7
Alex lifts one eyelid and peers at his watch, sees it’s almost eight thirty and stretches. Soft snores are coming from beneath Ben’s pillow and he smiles despite the twinge of guilt at seeing Ben sleeping on his stomach, Presses his lips to the patch of bare skin visible between the sheet and the pillow. He gets out of bed, uses the bathroom, and dresses.
Leaving Ben sleeping, he goes to the kitchen where Bart is pressed against the barrier, head down, looking guilty. He whines when he sees Alex and sweeps the cupboard doors with a single wag of his tail.
“What did you do?” Alex asks in a low, amused voice as he gives him a reassuring pat. A quick look around the kitchen reveals a large puddle in one corner and a shredded roll of paper towels. How he got them off the bench Alex has no idea but considering how much worse it could have been, he can’t bring himself to scold the puppy. He cleans up the mess and gets his running shoes and Bart’s leash from the hall cupboard. Pins his house key to the waistband of his shorts and they leave.
Because he has Bart, not to mention a mild hangover, he opts for a slow jog and decides to only go down as far as the dog park, do a circuit, and come home. He can go for a proper run later while Bart and Ben sleep in front of the television, a sight he never gets tired of coming home to. Or maybe he’ll just nap with them instead.
There are few people in the park this early on a Sunday and he lets Bart run off leash until they near the pond. He lets the dog lap at the water edge before turning back the way they came, twisting the ring on his finger as he waits.
Two years ago, he’d gone to U2 thinking of nothing more than an evening of great music and a new tee-shirt. Etched in his mind now though, is Ben leaning against the wall of the bar, grinning over the top of a beer bottle and asking for his phone so he can put his number in. Everything that followed was miles away from Alex’s comfort zone and at first he had fought it, fought himself, believing the potential cost would be too high. Then he’d lain on a recliner in San Capistrano, heard Ben say he loved him, looked into green eyes, and known he never wanted to be anywhere else. It was already so much more than he ever thought he would have. More than he ever thought he would be allowed and now Ben wants to offer him even more and that, as much as the hangover, has his head spinning.
Alex has never thought much of marriage. He considers his parents’ marriage to be an example of what not to do but what Matt and Claire have, is something he always thought would be denied him. And even now, looking at the ring on his finger, if Ben says he wants nothing more than to be engaged, Alex will still be content. He’s happy.
Not making him happy, however, is the headache forming behind his eyes, reminding him just how much he did drink the night before; he stops at the water fountains before clicking his tongue at Bart and jogging home.
#
Allie is in the kitchen making coffee when he opens the door and Bart bounces over to her, tail wagging, searching for treats. Alex hugs her and pushes Bart away so he can get the container of kibble out. Within minutes it’s scattered across the floor, Bart chasing the biscuits around the kitchen.
“I hope I didn’t wake you when I left,” Alex says as he tries to sweep up the worst of the mess.
“No, I’ve only just opened my eyes, promise.” Allie shakes her head as she pours coffee into waiting mugs.
“Any sign of Sleeping Beauty?”
“No, he and Polly are both still snoring. I was about to take their coffee to them, but I’ll let you take his.”
“Gee thanks,” Alex says as he takes the cup. Ben is not a morning person at the best of times and is likely to be, among other things, at least a little hungover this morning. Whoever wakes him is taking their life in their own hands.
“For better or worse, kid,” Allie says with a grin and side steps Bart to take a mug to her mother.
Alex manages to slip into the bedroom without letting Bart in. There’s a soft wuff as the pup settles against the closed door.. Ben hasn’t moved and Alex puts the coffee on the night table before going into the bathroom. When he’s finished, he washes his hands and hunts for some aspirin in the cupboard. Swallows two with some water and shakes another two into his palm then returns to the side of the bed. A low growl escapes from beneath the pillow as he reaches for it.
“Wake me and die.”
“Technically you’re already awake,” Alex points out. “I have coffee. And aspirin.”
“Have you been for a run?”
“Bart needed to stretch his legs.”
“God, you’re a freak.”
Ben pushes himself up on to his hands and knees, a view Alex isn’t too hungover to enjoy, then turns around and drops down to sit against the headboard of the bed. He grimaces and closes his eyes.
“Maybe not,” he murmurs and turns on his side with a hiss to rest on one elbow, then makes a grabbing motion toward the coffee cup with his free hand. “Gimmee.”
Alex bites his lip, trying to contain his laughter, and holds the aspirin out. Ben takes the tablets and swallows them with a mouthful of coffee.
“I know you’re not laughing because the man I love, the man I asked to marry me, wouldn’t be laughing at my misfortune,” he says glaring at Alex.
“I promise I’m just sort of smiling,” Alex says.
“Uh huh, try to smile quietly. You just wait, your ass is mine later.”
“Oh yeah I can see that. Much later.” Alex grins and stretches out next to Ben, closing his eyes. Despite feeling guilty about Ben’s discomfort, a minute later he begins to shake with laughter.
“What’s so funny now?”
Alex needs a moment before he has enough control to answer.
“I can’t wait to hear what you’re going to tell Polly and your mom when you eat standing up.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Ben says but Alex sees the smile playing at the edge of his mouth, and leans forward to kiss it.
“Not what you said last night,” he says, pleased to be turning the tables.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Ben says through another mouthful of coffee.
“I’m sorry. Seriously though, are you okay?”
Ben reaches over him to put the coffee mug down, hugs him, and rubs their cheeks together.
“I’m fine. I’ve had worse hangovers.”
“I’m not talking about the hangover.”
“I know you’re not, baby. Stop worrying, I’m fine. A little tender is all but totally worth it.”
“Really?”
“Really. What about you? Are you okay? Did you enjoy it?”
Scarlet, Alex nods. Ben smiles.
“Then we’re good to go,” he says, closing his eyes. “Now please stop talking and let the aspirin do its thing.”
#