Page 110 of Septembers

“You stop.”

“Theo.” He took his hands from his face and held them. “We’re okay, right?”

Okay? They were forever, eternal, intertwined in a way no force in the universe could untangle. “I thought that was fairly obvious.”

Dae not-smiled, then noticed Theo’s annoyed pout and gave him a huge, manic grin, dimples and all. “This better?”

“I know you’re teasing, but honestly, yes.”

He dropped it and gave him a real, soft smile, then leaned forwards to kiss his forehead. “I can do that now, right?”

“I meant what I said, Dae. You can do whatever you want.”

Mischief crossed his face. At first Theo thought there were sexy ideas brewing, but then he sat up. “I’m getting the first-aid kit.”

༻𓆪 𓆩༺

It was almost a perfect morning. Theo was wearing his coziest pajamas, Dae’s powder-blue shirt hugged his chest, a toasting bagel filled the apartment with a baked-bread smell, and the kitchen was bathed in sunshine like they were shooting a gay coffee commercial.

All Theo needed was for the love of his life to act like they were actually together.

“How do you feel?” Dae took Theo’s arm to examine the barely-there bruises and healed cut.

“It’s been okay for days. You don’t need an excuse to touch me, you know.” Theo gave him a kiss on the cheek, then turned to soak his bagel in garlic butter. He wanted Dae to hug him from behind, put his head on his shoulder and nuzzle into his neck as Theo giggled at him to stop. Maybe he’d seen too many romantic comedies, and his idea of what real love was had been unrealistically skewed because of it, but he couldn’t help what he wanted.

Their cozy, sexy, romantic bubble from that first weekend had burst as soon as they went back into the real world, leaving them in a state of careful limbo. Dae’s words, his kisses, and the way he touched him was all so fucking polite it made Theo want to scream. The only sign that their relationship had shifted was the occasional hand-hold on the couch. If they didn’t end up in bed together every night, Theo could’ve convinced himself he’d dreamed the whole thing.

Was he dreaming the whole thing? Never before had a man made him so crazy. But what could he say: ‘I thought we were boyfriends now’? He wasn’t a high school senior asking him to wear his letterman’s jacket. And how was Dae so calm? How was he making breakfast every morning, kissing Theo on the cheek when he went to work, and texting him about the landlord coming by to fix the sink? Theo wanted to tear his clothes off, shower him with compliments, and tell him how much he wanted him. But he didn’t. Because Dae didn’t. And it was making him miserable.

“Here.” Dae slid him a plate topped with offensively healthy eggs and steamed vegetables.

Theo tried to move it away with the power of his mind. He’d never succeeded in using telekinesis, but that didn’t mean he should give up. “I do nothing but love you; why are you trying to hurt me?”

“Because your body needs vitamins.”

“I’ll tell you what my body needs.”

Dae shook his head, squashing his smile. “This is not a sexy conversation.”

Theo almost screamed.

“But it could be.” He struck a pose against the counter and took what had to be the most seductive bite anyone had ever taken from a bagel. Give me something, he silently begged him. Let me know I’m not alone in this.

Dae laughed and used the pad of his thumb to wipe the butter from his lips. For a single, unbelievably hot moment, Theo thought he would lick his thumb, but he didn’t. He used a dish towel to wipe his hands, then pushed the offending plate closer.

“I have to go to work. Dinner tonight?”

Theo nodded and watched him go. So movies and TV really had lied to him. Or maybe he and Dae wouldn’t get a honeymoon period. They’d known each other so long, maybe they were fated to slide right into the old married couple period, bickering about whose turn it was to clean their dentures.

Best Guitarist On Planet Earth

I’m at the Studio but No one’s here?

we said 11

Caleb was a wildly talented recording guitarist, but sweet lord he was a chore to manage. Avery was better, though one time she showed up to a recording with the wrong instrument, and Theo had never let her live it down.

whoops! I’ll kill some time then. Want Coffee?