22 Caught In Time

Last night, I put my mobile in my pocket and on vibrate to wake myself up without disturbing Topher.

We decided to celebrate our Valentine’s Day today since I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning for LA and staying through the holiday. Our first Valentine’s Day and we’ll be spending it across the country from each other. But, that really seems to be our luck.

Setting my alarm the night before seemed like a great idea, until it was time to wake up. It worked like a charm, but it scared me half to death. This in turn, made me jump and wake up Chris. I just ‘hmphed’ and rolled over, pretending to still be asleep. Luckily for me, he bought it, because a few minutes later I heard a light snoring.

I knew he snored.

Either way, at that point, I managed to pull myself out of bed – reluctantly. Now, I’m standing in the kitchen trying to gain my bearings. Coffee is my best bet and probably splashing my face with a bit of warm water.

I know I’m usually groggy in the morning; in fact, I’m downright bitter. But this one was particularly hard. Last night was one of those nights that you’re so excited about the next day that you can’t really sleep. One spent tossing and turning and waking up every five minutes thinking you’ve slept for hours. Then when you realize that it’s been minutes and not all night, the moving begins again. Then, out of nowhere, your brain thinks it’ll be funny to actually put you to sleep for like a half hour just so it can scare the complete shite out of you when your alarm goes off.

Back in the present, I try not to drown myself as I throw water on my cheeks. The whole reason I woke up early is because I want to make my husband breakfast in bed to start off our romantic day together. Drowning would probably put a damper on that.

Once I’m a little more awake and can use a kitchen knife without accidently harming myself, I set to work on my fry up. Well, most of a fry up. I decided against vegetables since I don’t like them and I’m pretty sure that’s not an American thing. Instead, I stick to eggs (scrambled with cheese, since that’s Toph’s favorite), sausage links, bacon, hash browns, beans, and toast. I also make more coffee, some tea and pour some orange juice.

It doesn’t take all that long, but it feels like I’ve been in the kitchen forever. After it’s prepared, I put it on plates and put our plates on a tray for breakfast in bed. Before I grab the food, I walk over to our sound system and start to play our first dance song. It’s on a CD that I made up with a bunch of songs that have meant something to us in the last year. Nothing too crazy, just songs that I knew would make him smile.

As the song plays through the flat, I grab our breakfast and make my way into our bedroom. It only takes a few times of me whispering his name for Topher to open his tired blue eyes. A smirk instantly lines his lips as he looks up at me.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, love,” I say as I put the tray over his legs as he sits up against the headboard. “I made you a little something.”

“Breakfast in bed?” he asks around a yawn, stretching his arms over his head.

Nodding, I climb into bed next to him and plant a kiss on his smiling lips, “Yep. We aren’t going to be able to do this as much as we would like. I thought I would make you happy while I can.”

“You always make me happy,” he leans toward me again stealing another kiss. Scratching his head he looks down at the food, “You know what I’ll never understand?”

“What’s that?” I question as I take a piece of toast and dip it in the beans.

He nods at me while I take a bite, “That - beans for breakfast. I’ll never get it.”

“It’s delicious. You should try it,” I tell him after finishing my mouthful.

We keep up the small talk, laughing and spending time together. Being as busy as we have lately, I miss just hanging out with my best friend. This is how we became what we are now; the ease of which we can just be ourselves and be completely happy together.

After we finish eating, Topher looks over at his side table, “You don’t have anything else planned do you?”

Shaking my head, I answer, “No, I thought we would just spend the day together. I have your presents, but that’s the only thing I planned really.”

“We will be together,” his smirk is wicked as his eyebrow raises, “but I have a whole day planned for us. Do you mind if we do the presents thing at dinner?”

“Not at all,” a smile slips onto my face as he gets out of bed.

“Good, now get ready we have to leave soon.”

-----

About thirty minutes after we get out of bed, a buzzer goes off through our home. Since my husband is in the shower, I walk over to the intercom and press the speak button, “Hello?”

“Good morning, Mr. Damian. Is your husband around?” It makes me smile that Jim finally used my name without being prompted.

“He’s in the shower, did you need something?”

After a few seconds of silence, he comes back on, “No, sir, just have your Mr. Topher buzz down when he gets out.”

“Are you sure? I’m more than capable of doing whatever you need.”

He sounds more lighthearted when his voice comes back, “I don’t doubt that, but I was told that he was the only one I should talk to today.”

Glaring ineffectively at the little white box, I pry a little more, “Does this have to do with what he’s planned today?”

“I can’t answer any of your questions either, sir.”

Now I’m dangerously curious, “I’ll pay you.”

“No bribes either,” he chuckles at this one.

The sudden hand on my shoulder makes me jump and let out a little squeak as a press the button to answer Jim again.

While laughing at me, Chris leans beside me to press my finger back to the button, “Jim, it’s me. Is everything ready?”

“Everything’s in place, sir,” Jim sounds like he’s laughing too.

My best friend smirks at the scowl on my face before continuing their conversation, “Awesome. Send up the first part.”

“You got it.”

As Topher rights himself and turns to me I fold my arms across my chest, “You scared me.”

“I’ve been doing that a lot lately.” When I don’t respond, he leans in to press his lips to mine. “Maybe you shouldn’t be bribing our doorman.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you told me where we are going.”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

Before the conversation could progress any, there’s a knock on the front door. My husband takes a step toward it when I notice that he’s now fully dressed and ready for the day. He looks nice in a pair of white jeans and a light blue jumper that matches his eyes. Me on the other hand, I am in a pair of dark jeans and socks.

“Why don’t you finish getting ready while I answer this,” Chris nods his head toward the door.

Crossing my arms over my bear chest, I shift my weight to one foot, “I want to know who’s here.”

“And you will as soon as you’re dressed,” he looks amused.

Arching an eyebrow, I retaliate, “Why can’t I know now?”

Shaking his head with his infamous smirk still planted, he faces his body toward me, “Because I don’t want anyone else to see my husband half naked. Go get dressed and then you can meet the person behind this door.”

The way he says ‘husband’ makes me melt a bit, so I uncross my arms. Still giving him a little glare I face away and walk into our room.

I grab my favorite light grey jumper (one that Chris has said makes me look fit) and throw it over a clean white undershirt. I can hear them talking in the other room as I tie my shoes, but I can’t make out what is being said.

“Are our coats in the hall closet?” I shout as I grab my wallet and mobile from the top of our chest of drawers.

“I already got them,” Chris calls back.

Checking myself once over, I walk back into the entry way to see my husband standing with an attractive man; who’s probably in his late twenties - early thirties. He’s a tall skinny man with an auburn brown hair and hazel eyes. I’ve never seen him before in my life.

I suppose the look on my face gives me away as I cross into the foyer, Chris holds out his hand for me to take. I do and he pulls me to him, “Day, this is Evan Damonto. Evan, this is my husband Damian.”

I hold out the hand that isn’t around my husband’s waist, “Nice to meet you.”

Shaking it firmly, he nods, “You too.”

“And?” I question, looking over at Toph after a few seconds of awkward silence.

He smiles at me, “He’s going to be our photographer for the day.”

“You’re still not telling me where we’re going?”

“Not a chance,” he kisses my lips before turning to our guest. “You don’t mind do you? I didn’t exactly call ‘Caught in Time’ and say we were both men when I requested a photographer for a romantic day.”

Evan smiles easily as he waves his hand, “I don’t mind at all, but my husband’s going to be ridiculously jealous. I’m here spending the day with his favorite actor Topher Ashton and he’s chasing after our terrible twos twins.”

I smile as Toph turns a light shade of pink, “I gave my real name. You didn’t tell him you were coming?”

“No,” Evan chuckles. “I signed a confidentiality agreement. Plus, he would have made me bring him with me. Then I would have to worry about you unintentionally stealing my husband.”

-----

“How long have you been married?” I cut in out of curiosity as we gather in the lift.

A genuine smile etches his faces as he thinks back, “Well, we’ve known each other basically forever. We started secretly dating our junior year of high school. We came out as a couple a little over a year after that. Then we got married after I graduated from Columbia about six years ago.”

“What year is junior year?” I look up at my husband with an arched brow.

He smiles, “Its eleventh grade. I think it would be year twelve for you. It’s age sixteen to seventeen.”

Nodding, I turn back to our photographer, “So you’ve been together since you were sixteen. Do you mind me asking how old you are now?”

“I’m twenty-eight,” he agrees.

“Last question,” I promise with a grin. “Has it been difficult?”

“I don’t think it’s been hard in the way you’re thinking. We had our trials and tribulations of course, as most gay couples do, but I knew he was worth it.” His face becomes grave, “There was a time that I thought for sure that I had lost him; that no amount of miracles could bring him back. At that point, I knew that if I got him back I wouldn’t let him go. I haven’t since.”

That gives me hope as we walk out of the back of the building to a waiting stretch limo. Looking up at my husband, I decide that Evan is correct. Topher is worth it. Not that I’ve been too worried about what other people thought about us. I’ve been too focused on what I think about us mostly. But I decide in that moment, my label – whether it’s gay, straight, bi, or indifferent – I love Topher.

As we get to the garage, I look up at my husband again. His smirk is anything, but innocent. He nods in front of us with his arm around my waist. I look up to see a waiting limo.

“Is that for us?” I ask not looking away from it.

Feeling him shrug next to me, I hear, “We had to get around somehow. And with this ongoing bet we have, I figured I have to do everything to make you smile.”

“Bet?” My eyebrows scrunch as I look up at him.

He leans down to my ear and whispers, “I won’t lose you.”

~A/N~

It's been FOREVER!! I've missed you all! Thank you for all the well wishes and congratulations! You guys are the absolute best!

I'm officially married now to the girl of my dreams. Beautiful wedding. Beautiful woman. The honeymoon wasn't so bad either ;)

This chapter was written really fast, but I hope you like it. I wanted it to get out as soon as I could.

Evan's in it!!! He'll be in the next one too! I've missed him. If you don't know Evan, he's from my other book 'No Cure for Curiosity'. Check it out if you feel like it. *Shameless Self Promotion*