Page 94 of The Only Seconds that Matter
Victor laughed and elbowed him in the side.“Come on, let’s go to the house.”
* * *
Victor tended to get up at five-thirty in the morning every day but Sunday, and when he did, Johnny was still asleep, buried under a thick western-themed comforter and both of Victor’s dogs.Out of consideration for Johnny, Victor only turned on his small beside lamp to see by, though he doubted much outside of an earthquake would wake Johnny up.Piper and Bailey were both alert, but they’d taken a liking to their spots on either side of Johnny’s legs, so they didn’t move when Victor climbed out of bed.As much as he wanted to roll on top of Johnny and kiss him awake, he figured he needed to take a shower.He should have had one last night, but he and Johnny both had collapsed into bed and fallen asleep almost immediately.
Victor had been what polite mothers calledboy crazysince he hit puberty, and testosterone hadn’t really calmed him down, so after a few minutes under a hot stream of water, he decided that an orgasm would clear his head and wake him up.He braced one arm against the shower tile and got himself off with the other with the precision of someone who had been at it since the age of twelve, except this time he didn’t crash at the end after realizing how lonely he was.Instead he got to hum happily as he finished up his shower, and he smiled at himself in the mirror the whole time he shaved.He took a few moments to look at himself in the fading fog from his shower and relish the joy that came with his reflection.This whole thing with Johnny had him giggling to himself like a teenage girl, and he didn’t care.He was just happy to be happy.
He threw on a pair of jeans and one of his father’s old t-shirts, then left the bathroom with a bit of bounce in his step.When he entered the bedroom, he found Johnny seated on the edge of the bed putting his pants on.Victor was shocked he was awake this early.
“Good morning,” Victor greeted with a grin.
Johnny glanced up at him and gave him barely a hint of a smile in return.“Hey.”
“You’re up early.”
“I gotta get to work at six-thirty,” Johnny muttered as he stood and searched around the floor for his discarded socks.
“Oh.You need me to drive you?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“I can make you breakfast.”
“I don’t think I got time.You got anything quick?”
“I can make coffee and toast.”
Johnny nodded, finally locating his socks and diving for them.“Sounds good, thanks.”
Victor stood in the doorway feeling awkward, wondering if he’d said something wrong without realizing it to make Johnny act so cold.Maybe it was just in his head.Johnny was likely grumpy and tired from getting to bed so late last night.Not every weird mood of his was Victor’s fault.So Victor left the bedroom doorway behind and went to the kitchen to make coffee and toast.He was hoping Johnny might come out and talk to him, but Johnny didn’t emerge from the bedroom or bathroom until the toast was prepared and sitting on a plate on the kitchen island.Johnny didn’t bother to sit to eat it; he simply swept it up and shoved half a slice into his mouth without comment.
“Have you considered chewing?”Victor joked, sliding over a mug of coffee.
“Can’t be late,” Johnny replied before pausing to slurp down the coffee Victor handed him.“Boss already hates me enough.”
“Why?”
“Cuz he’s a prick.”
“I’m sure you’ve been an angel.”
Johnny smiled through a full mouth.“You know me.I never misbehave.”
Victor slipped around the kitchen island and grabbed the tail of Johnny’s shirt to tuck it into his pants.Johnny said nothing, nor did he react to Victor’s touch.Only when Victor stepped away with a satisfied nod did Johnny speak.
“Thanks.”Johnny took one more swig of coffee before putting the mug down and walking backward toward the door.“I gotta get goin’, but I’ll bring Taylor by this evenin’ for her lesson.”
“Okay,” Victor replied.He’d been hoping for a good-bye kiss, but Johnny had already retrieved his coat and vanished out the door, and Victor wasn’t planning on chasing him down.He went to the window instead and watched Johnny stride down the driveway, silhouetted by the sunrise in the distance.Victor decided to swallow down his unease about Johnny’s departure and focus instead on getting ready for work.That felt easier to do on five hours of sleep.
CHAPTER 27
Mike dropped Taylor off for her lesson, but it was Johnny who picked her up.Because there were several boarders milling about, Victor and Johnny didn’t exchange much beyond conversation, but Johnny promised to be back later that night once he took Taylor home.At seven o’ clock Victor’s stomach was rumbling, so he headed back to the house to make himself something to eat.
He had expected Johnny to show up by that point, but he knew Johnny had a poor sense of time, so he didn’t really worry until it got to be around nine or so.He texted Johnnywhere are you?and got no immediate response, so to tap down any anxiety over it, Victor went to the kitchen to prepare himself a milkshake.He was just finishing up when the front door opened and in stepped the devil himself.
“Honey, I’m home,” Johnny announced before bending over to greet the dogs.Victor watched him with one hand on his hip, happy to see he seemed sober even if Victor was still peeved he was so late.With a sigh and no greeting, Victor turned back to his blender and pulsed it a few times to get his milkshake creamy and frothy.Just as he plucked the top off, he felt Johnny’s arms curl around him and his breath on Victor’s ear as he embraced him from behind.
“Whatcha makin’?Something for me?”Johnny asked.
