“I think you’d like it. Tons of people. Cold. More or less like here, but British,” he said.
Julian hummed at the thought, letting himself imagine going on vacation with Isaac. Even if he was just following him from competition to competition.
“Anyway, sit down and I’ll bring this over when it’s done,” Isaac said.
Julian sat as instructed. He couldn’t stop smiling at Isaac, his heart swelling as he thought of how nice it would be to justhavethis, all the time.
“You’re a great boyfriend,” Julian said after a moment, the feeling too overwhelming to go unvoiced.
Isaac looked away from what he was doing, over at him. “Boyfriend?” he asked.
Julian’s stomach went cold. He hadn’t meant to say that, but he was still half-asleep. Still too busy enjoying Isaac’s company to use his goddamn brain.
“I, uh… well, that’s what we’re supposed to be, umm… pretending, right?” he said, knowing that absolutely none of it sounded convincing.
Isaac looked away, his shoulders slumping. “Yeah, right,” he said. A heavy sigh told Julian he wasn’t done, but was also maybe not sure what to say next.
“It’s just…” Isaac continued. “Never had a boyfriend before. Might be kinda nice?”
A lump formed in Julian’s throat. Isaac sounded so quietly hopeful, so genuine that he couldn’t bring himself to resist.
He knew this was all an experiment. He knew he was at risk of losing Isaac when it had to end. That he might even have ended up resenting him, for not being able to justbe happywith Julian.
But…
“I’d be honored to be your boyfriend,” Julian said.
Isaac hadn’t even bothered to tell the world hehada boyfriend, fake or otherwise. After the first couple of times, he hadn’t made any attempt to make sure they’d be seen in public. Theydefinitelyhadn’t been caught holding hands or kissing or anything like that.
So maybe it didn’t matter. Maybe whatever Isaac wanted to call this was fine.
Hell, maybe if it wasn’t going to last, that was all the more reason to enjoy it while it did. To give Isaac everything he wanted, and walk away without any regrets. Any wishes that he’d done things differently.
Isaac was looking at him again, arranging bacon on top of the toast he’d made and pouring barbecue sauce over it.
“Yeah?” Isaac asked, eventually risking a glance up at Julian.
Julian smiled at him, the urge to make Isaac happy overriding all his other concerns for the moment. “Yeah. Yeah, I… meant what I said. You’re a great boyfriend. I was just afraid you wouldn’t want to think of yourself like that.”
Isaac shrugged, closing the sandwiches and bringing them over. “Sounds kinda neat,” he said, passing a plate to Julian.
The smell of bacon this close to him made his stomach growl and his mouth water. Maybe it wasn’t quite gourmet, but he could really get used to Isaac cooking for him from time to time.
“Boyfriends, then,” Julian said, grinning at the thought. “And best friends. Always.”
Isaac smiled the softest, sweetest smile in response, and Julian knew he was doing the right thing. Isaac had been there for him during some of the most confusing, difficult times of his life, and this was his chance to return the favor.
If he wanted a boyfriend, arealboyfriend, then Julian was happy to be that for him. Even if he was afraid he’d get his heart broken.
He could survive a broken heart for Isaac. He loved him more than enough for that.
Julian took a bite of his sandwich, humming happily as the salty-sweet combination of bacon and barbecue sauce hit his tongue.
“They use a different kind of sauce over there,” Isaac said. “I mean, it’s kinda barbecue sauce? But not as sweet. Or not sweet in the same way. Hard to explain, actually.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Julian said, still eating happily.
“Or I could take you someday.” Isaac glanced up at him, his eyes so sincere it made Julian’s heart skip a beat.
