“Nick, we don’t talk about that. Sort of likeFight Club, right?”
“Right.” They paused out by their vehicles, Nick grinning at him. “See you tomorrow, man.”
“You know it.” He waved, then headed out, trying to decide what to grab for food. Devon had been struggling with too much spice, which seemed to go in phases, so he thought breakfast for supper would be good.
He called ahead to the truck stop, getting some gas before he went in to pick up.
Bringing home brekkie for supper
he texted while he waited.
Oooh sounds great. Nick coming?
Not tonight. Long day
Oh, I’ll have blanket fort ready
He grinned, loving how Devon actually would, too.
Be there soon
When he got home, the cats actually ran to meet him, and he snorted. “You don’t fool me, you heathens. I got your favorite things, huh? Hash browns.”
Those kitties loved them some salty potatoes, from hash browns to fries to tots, and they could smell them a mile away.
“Hey, love.” Devon met him as he took off his coat, grabbing the bag from him. “Bad day, huh?”
“Just long and full of traffic collisions and one bad case of frostbite from some fool who wanted to go ice climbing and who missed the mark and had to be rescued.”
“Ew. So painful and gross.”
“I know. Makes a guy wonder why anyone would want to climb Everest, huh?”
He and Devon both loved hiking, and they did some trail running and a little local rock climbing, but those were warm-weather things for both of them, pretty much.
He and Devon had that in common. They liked their warm creature comforts.
“I made some decaf, or I could make tea.”
“Decaf is fine with me.”
Devon kissed his cheek. “Good deal. I’ll bring it in, go have a sit.”
Devon hadn’t been in the least sarcastic, the entire living room was set up with a huge blanket fort, pillows and blankets underneath, battery-operated lights strung across the front. The remote was there, along with a basket of knitting for Dev to work on.
It was beautiful and just what he needed on a soul-deep level. He couldn’t wait until their little one was old enough to want to be in a blanket fort with them.
“This looks amazing.”
Devon beamed and settled in with him, breakfast and coffees at the ready. “It’s a silly affectation, but I do love it. Just to be able to come in and relax a little bit.”
“Exactly. That’s exactly my point. It’s nice to just have someone to be silly and cozy with.” People assumed that he wasn’t at all, and maybe he wasn’t, but he could be with Devon.
“It is.” Devon kissed his cheek. “I think people underestimate how much they need it. We’re not meant to be alone.”
That was quite an admission for Devon, who had lived by himself for a long while as well. They werestill figuring out sometimes where all their different parts met, but it was a wonderful and strange lesson in living, and Laird wouldn’t give it up for anything.
They leaned on each other and ate while they turned on a movie. Devon had a real affection for Hallmark movies, but he liked the mysteries rather than the more schmoopy romances. He said the writing was better.
