As Trevor slipped out, Simon got back into his conversation with Alan about medical procedures, or something to that effect.

He realized the bubble had burst. It was easy at home. They spent all their time at Simon’s house, running, fucking, and hanging out together. They rarely dealt with people other than Trevor’s family, but that was different. This was life, and it made their differences shine so bright, Trevor couldn’t ignore them.

Trevor had a lot of shit to deal with.

Simon was a surgeon. He needed to be a surgeon. It’s who he was.

He heard a noise behind him, and slowed his steps. He hadn’t expected Simon to come out with him. That wasn’t typically how his lover operated.

“Hey.”

Trevor turned at the female voice behind him. Simon hadn’t come. It was Heather.

“Hi,” he replied as they fell into step together.

“He’s not good at this kind of thing. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. He just wouldn’t come out here unless you told him to.”

Trevor chuckled. “That’s okay. That’s the one thing he doesn’t have to worry about with me. No mixed signals. If I really wanted him to come out, I would have told him to. I’m a big boy.”

He hadn’t meant to embarrass her, but the tint to her cheeks told him he had. Trevor only saw it because her driveway was lit up like a damn stadium.

“That makes sense. I would have been pissed if he didn’t come out here.” The two of them laughed and kept walking. He could tell she was a strong woman, but it became even more apparent when she asked, “How long have you been sober?” It was a bold question, but the sound of her voice was filled with compassion.

“Around a year and a half. Thanks for not beating around the bush.”

“I learn quickly.” She nudged his arm. He liked her. A lot. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know. I respect you for what you’re doing. It can’t be easy.”

No, no it wasn’t. They stressed that in rehab and at their meetings. That there would always be hard days. That it would always be a struggle, but he didn’t realize how true it was until he lived it. “Thank you.”

There was more silence between them. She had something on her mind. Trevor wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear it or not.

“Can I speak bluntly?” she finally asked.

“Go for it. You have so far.” He pushed his hands into his pockets.

“I just...I know this is probably strange, but please, don’t give up on him. It’s hard for Simon to really connect with other people. Maybe it’s because of his dad or being a doctor and keeping that wall up so it doesn’t hurt as bad when you lose a patient. I don’t know, but it’s difficult for him. One thing I know is that he cares about you. The fact that he told me about you proves it. The fact that you’re here right now. This surgery? There’s no reason he couldn’t do it alone. He’ll spend a day in the hospital, if that. He could have stayed here until he could drive or I would have driven him home. He didn’t need you...but he wanted you. He wouldn’t have wanted me here that way.” Heather grabbed his hand, squeezed it, then turned and walked back toward the house.

Trevor needed to hear that. He also needed it to be true.

***

They didn’t talk much when Trevor got back up to the house. He asked Heather about a shower and she showed him to his and Simon’s room.

It was only a few minutes after Trevor went upstairs that Simon said his goodnights.

“We’re together,” he told Alan, though he knew the man realized that. Still, it felt important to Simon to say it. He hadn’t said it all day, when he should have. “I should have introduced him as my partner when you got here.” Maybe Trevor didn’t care about that. It was a label, a name. They knew who they were to each other, and that’s what mattered, but Simon also wanted to be sure no one knew he was ashamed of Trevor. He wasn’t.

“He seems like a good man, Simon. And you look happy. Good for you.” Alan shook his hand, and Simon thanked him before heading for the stairs.

He pulled out of his shirt when he got to their room, and sat on the foot of the bed, facing the bathroom. He could hear the water running. Thought about going in to join Trevor, but instead he waited.

It didn’t take long before the water shut off, and another minute later Trevor stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair wet and a mess. Simon wanted to grab onto it. Wanted to lick every one of the ridges of muscle in Trevor’s stomach. He wanted to suck the piercing in Trevor’s nipple. Wanted to bury his face in the hair at his crotch. Christ, the man was sexy.