For the first time, Alec resented the sunlight pouring through the slats of the window blinds.

It meant Tyler was about to leave, and they’d wasted precious hours together in sleep. On the other hand, it was the best sleep he could remember in years.

With Tyler carefully tucked in his arms, half-curled in the only sleeping position he could manage without pain, Alec had felt like even Tyler’s bare apartment was home.

The morning sunlight warmed the cool white paint, making this bedroom feel like their own cozy nest. A retreat from the rest of the world, for just a few hours.

Still, he preferred his own room.

“Mmngh,” Tyler murmured, slowly stretching.

Alec caught his breath. Had he been fidgeting too much? He’d tried to stay still, however hard it was to resist playing with Tyler’s hair or tracing a finger along his bare back.

God, he was gorgeous, even scruffy and sleepy.

“Morning?” Tyler mumbled. “What is this shit? Light?”

Alec grinned. “I know. I was just thinking that.” He didn’t have to add, Because you’re leaving sooner.

Tyler shifted and rolled over to face him, slipping his hand into Alec’s. “You sleep okay?”

Alec nodded and kissed Tyler, then ran his other hand down his shoulder and side. “Perfectly. Got a hangover?”

“Nope. I don’t get ’em much anyway,” Tyler said with a cheeky grin. “Lucky me.”

“Lucky you,” Alec echoed. “But you’ll be staying away this week, right? So you can heal better?”

“Yes, sir,” Tyler said, the pillow rustling when he nodded against it.

They both jolted when Alec’s phone went off.

This early? Who the hell is that?

“Sorry,” Alec mumbled, rolling away to grab his phone off the bedside table. Unfamiliar with the layout, he nearly knocked the lamp off but grabbed it in time. His heart was still racing as he answered, “Hey.”

“Alec?”

There was only one person that could be.

“Hey, Mom.” He pushed himself to sit upright, his heart already pounding. God, his palms were getting all sweaty again.

Next to him, Tyler sat up, but his focus had narrowed to the voice on the other end of the line.

For years, he’d daydreamed about getting this call. His parents would tell him they’d come around. Maybe they’d seen a friendly gay on TV, or someone they knew had talked sense into them, or the reverend had guilted them into loving their own kid. Whatever the reason, they’d apologize for being such dicks.

Sometimes, when he had this fantasy, it was a loving reunion as he started sobbing on the phone. Yes, I missed you. For so many damn years. Other times, he rejected them. Fuck off. You weren’t there for me when I needed it; you don’t get to claim credit for me turning out all right.

He couldn’t think what to say now.

“Sally told me that Barbara said…” He tuned out the rest of the irrelevant information, and a bittersweet smile touched his lips. His mom had always done this—rambled through all the details before getting to the point of the story. “—that she saw you in the parking lot at church a few weeks ago.”

Crap. Of course someone had seen him.

He’d almost forgotten that day and the glimpse at the past he’d worked so hard to leave behind.

“Yeah. I was deciding whether this new reverend’s a good guy or an asshole like the last one.”

“Language, Alec!”

Ah, it was just like old times. Missing the forest for the trees—the meaning was less important than the words he used in making his point. Or, rather, she used the words as a convenient excuse to ignore the meaning.

“I was deciding whether this reverend was a real Christian, or he’s just in it for the chance to repress his own homosexual desires.”

“Alec Lands, I never want to hear you suggest such a thing again. You haven’t changed a bit.”

“News flash, Mom. Neither have you. People don’t change. Once a gay, always a gay. Once a self-serving jerk looking for an excuse to feel like a victim, always a parent who should be ashamed of themselves.”

A hand rested on his arm, and he cast Tyler a distracted smile. He wasn’t upset—he didn’t even sound it.

“The nerve. The sheer nerve of you, trying to upset your own parents.”

“You stopped being my parents when you threw me out,” Alec said dryly. “I don’t owe you respect when you won’t give me any. What do you want? A band-aid for your guilt?”

“I want you to give up… these… TV appearances.”

It took Alec a few seconds to even figure out what that meant. Then, he started to laugh. “Give up these… you mean… Dad was watching the race?”

“The TV camera showed you in the stands. They’re saying you’re some driving man’s boyfriend.”

“Too bad, Mom. Guess you’ll have to explain how love works to your church group. It would sure help if you felt any yourself. Bye.” Alec hung up and tossed his phone aside, taking a deep breath as Tyler pulled him in for a long, tight hug.

He braced himself for the questions, but they didn’t come. Tyler said nothing.

Alec appreciated it more than he could find words to express. He buried his face in Tyler’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around him. He’d thought he was relaxed until the moment the stress he hadn’t even realized he was holding melted away.

Fuck. I need him.

“Are you gonna be okay today?” Tyler sounded worried. “I can try to rearrange things—”

“No,” Alec murmured. “I’m fine. Unless I can persuade you to rest more.”

“Aren’t we a couple stubborn assholes?” Tyler laughed quietly, rubbing Alec’s shoulder.

Alec nodded slightly, pulling back enough to rest his head on Tyler’s shoulder, his legs curled under him as he found a comfortable spot. “Well, now you know the deal with my family.”

“I had a feeling something was going on,” Tyler frowned. “I’m sorry. How long has it been?”

“Oh, God. Years and years. But I’ve spent so long wondering whether I’m good enough to be their son… I’m over that now. But I wonder sometimes if it changed the whole way I think.”

Tyler sighed and nodded. “Brains are funny that way.” He pulled back to make Alec look at him, those eyes for once serious and fixed on him. “I’m not really a words guy, but… I need you to know that you’re enough for me.”

“Even if I don’t race, and party, and… stuff?” Alec murmured. He was almost afraid to look at him, but Tyler wasn’t letting him squirm away.

“I don’t want that. It’s the lifestyle that comes with the stuff I like doing, but it doesn’t mean I find it attractive,” Tyler said.

That made so much sense that the clarity was almost blinding. “Oh,” Alec whispered.

“And whatever’s ordinary and grounded and routine about your life? I like that,” Tyler added firmly. “Mine is pretty crazy. Being with you makes me remember to slow down.”

Alec’s chest felt so warm he could barely breathe. “Really?” He knew he was glowing.

“Really,” Tyler said, mirroring his smile. “I’ll introduce you to my family. They’ll love you. And you’ve got a crazy bunch of brothers now.”

“I do?”

“You do.” Tyler nudged him. “They’re always going out for lunches and drinks and stuff. There’s so many of us now that someone’s always online to text, too. I’ll make sure you get added so you can meet up with everyone while I’m away.”

Alec managed a shaky laugh. It was almost too good to be true. “And you… you’re okay with not seeing me much?”

“If you are,” Tyler said. “I’m happy like this. We can try an open relationship if you want. Whatever you want.”

He really means it. Whatever I want. Oh, man. Alec beamed. “I’m happy, too. If the dry spells get too long, I’ll travel and see you some weekends when you’re racing at nearby tracks.”

Tyler chuckled and rubbed Alec’s shoulder. “Oh, that would be a great way to celebrate the ass I’m gonna kick as I get back into it.”

He really was incorrigible. Alec grinned and shook his head. “And you know, if we spend too long apart, I might just be demanding when we see each other again.”

Tyler lit up. “I am a hundred percent fine with this.”

“Good,” Alec laughed and pulled Tyler against him gently, resting a hand on his chest. “I gotta start getting ready for work.”

“Me too.”

Already, Alec felt the anticipation of their next day together thrumming through them. Next time, with no opera and no brothers and no real life to intrude, they could make the most of it.

He couldn’t wait for Tyler to be healed up, so that strong, flexible body could be put to good use.

“I hope you’re not thinking of work.” Tyler poked the sheets between his legs, where they tented.

Alec laughed and slapped Tyler’s hand away. “I’m thinking of a former patient, actually. I hope he’s back to himself very, very soon.”

“Think we’ve got time for you to explain these thoughts?” Tyler smirked. “It looks like the kind of stuff I’d be into.”

“Oh, yeah.” Alec shifted until he straddled Tyler, grinning down at him. “I’ll explain it. I’ve got a gifted tongue.”

Tyler groaned and wrapped his hands around Alec’s shoulders as Alec started to kiss his way down his chest. “God, I love you. Dating you was the best idea ever.”

Alec laughed. “It was, and I love you too, baby. Now shut up and let me suck you off.”

Tyler winked. “Yes, sir!”

Alec had found his rock, and he came with a rock of his own. God, he’d gotten luckier than he’d ever imagined.

No more this is enough for now, and no more I shouldn’t have. It just worked between them—as easy as that.