Everything, starting from fixing up the place and making sure everything was modernized bit by bit had taken money and time. Now that things had evened out and the place was making a profit, it was time to bring more live music back to the Hoppy Hare.
On the morning of his birthday, he woke in his room, alone. He felt bummed until he realized that they’d agreed to sleep in separate beds last night.
Somehow, they’d managed to not jump one another’s bones. The need was there all the time, had been for weeks. It was a slow, simmering heat that had been carefully controlled until now, and today was the day they were free to stoke the fire to see what would happen.
They hadn’t talked logistics, or even really what they’ddo. As much as Josiah wanted it all, he wasn’t sure Denny was ready.
Doc Jarvis had told them to talk about it before jumping into bed, but this might be the time when they wouldn’t listen to him.
There was a knock on his door.
Denny peered in, smiling. “Sweetheart? Your birthday breakfast is ready.”
“Ooh, I like the sound of that… Give me five so I can go brush my teeth. Be right downstairs.”
“Will do,” Denny replied and then watched as Josiah stretched in bed. “Okay, I’m thinking this needs to be standard for sleep clothing from now on.” His eyes were filled with heat as his gaze mapped Josiah’s naked body.
“No clothing is best clothing?” Josiah grinned, got up, and shook his ass at Denny.
Groaning, Denny turned to go. “I need to check on… anything in the kitchen. Jesus fuck, Josiah….”
Laughing, Josiah headed to the bathroom.
As he brushed his teeth, he noticed the same thing he did every birthday: he didn’t look any different from the day before. So maybe today he’d be thirty-nine instead of thirty-eight, but it didn’t really matter. This year, he’d have Denny, the Hare was doing better than ever, and he didn’t have the ghost of his biological family hanging over him. It would be a good year, he hoped, one where he could settle back and enjoy life, be who he needed to be for his friends and chosen family. With Denny by his side.
The thought made him smile, and once he went downstairs, he realized he was still smiling.
There was a whole spread of breakfast things on the kitchen table. He stopped and stared at the sight.
“You went all out,” he managed to say weakly, trying to remember if anyone had gone quite this far for him before.
“Uh, I did…?” Denny scratched the back of his neck and that wouldn’t do, so Josiah went to him and kissed the life out of him.
“Thank you. I… just thank you.” He smiled against Denny’s lips.
“I also got you flowers,” Denny said awkwardly. “I couldn’t remember if we’d ever talked about flowers, you know? It’s different because you’re a man, we just… I guess it hasn’t come up?” He seemed almost shy now, and Josiah hugged him close.
“You’ve done well. This is lovely. I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially not with the party.”
“Yeah.” Denny cleared his throat and gestured for Josiah to sit down. “I’ll bring you coffee.”
Josiah took his spot and looked at the blueberry pancakes and banana slices, the bacon and scrambled eggs, the French toast, and even croissants. There was two kinds of juice, because Denny knew that sometimes Josiah couldn’t decide in the mornings.
“It’s… okay?” Denny asked as he placed a mug in front of Josiah.
It made him realize he’d been staring at the food and not eating any. “Yes! It’s incredible, honey.”
Denny flushed slightly, then went to get his own mug from coffee maker.
