Page 126 of Septembers

Theo put away the groceries and decorated the fire escape with candles and flower petals, which were much harder to extract than anticipated and made him feel like a botanic murderer.

As soon as he heard the key turning, he went to the door like a golden retriever wagging its tail. Which is exactly how he pounced on Dae, covering his face with kisses before he could get a word out.

Dae laughed into his mouth, dropped his bag and picked him up as Theo wrapped his legs around his middle. He carried him to Céline and balanced him against her back, letting Theo push his jacket off his shoulders.

“Hello to you too,” Dae said, breathless.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Snacks full of refined sugar.”

Theo gasped and pulled him in for another kiss, crushing their bodies together. “I bought vegetables.”

“You didn’t.”

Theo nodded, proud.

“What colours?”

“All the colours, Dae. And come look at this.” He took his hand and brought him to the fire escape, turning off the lights as they went. The candles cast a glow over Dae’s face as he smiled, his dimples winking.

“Wow. You must really love me, huh?”

“Yeah. You’re alright.” Theo buried himself in him, breathing him in. “We just can’t tell my mom we went out there.”

“This is very romantic, but…”

Theo pulled back. “But?”

Dae gave him a sheepish grin. “I’m hungry.”

They made dinner together, which of course meant Dae made dinner and gave Theo tasks even he couldn’t dismally fail at: cut the carrots, stir the sauce so it wouldn’t congeal, and, most importantly, find a dinner playlist.

As they ate, they caught each other up on their week as if they hadn’t been texting and calling every day. It was different hearing the stories in person. Theo could witness Dae’s face light up when explaining the benefit of using one verb over another. He could see his dimples when he laughed. He could watch the rise and fall of his chest.

It was hard to take his eyes off him. The way his jaw moved when he chewed. How his lips touched his glass when he took a drink. The muscles in his forearms when he cut his meal. Theo reached across the table to lace their fingers, and his stomach flipped as if it were the first time. Damn, maybe there was something to this whole separation thing.

Not that he would ever tell him that.

Dae poured more wine into their glasses, then ran his hand through his hair. “So, you’re still free next Saturday?”

He’d texted mid-week about a wrap party for the movie. There would be people there who could help his career, but he was reluctant to go.

“Of course.” Theo gave him his most encouraging, most confidence-boosting sunshine smile. “I’ll help you schmooze your way into your next contract.”

“Ugh.” He winced. “Schmooze.”

“It’ll be okay, I promise. I’ll fill any awkward silences and make them see how competent, charming, and sexy you are.”

“I don’t think they need to see that I’m sexy.”

“Can’t be helped.”

Since ‘dinner and a movie’ was their first date, and Theo’s confession happened while dangling outside their apartment, they’d decided to do dinner and a movie at home. Theo had been educating him in the ways of romcoms and tonight would be a masterclass.

“Are you finally ready to graduate to When Harry Met Sally?”

“What makes this a graduation?” He wandered to Céline and settled into his spot, spreading his arm across the back, waiting for a snuggle.