Instead of the permission to enter, the door opens, and Jess stands at the entrance.
For a heartbeat, it looks as though he can't believe what's right in front of him, like he's staring at a ghost from the past, someone he thought he might never see again.
His eyes widen, lips parted slightly in disbelief. Behind him, Tanner rises slowly from his chair.
Without a word, Jess steps forward and throws his arms around Kyle. "Oh my word, I can't actually believe this," he breathes out, his voice small and shaky, filled with a tremble that betrays just how deeply this reunion is affecting him.
Kyle lets out a soft, nostalgic chuckle as he returns the embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around Jess. "Why not? Did Tanner tell you I died or something? Is that why you're so shocked we're meeting again?"
The words come out light-hearted, but they carry a heavy undercurrent. The emotions rising inside him are unexpected, nearly overwhelming.
