At least I still got it.
Peter pulled into the parking lot of the Linguistics Department, his sleek town car out of place among the tiny electric cars and the bikes those professors with a sense of humor parked in their designated spots.
“Will you be studying at the library today?I could join you for lunch.”
Theo knew exactly what that meant.Fancy takeout.Peter hanging around for no less than two hours, saying he was just going to do some remote work on his laptop.Theo suppressed an eye roll.
“I was going to compare notes with a few people who’re taking that course on Romantic writers.Rain check on lunch?”
“Of course, but let me know if you change your mind.And if you’re feeling unwell, don’t make yourself get on the tram, just text me to pick you up.In fact, maybe I should wait for you here?You’ll be done at around four, right?”
Theo sighed.“Peter, seriously.I swear I’m fine, okay?And I won’t get near anyone who has the sniffles, okay?”
“You can’t always tell.Your human nose wouldn’t be able to smell the sickness on them.”
Theo opened his door.“Peter, you’re not smelling the other students.I have to get to class.I’ll text you, okay?”
“Theodore.”
Theo turned.“Huh?”
Peter reached for him, making his gesture slow and deliberate, something that hadn’t changed even in the few months after Bernard and…after everything.He cupped the back of Theo’s head.
“Let me kiss you goodbye, my precious one.”
Theo smiled, the expression genuine this time.He leaned in, taking Peter’s lips or letting Peter take his; it didn’t matter.There was immediate relief there, a tension easing.Theo relaxed in Peter’s hold.
“There.Now I can let you go.Have a wonderful day.”
Theo nodded, slightly dazed.“Yeah, you too.Sue someone and win.”
“I always do.”
Theo turned when he was a few steps away from the car, his bag over his shoulder, and waved at Peter without stopping.Peter waved back, but he didn’t immediately drive away, instead he waited, presumably for as long as it took Theo to vanish from his line of sight.
When Theo was pretty sure he couldn’t be seen anymore, he pulled out his phone to text Corvin.
Hey, you in today?
Nope.Have a day off.It’s reading day.??
Right.How’d you feel about skipping reading day and hanging out?
After class?
Now.
Oh, are you skipping class?
Only if you can skip the books.
I need to put on going-out pants, but then I’ll be right there.Library?
Yup.See you there.
It took Corvin less than thirty minutes to get to the library.Theo had picked their normal meeting spot—the communal table on the ground floor.As soon as he saw Corvin walk in, he picked up his backpack and moved to intercept him.
“Hey.Want to get out of here?”
