Chapter 1 #3
I’m sitting here while Tam is at Gateways I found a bookmark with Tamlin’s recollection of that weekend written on it, makes for far better reading. I thought I should share my memories of that night too.
I knew I had to see this exhibition—everyone who knew me knew I had to see this exhibition.
But I didn’t want to make our trip to Wrenfield just about me.
I wanted to make it something special for Tamlin too, show him how much I appreciate him, since I’m bad at saying it (as everyone who knows how we finally got together would attest).
I booked a suite at the Wrenfield Plaza.
It was difficult to leave the room—so tempting to let Tamlin keep me pinned to the mattress—but I really did want to see the exhibition.
Having the original Prince’s Pride costumes and prop swords right in front of me was amazing, a once in a lifetime experience.
The tapas restaurant I found turned out to be really good, I know Tamlin prefers a variety of small dishes instead of a big plate of one thing.
Drinks at Banned Books were great too—of course they were, Tamlin designed their mocktail menu—though Gino was serving drinks shirtless, he kept hovering and making me nervous.
I didn’t know where to look; I only have eyes for Tamlin, we had enough misunderstandings when we first got together, I didn’t want to give him any doubts by ogling a half-naked man right in front of him.
Tamlin surprised me after our trip with this book. I wanted to buy it, but that weekend left my wallet a bit light. I’m so thankful he got it for me. More than the book, though, I treasure the memories it represents—especially flashbacks to those four amazing hours we spent in the hot tub ;)
P.S. I’m also thankful to Tamlin for writing on a bookmark, not on the book itself. He knows me so well <3
Tamlin snorted as he read the last line. “Of course I know you, you frustrated librarian. You have me very well trained; I’m pretty sure I’ve also started viewing this apartment as a Tetris puzzle we need to solve in order to fit more shelves in it.”
Delighted as Jeffrey was by this agreement to get more shelves—he and Tamlin were almost always on the same page—he wanted to make sure Tamlin truly understood what he had been trying to put into words.
He plucked the bookmark from Tamlin’s grasp so he could take his hand in his own. “It’s not my training; you know how much I hate defaced books, and you took my feelings into consideration. I saw your college textbooks; you used to make notes in the margins. You changed to suit me.”
Tamlin gave a self-deprecating shrug, smoothing his thumb back and forth over the sabre callus on Jeffrey’s thumb.
“Just like you leave chili out of the food you cook when we eat together, and restrain yourself from putting another set of shelves in the corner of the kitchen so there’s space for my mini bar. ”
It was Jeffrey’s turn to shrug. “It’s a small price to pay to eat dinner with you, watch you mix drinks in our kitchen.
Share a home with you, a life with you. I’d do those things for you even if we had stayed platonic friends.
Though for the record, I feel very non-platonic about you—and only you.
If I glanced at Gino’s bare chest a few times, it was purely aesthetic admiration. ”
Tamlin hand left Jeffrey’s to stroke his chest this time, toying with shirt buttons.
“Gino is ecstatic after his top surgery, he wants everyone to look at his chest; it would be rude not to oblige. For the record, you’re the only one I have a non-platonic regard for too.
And I don’t doubt you. I haven’t ever doubted you; not since we sat right here, and told me that you love me. ”
“You told me first,” Jeffrey pointed out. But he accepted the deep, sensuous kiss Tamlin used to silence him.
When they parted sometime later, Tamlin glanced at the book on the coffee table. “You wrote that while I was gone? I thought for sure you’d take the opportunity to read in peace.”
Jeffrey groaned, though without much vehemence; hard to be irate when Tamlin was suggestively massaging his chest through his shirt.
“I couldn’t choose a book, let alone focus enough to read.
I spent the whole time you were gone thinking how much better it would be if you were here, sitting on the couch next to me. ”
“You wanted company?” Tamlin eyed him incredulously. “Have I somehow turned you into a people person?”
“If you mean you’re my person, and I’m yours,” Jeffrey returned, his own fingers questing under the hem of Tamlin’s hoodie, “then yes.”
“Aw, you’re my person too. And I’m sitting on the couch with you now.
” Tamlin’s deft fingers finally slipped between shirt buttons; they stopped just shy of a nipple, making Jeffrey yowl like the grumpy cat of his nickname, while Tamlin smirked like the cat about to get the cream.
“Though perhaps we could go do something together that requires a bed?”
Jeffrey didn’t need any convincing. His own hands switched tasks, tugging Tamlin to his feet, then towing him towards their bedroom, reeling him in along the way so he could plant another heated kiss on his boyfriend’s lips.