They wereboth still slightly damp from the shower when they settled on the couch, Shaw in a pair of Hudson’s sweats that were a size too big, Hudson in a T-shirt with a hole in the collar he kept meaning to throw out.
Hudson handed Shaw the remote and went to get water and popcorn from the kitchen. When he came back Shaw was still scrolling through Netflix.
Hudson sat beside him. Close enough that their shoulders touched.
“Just pick something,” Hudson said.
“I’m trying.”
“It’s not rocket science. What are you into?”
“Hm. Thriller. No, wait— Political drama.”
Hudson shot him a look. “Of course you are.” He grabbed the remote and put onA House of Dynamite.
Shaw seemed satisfied with the choice. He leaned back against the cushions and Hudson followed. Their shoulders stayed in contact and neither of them moved.
The credits rolled sometime around 2000. Shaw had fallen asleep on Hudson’s shoulder forty minutes ago and Hudson hadn’t moved a muscle. Shaw was snoring lightly, his hand resting in Hudson’s lap.
“Hey,” Hudson said gently.
Shaw stirred.
“Hey, you hungry?”
He straightened and ran a hand over his face.
The sleepy, amber green eyes focusing on him made hispulse spike. If he wasn’t starving, he would have kissed Shaw senseless.
“Yeah. I could eat.”
“Perfect. There’s this French place a couple of blocks over that I thought you’d like.”
“Tu me connais bien.”
“Eh. Well, yes. Like I said.”
Elliot laughed. “It means ‘you know me so well.’” His expression changed from teasing to something more earnest. He leaned in and planted a kiss on Hudson’s lips.“Merci.”
Three hours later,they were four courses fuller and halfway through their second bottle of wine.
Hudson was warm and full and not remotely ready for the night to end.
“Okay… so don’t say no before I finish,” he said.
Shaw eyed him suspiciously. “No.”
“I hadn’t even?—”
“You made that face.”
“What face?”
“The one that tells me you’re about to suggest something crazy.” Shaw picked up his wine. “Whatever it is, no.”
Hudson waited. Let the silence do some work.
Shaw set his glass down. “What?”
