Page 79 of Refraction

“Uh. Yeah. It’s toasty out here.” Toasty in that actually on fire kind of way.

He followed Tucker to the end of the pool.Maybe if I don’t learn how to swim I’ll have an excuse just to watch.

“It’s still early, but yeah. Come on, let me caffeinate you.” Tucker moved through the space like magic, like it was built for him, which Calvin guessed it had been. He made a point of holding tight to Tucker’s hand so he could look around for landmarks as they went. Anything to help him learn his way.

“Where are all the things for the walls, Tucker? You’ve got a thousand hooks, no paintings.”

“I put them away.”

He nodded. Yep. In a closet somewhere. That was his fault.Fuck. “Well, it makes some room for the new stuff, huh?”Dammit.

“Exactly.” Tucker squeezed his hand. “I want you to be comfortable here. I knew you were exhausted, and this is better. It’s clean and easy. You can rest here.”

He tugged on Tucker’s hand, stopping him, and took a kiss, not really worrying whether Tucker was ready for it or not. “Baby, I….” He checked himself. “You are so thoughtful. Thank you.” But nothing about Tucker was clean or easy, and all this white space wasn’t anything like the man he knew. He didn’t want to make waves, but he didn’t know how he fit into this either. Okay. He’d figure how to talk about it after coffee. Or tomorrow. Maybe another day or two to let things settle, right?

“I love you. All the other shit aside, you’re it for me.” Tucker sat him at the kitchen table and pulled out a pitcher and a gallon of milk. “You hungry?”

Tucker was it for him too. Like,it. There just wasn’t anything else without his tiger. His career was in the toilet right now, God knew. “Got anything that’s not rainbow colors?”

“I have bread and peanut butter and strawberry preserves. I have cream cheese. Your bagels are on the counter….”

“A piece of peanut butter toast sounds good. I can make it.” He got up and stood next to Tucker.

“The toaster oven’s there on the counter. The bread and peanut butter live above it. Knives and forks and spoons below.” Tucker touched his arm, the caress featherlight.

“Thanks.” He covered Tucker’s fingers with his and gave them a squeeze before hunting down the peanut butter.

Once his bread was toasting, he picked up his phone. “Marge texted back a smiley face and said to give you a kiss.” Which he hopped right over and delivered. “Oh, come on. Really?” He frowned at his phone. He had a million texts and two voicemails from Michael. He sighed and texted back that he was fine and on vacation. When Michael came right back, asking how long, why hadn’t he called, he was going to have to reschedule a shoot? Calvin told Michael to give him a month and shut his phone off.

Timmy had Tucker’s number if he was worried.

“Toast is ready!” He found a plate and made his breakfast.

“So is coffee.” Tucker grabbed a remote and clicked and music filled the whole house. Not loud, just everywhere.

“Oh, wonderful. Thank you, lover.” He danced over and picked up his coffee, then danced himself back to the kitchen table.

Tucker watched him like he was magical, like he was simply the most important man on earth. That made him blush. He could feel his cheeks go hot and pink.

“What, tiger?”

“Huh? What?” Tucker grinned at him. “I like seeing you.”

“I like being looked at. I just wondered what you were thinking behind those bright blue eyes.”

“Whether it would be weird to have you sit in my lap, given I’m damp and naked.”

“Nope.” He stood up, toast in one hand, and pointed to his chair.

Tucker grinned, looking young and happy, naked butt hitting the chair with a plop.

Calvin sat right down on Tucker’s knees and smiled at him. “See? Not weird.” He kissed Tucker’s nose and took another bite of his toast. “Good peanut butter.”

Tucker chuckled for Calvin, throat working as he sucked down his coffee. “If there’s anything you want, just tell me. I guessed.”

Mmm. That low chuckle was so smooth, and he loved it. The more laughter of any kind, the better. “I don’t need anything but this.”

Tucker nodded, humming deep in his chest, the sound echoing Eddie Vedder. Okay, that was pretty cool. Even cooler was that Tucker was totally on key. Timmy would be impressed.

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