Perfect Imperfections

“’Kay!” The bathroom door opened, and Jeremy came out. “It was just number one.”

Reg froze midstep. “Number one?”

Jeremy bobbed his head.

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-one. Why? How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-six, and I stopped saying ‘number one’ more than ten years ago. Take note of that, dude.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.” Reg shook his head and looked at Jeremy fondly. “You’re too sloshed to remember this conversation anyway.” He shoved the pillow at Jeremy’s chest. “Here. Go to sleep.”

“I’m not drunk,” Jeremy argued, but it was halfhearted; he sounded too tired to really debate the point. He returned to the couch, lay down, and, based on his even breathing, was asleep in seconds.

“You’re a cool dude, Jeremy Jameson,” Reg said, looking at his gorgeous guest. “You shouldn’t have to pretend about anything, least of all having someone in your life who actually wants to be with you.” With a sigh, he turned away and went to get ready for bed.

A COUPLE of beers was enough to help him sleep well but not so much that he wanted to crawl under a rock and die instead of getting up. Knowing Jeremy wouldn’t be as lucky, Reg tried to keep quiet the next morning as he used the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and got the coffee going. He wasn’t much of a cook, so he didn’t keep a lot of food in the house, but he had some bagels in the freezer and his always present stockpile of bananas on the counter. He got those out for Jeremy and made himself his usual protein shake breakfast, leaving the ingredients in the blender but waiting to turn it on so he wouldn’t wake his houseguest.

“Ungh.”

The pathetic moan from his couch had him turning around.

“Feels like I got hit by a truck,” Jeremy whined. Or at least Reg thought that was what he’d said. It came out in an almost unintelligible mumble.

“You did.” He filled a glass with water and shook a couple of aspirin out of the bottle he kept next to the coffee. “A beer truck.” Walking over to Jeremy, he said, “Sit up.”

“Don’t wanna.” Jeremy fumbled for the pillow and then covered his face with it.

Laughing, Reg picked up the pillow, exposing a gorgeous face, even if it was puckered up in a frown and covered with creases from the sofa. “Drink this.”

“Ungh.”

“Don’t make me tickle your sorry ass to get you up, superstar.”

“If you tickle me, I’ll pee.”

“I’m not into that, so sit up and drink your water like a good boy.”

That earned Reg a scowl.

“Oh-ho, look who’s pissed. You’ll need to get your limbs working if you want to punch me.” He pointed to the couch. “Sit.”

“I’m not a dog.” Grumbling, Jeremy got vertical and then immediately put his hand on his forehead and moaned. “I need coffee.”

“Water first.” Reg grabbed his hand, held it up, and put the glass in it. “Take the aspirin too.” He put the pills in Jeremy’s empty hand. “I’ll get you a banana and bagel.”

“And after that I can have coffee?” Jeremy asked, looking miserable.

Unable to resist the sleepy, morning version of the already adorable guy, Reg did what he’d been itching to do since the previous night and ruffled his hair. “Yes, then you can have coffee.”

Leaving Jeremy to drink his water, Reg retrieved the banana and bagel. He had taken one step toward the couch, items in hand, when Jeremy said, “Oh, and about last night.”

Giving himself an internal pat on the back for barely stumbling, Reg reined in his disappointment about what he knew would be Jeremy rescinding his offer and said, “Uh-huh?”

“If I survive this hangover, the offer holds.” He rubbed his eyes. “What do you say?”

Reg traded the empty glass for the banana and set the bagel on the table. “You want to tell the world you’re gay so you have someone to keep you company on tour?”

“Don’t make it sound so desperate, yeah?” He peeled the banana. “You have no idea what it’s like living your whole life having people use you for shit.” He sighed. “It’s exhausting.”

Kneeling down in front of Jeremy so they’d be at eye level, Reg pointed out what he thought was obvious, “But you’d be paying me to go with you. Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No.” Jeremy started shaking his head, and then he moaned and dropped the banana in favor of holding on to both temples.

With a chuckle, Reg picked up the banana and handed it back.

“Thanks.” Jeremy cleared his throat, which still sounded raspy from sleep. It was sexy. “Tell me why you’d be willing to go on tour with me.”

“Uh, because I’d get to listen to music, see the world, drink good beer, and hang out.” Reg paused, tried to think of what he was missing, and, coming up with nothing, said, “Why wouldn’t I go?”