helping me hand out swag during a few rushes.
“Oh my god, I just met Wil Wheaton,” Hudson gushes when I get finished with a sci-fi author panel on Saturday.
“Well, I just sat next to two of my favorite authors and talked about my books,” I counter playfully, throwing an arm over his shoulders.
“I get to make out with my favorite author,” he crows.
It goes that way for the full weekend—long, busy days full of panels and signings that leave me exhausted every night. The romance I had planned ends up on the backburner as we both pass out as soon as our heads hit the pillow each night. Although, it is extremely nice to wake up next to Hudson each morning and share lazy kisses before the day gets started.
We sleep in on Monday, the hectic weekend catching up. When I finally stir, the sun is streaming through the curtains and spilling over the bed. Hudson is spread out like a starfish, the sheets tangled around his legs, leaving his top half on display, bare and tempting.
I stretch and groan, my joints popping, and then I reach for my phone on the nightstand. There’s a text waiting for me from Bishop. It looks like he actually sent it to both Hudson and me.
Bishop: Hope you guys had a good weekend! Leo and I thought it would be fun for the four of us to have a movie night this week. Thursday night work for you? Miss you both and can’t wait to see you!!
I grin at the message. It’s casual and sweet and there’s something about it that settles happily in my chest. I’ve had plenty of relationships with a variety of configurations, but this one feels like it has so much potential. I can’t decide if that’s exciting or terrifying. Maybe a little of both. I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted anything as much as I want this, as much as I want these men.
Hudson stirs beside me, smiling as soon as he sees me, and my heart flips and flails in my chest. I set my phone aside and roll toward him to steal a morning kiss.
“What had you smiling so big at your phone?” he asks.
“A text from Bishop. He wants us to all have a movie night this week, and he misses us.”
He smiles at this too, his love for Bishop shining on his face like a beautiful beacon. “All of us?” he questions after a few seconds, his smile slipping as he realizes what I said.
“He said he and Leo thought it would be fun. Maybe Leo wants to make amends?”
“You think?” he asks, biting his bottom lip. Hope and doubt war in his eyes in a way that makes my chest ache for him. It’s plain to see how badly he wants to erase the past and have a fresh start. But whether Leo is going to let that happen is anyone’s guess.
“You never know.”
“Yeah,” he sighs, still sounding doubtful. “What time is it? We probably need to get moving so we don’t end up with a late check out.”
“Are you anxious to get home or would you be up for a short detour before we head back?” I ask.
“I’m up for whatever. I don’t have anything but an empty apartment waiting for me the rest of today. Then tomorrow I have the fun of going back to work.” He groans as he says the last sentence, his entire expression changing.
“You don’t like your job?” It’s not the first time I’ve gotten that impression.
“Who likes their job?” he answers vaguely.
“I do.”
“That doesn’t count. Most people just have to settle for a job that puts food on the table.”
“That’s bullshit,” I say. “You can have whatever kind of job you want to have. You don’t have to settle for anything. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?”
A little bit of color creeps into his cheeks. “It’s stupid.”
“I sit around talking to my imaginary friends all day,” I point out. “Tell me, I bet it’s not as stupid as you think.”
“I always thought it would be cool to open a comic book shop,” he confesses. “I’d love to have a huge section of LGBT comic books and graphic novels, and maybe a cafe in it where people can hang out and talk about comic books and just be themselves.”
“That might just be the least stupid thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Really?” he asks hopefully.
“Really. Why don’t you do it?” I don’t know