Page 4 of For the Rest of Forever

Allen let himself smile, even though it was a bit strained, and then he reached up and touched Greg’s temple. “I’m giving you a few more gray hairs, aren’t I?”

Greg laughed lightly. “They make me look distinguished.”

“A distinguished old geezer.”

“Indeed.”

Allen closed his eyes again as Greg leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead.

“Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll be right back,” Greg reassured him, and when Allen nodded, Greg seemed to pull away with reluctance. Then he disappeared into the bathroom.

From his spot in the corner, Beans whimpered a little, and Allen glanced over his shoulder at the dog, frowning. His irritation wasstillthere, even though the poor pup hadn’t done anything wrong. And he hated that.

Allen sat heavily on the edge of the bed and then patted his lap. “Beanie buddy, come here,” he called quietly.

The dog lifted his head, his eyes wide and bright. Then he jumped to his feet, bounded across the room, and hopped up onto the bed, plopping down so his head rested on Allen’s thigh. Allen sat there for several minutes, stroking Beans’s fur. From the bathroom, he heard the shower turn on and then shut off, and when Greg stepped back out, still toweling his hair dry, Allen looked up, his hand pausing on Beans’s back.

There was a subtle shift in Greg’s expression, a faint hint of guilt flickering in his eyes. But it was gone before Allen could really be sure he saw it. Still, he couldn’t help the negative thoughts coming back yet again, echoes of a past he was sure he’d left behind when he’d moved to Seattle some thirty-five years ago.

Stop bothering him with this. You’re too much work. He won’t love you anymore. Burden. You’re a burden.

Allen blew out a sharp breath, and as though the dog knew their cuddle time was up, Beans jumped off the bed and shuffled over to his corner. Greg tossed his towel into the hamper next to their dresser and quickly took the spot where Beans had been. Then he wrapped both arms around Allen. Again.

“Don’t listen to it,” Greg murmured. “Listen to me instead. I love you. You’re worthy, you’re loved and valued, and you deserve all the love and all the happiness.”

Allen heard the familiar words and clung to them, just as he clung to his husband. “Hold me?” he asked after another moment.

“Of course.”

Together, they crawled under the covers and settled in bed, and Allen let his husband’s warm embrace surround him and chase away all that other rotten stuff.

It seemed to work. Mostly.

Chapter Three

Greg

Greg woke up hoursbefore the sun rose, drawn by a familiar longing to be out on the trail, to experience the very beginning of the new day at the top of a mountain peak somewhere, surrounded by the soft quiet of the forest. He felt the pull strongly that morning, despite the pouring rain and howling winds already battering the windows from outside.

The storm had arrived early, and that was probably a good thing, really. He wouldn’t have left anyway, not with Allen still clinging to him in a restful but fragile sleep. But he did have to consciously make that decision, especially since another part of him was just dying for the opportunity to test out the new custom-fitted rain cover he’d purchased for his Nikon.

There was a quiet whimper from over by the bedroom door, and Greg pushed himself up onto one elbow, careful to not wake Allen. Beans sat squarely in the center of the doorway, his tailthumping on the ground. He whimpered again and then barked. Loudly.

Greg groaned inwardly and gave the dog a stern look, but Beans just barked again and then turned and bounded off down the hallway. Frowning, Greg looked down at Allen, and he was relieved to see his husband was still sound asleep, still curled up right next to Greg, still breathing slowly and deeply.

His frown turned into a soft smile, and he bent down and brushed his lips lightly against Allen’s forehead. The gesture was something he did several times a day, and yet it felt as full of love as it always had, even after thirty-three years.

“I love you, Allen, my darling,” he murmured, and then he carefully eased himself out from under his husband’s arms and scooted off the bed. Allen shifted but didn’t wake, and Greg smiled, then hurried to let Beans out into the monsoon outside before the silly dog decided he’d waited too long and did his business right in front of the back door.

Jogging down the stairs, Greg heard Beans ahead of him, whining and pawing at the sliding patio door. He let Beans out, then took a short detour to the laundry room to grab a towel, since the dog would no doubt be soaking wet and muddy when he was finished outside. By the time Greg returned, Beans was already back at the door, scratching to be let back in. Greg dried the dog, tossed the dirty towel into the washing machine for a later load, and then climbed back up the stairs, Beans following at his heels.

He paused in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe as Beans ambled on past him and toward the bed where Allen still slept soundly.

“Nuh-uh, Beans. Bed. Now,” Greg warned, his voice firm but quiet. The dog stopped and gave Greg a look over his shoulder. “Now,” he repeated. Beans stared at him for another long second, and Greg thought the dog was seriously considering whether toobey or not. With what seemed to be a resigned sigh, if a dog could sigh or act resigned, Beans turned and headed to his bed to curl up and go back to sleep.

Greg shook his head. “Silly dog,” he muttered under his breath. After a quick trip to the bathroom to relieve himself and wash his hands, Greg returned to the bed, settling under the covers and then shimmying over until he was about in the middle of the bed. Allen seemed to sense him, and he turned over and cuddled up against Greg’s chest, still not waking up.

It was good, really. Allen needed the sleep. In fact, given how tired Allen had been the night before and how much and how quickly he’d started to struggle just after they’d gotten home last night, Greg knew that what Allen needed the most was rest, affection, and reassurance.

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