon instantly and closed the door behind him clearly aware that there is no danger.  “Is something wrong Mr. Evans?” Man asked coming a little bit closer. He put both hands on his hips hiding his thumbs behind his belt.    “Yeah…” It was as if he had just woken up from a trance or came out of his thoughts. He rapidly straightened up and waved his index finger vaguely behind his back in the direction of the living room, “It seemed to me I heard something there… But it looks empty. There’s nobody…”   Ryan didn't think through his lie to make it seem more convincing. Realizing that it didn't sound so plausible he bit his lip and rubbed his neck with his hand raised before. Now he felt awkward that he succumb to some momentary weakness, impulsive desire. “I’m sorry, Officer Danforth, for so much late call—” “Oh no, don’t be!” Danforth hastened to interrupt his apology, “You did the right thing. After your experience it’s totally fine to hear strange sounds and constantly to be on the alert.” He put his hand on Ryan’s shoulder softly in a soothing gesture. Which lasted a little longer than the situation required. “So! Let me check it out anyway, just in case.”        Chad cleaned his throat and confidently went behind Ryan's back into the indicated living room to inspect it for the presence of outsiders or disturbers. Evans watched the officer squeezing the pleasant fabric of the dressing gown between his fingers and pursing his lips. In presence of this man he felt much calmer and pleasant warmth erasing all anxiety was spreading inside his chest. Making eyes contact after examining the room they smiled restrained to each other, though Ryan hastened to look away embarrassed to watch in such sunny and friendly officer’s face. Danforth nervously putting his hands in his pockets returned to Ryan. “It’s all clear. Definitely, you have no reason to worry.” Chad shrugged continuing smiling radiantly. “Or, maybe, there’s something else?”       “No-no, really, it’s okay—” Ryan waved his hands in front of him convincing that nothing bothers him, “it’s okay now. Thank you, really. I feel bad that I had to call you just like that—”  The way Ryan rubbed his hand shyly, shifting from one foot to the other and didn't know where to put himself at all Chad found incredibly charming. He sighed deeply and relaxed his shoulders touching Ryan's forearms with his hands.  “Mr. Evans, you can call me whenever you need as soon as something seemed strange, or scared something. It doesn’t bother me at all but you should be calm.” He looked into Ryan’s face, whose cheeks were slightly touched with a blush from the soothing words.    “Thank you, Officer Danforth.” Evans looked up at him for just a couple of seconds, and again took his gaze somewhere in Chad's chest. He tried several times to say something, but each time he didn’t dare, and only the tilt of Danforth's head, interested in his behavior, still gave him courage. “May I have one more thing?...”   “For sure, anything you want.” Chad nodded frisky sincerely agreeing to everything Evans will ask or offer. So he easily succumbed to his impulse when Ryan hastily clung to him and put his hands on his broad back relaxing in a hug. Chad wrapped his arms around Ryan in response gently stroking his back and feeling the smooth satin and warmth of a hot, confused body under his palms. They were surrounded by complete peace and tranquility, despite the raindrops that rarely began to knock on the windows. Feeling someone else’s breath above his ear Ryan pressed his cheek to Danforth’s shoulder and slightly smiled. It's so nice to feel supported when you've been living alone for a long time and stewing in your problems and fears alone. And behind the confidently straightened shoulders you feel like behind a stone wall. He felt Chad starts lightly tapping out some soothing monotonous rhythm between his shoulder blades and closed his eyes.      “Will you stay for tea, Officer Danforth?”