“I’m scared. It’s a hard time for me. Em’s birthday, my sister’s death,” Trent said, never looking up at Gage.
“Shhh… It’s okay, baby, I shouldn’t have asked. I’m not sure where this need for constant validation keeps coming from,” Gage said, resting his forehead on Trent’s head. He closed his eyes at the pain he heard in Trent’s words and at the pain now coursing through his heart at the rejection. He was alone in this with Trent, and it hurt deeper than anything ever hurt before. Alone, alone, alone. And no matter how many times he thought it, it didn’t make it easier to absorb. Trent lifted his head and raised a hand to Gage’s face, holding his jaw in place as they looked one another in the eye for several long seconds.
“I’m in…in for whatever this is between us, but when it’s over, I’ll be okay. Whenever it is and if it’s tomorrow, I’ll be okay. I don’t want you to feel obligated to stay with me in any way,” Trent said.
“Good, I’m glad you’re in. Me too,” Gage said. Relief struck his heart, staggering him again. A smile spread across his lips, and he reached his head in to kiss Trent’s lips, but he was denied when Trent pulled back. Why does he keep distancing from me?
“It’s important to me that you know I don’t want you obligated to me. Just tell me when we’re done. All right?” Trent asked, keeping his head back.
“I honestly don’t see it happening, Trent,” Gage said, watching him closely. Right then Gage decided Trent was one of the most stubborn men on the planet. Nothing penetrated, no matter what Gage said or did.
“Just say you will,” Trent replied.
“I will, but what if this is forever? What then?” Gage asked, back to pushing Trent, but taking on the same defensive tone Trent used on him.
“I honestly don’t see it happening, Gage.” Trent used Gage’s words back on him and grabbed his shirt from Gage’s hand, pulling it over his head while dodging Gage as he ducked down and grabbed his tool belt. He walked out of the bathroom and across the office. He never looked back, but right before he left the office, he ran his hand over his hair, making sure it wasn’t sticking up, and then ran it over his face, letting out a long frustrated sigh. Gage watched him square his shoulders and leave the office. At some point, Trent would have to admit what they were doing. Gage would get a commitment out of the man sooner or later.
****
The single beep sounded seconds before Trent’s phone began to vibrate on the nightstand beside his bed. The rattling jarred him awake and his eyes flew to the small alarm clock beside the phone. One thirty in the morning. Who would text him this late? Trent rose from bed, reaching up to turn on the lamp before palming his phone. This was the first night this week he got to bed at a decent hour and his brain seemed a little resistant to fully waking. Groggy, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and opened the message. A smile formed as he saw Gage’s name on his phone.
Are you up? Gage texted.
I am. Everything good? Trent sent back.
Yes, did I wake you?
No, I was awake, Trent typed, yawning as he hit send and lay back down on the bed pulling the pillows up behind his head.
Then why was your house so dark before I sent the text? Gage countered.
What? Where are you? Trent sat straight up in bed and texted back.
In your driveway.
What? Trent sent while getting out of bed and walking out into the hall quietly tiptoeing toward the front door. Four rapid fire messages set the phone to buzzing like angry bees in his hand.
Time got away from me tonight. I missed talking to you and I had an overwhelming urge to kiss you goodnight. Can you come out? I’ll make it quick, I promise. And don’t change. Come out like you sleep, but if you’re wearing a shirt take it off. I love your bare chest. I envision you sleeping with a bare chest. Gage texted back.
As quietly as he could, Trent opened the front door to see Gage’s Prius sitting in the front drive. The headlights were off, the car sat idling quietly. Trent ran his hands through his hair, hoping it wasn’t standing straight up, and opened the screen door, shutting it quietly behind him. The breeze blew gently, sending a slight chill across his skin. His entire neighborhood was dark and the moonlight guided his path down the front steps to the sidewalk. He wasn’t wearing shoes or a T-shirt, his pajama pants hung low on his hips. He first stepped up to Gage’s side of the car bending at the knee as the window rolled down.
“Hi. Can you get in for a few minutes?” Gage asked. Trent looked back at the house, checking everything before he stood and walked around to the passenger side of the car.
“What are you doing here? You have to be exhausted,” Trent said, climbing in the front seat. He didn’t get to finish his sentence before Gage had him in a lip lock, pulling him into his arms. It only took him a second to catch up. He met Gage’s long lazy stroke of the tongue with one of his own. Only pulling away to catch his breath. He’d been caught completely off guard, and forgot to breathe. Gage stayed with the kiss, trailing down his neck, over his shoulder then back up, placing soft kisses on his lips.
“This is one of the busiest times of my life and you’re all I can think of… Trent… baby,” Gage said between kisses.
“Me too,” Trent whispered, taking Gage’s lips again with his own. Gage kissed him thoroughly and completely one more time before inching back a little, but staying close and taking Trent’s hands in his.
“Did you take the shirt off or sleep bare-chested?” Gage asked.