Aaron

You can take the job, you know,” Vance said with a grin. He turned his head to look at Aaron. It was a week after the summer event, and the two of them were resting in Aaron’s bed after a morning of marathon sex. Prescott’s public spaces department had offered Aaron the job he’d been after since he first learned it existed. “They want commitment, and you can commit… but if something comes up and you change your mind, then you can do that, too. That’s not something they need to know.”

“I’m just… nervous, I guess,” Aaron admitted. A lot had happened in one short week, and while sex had helped to take the edge off, it hadn’t done away with all of Aaron’s problems. Yes, he’d been offered the job, but Vance’s career was taking off at breakneck speed since Freddie had posted the concert footage on his vlog. Agents were calling left and right to sign him on and get his new song signed with a record label and turned into a single. It meant that Vance might be on the road sooner rather than later, and if he ended up going on tour, or flying out to Los Angeles to record the rest of his new album, Aaron wanted to be with him. “It’ll be bad for my reputation if they hire me on and I quit almost straight away.”

“Well… I doubt I’ll be going on tour for at least a year, if that even happens,” Vance said. “If I don’t do a European leg, then it’ll maybe be six months… four, if we run a tighter schedule. Can you survive for six months without me while I call home every day on video chat?”

Aaron frowned. “I don’t know. I feel like I have to think about it.”

“Well, give it some thought. If you decide you don’t want to take the deal, you can always find your place in life as a concert promoter. You’ve got the legs for it now.” Vance grinned. “There’s a whole world of possibility. I wouldn’t be too concerned about limiting yourself. You’ll find your way no matter what.”

“I mean, if you’re back to making music like you were before, I don’t need to work. I’d only be working for my own satisfaction, at that point.”

“Yup. That’s kind of what the whole co-habitation thing is about.” Vance stifled a yawn. “You’ve got me worn out already, and I just woke up. What a fierce little thing you are.”

Aaron snorted. “You’re the one who came after me looking for sex.”

“In round one,” Vance objected.

“Still.”

There was silence for a short while. Aaron lifted his chin and laid it on Vance’s chest. “Are you sure that you’re good with the whole co-habitation thing? I know that it seems… I don’t know. I just don’t want you to think I’m latching onto you because you’re famous.”

“Unless you are a fortune teller and knew that in our senior year of high school, I don’t think you need to prove yourself to me.” Vance grinned. “You’re not a gold-digger, and I want to live with you. It’s been ten years, if you fudge the numbers. It’s about time we got serious.”

Aaron laughed and closed his eyes. He listened to the rhythm of Vance’s heart and let it soothe him. Eight months ago, he’d been worried that he wouldn’t land the job. Now he was worried about the consequences if he decided to take it. No matter how old he got, and no matter what happened to him in life, there would always be something to worry about, be it big or small. Vance’s radiant confidence had inspired him to let go of some of his rigidity and embrace the thrill. He would make the decision that was not only best for himself, but best for them as a couple, whatever it might be.

Vance kissed the top of his head. “Do you know how much you mean to me? I’m not sure that you do. You tamed my wild heart and made me want to stay. I’m not giving up on you just because we both want to chase our dreams. If it means that I have to take a five day break every month while on tour so I can fly home and spend a weekend with you, I’ll do it. If it means that you turn down your job offer and follow me on tour to chase new dreams, then that’s fine, too. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. We’ve got each other. The hard part’s over — now all we have to worry about is making sure we figure out the logistics. Easy peasy.”

“You’d make that sacrifice for me?” Aaron asked, flattered.

Vance laughed. “It’s not really a sacrifice when I want to do it. I don’t like the thought of spending so much time away from you, either… but three weeks feels doable. Lonely, but doable. You take your job, I take mine, and I make sure I come home for a weekend every month while I’m on tour. How does that sound?”

Aaron smiled. Vance really had changed from the self-absorbed man he had been in his youth. Aaron was glad that Vance had kept trying. It would have been easy to give up — but giving up wasn’t in Vance’s nature, and Aaron was learning from him more every day. Soon, they’d be unstoppable. “I think that sounds great.”

“Then it’s a deal.” Vance grinned. “To bigger, better things… together.”

“Together,” Aaron vowed.

It was a promise he intended to keep for the rest of his life.