Chapter four!
"Sunlight poured in through the open window, and Charlie squinted as the thoughts from yesterday filled his head. He turned to find Adam sitting in a chair beside him, reading one of the books he had brought with him for the trip.
When Adam saw that Charlie was awake, he smiled.
"Hey. You're finally up. "He stood up and kissed Charlie deeply. Charlie returned it, his lips still savoring it after Adam had pulled back.
He sighed contentedly. "Where are we?" He asked after he'd had a chance to look around.
"A Holiday Inn somewhere in southern Minnesota." Adam replied, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
"Nothing...happened last night...did it?" Charlie asked slowly.
"No! No, of course not, Charlie! I love you, and you know I would never take advantage of you like that. You made it perfectly clear that you're not ready. I respect that."
"Ugh. I know you wouldn't, Banskie. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. I would've been kind of worried, too. I mean, it's a big step. If we had...there would be no going back."
Charlie nodded. "I know."
An awkward silence filled the room, but Adam spotted it and broke it.
"Hey, let's go get something to eat. I am starving." He said.
"Why didn't you get something while I was asleep?" Charlie asked.
Adam smiled sweetly, and leaned his head slightly to the side.
"I couldn't take my eyes off you."
After they'd showered and dressed, they walked down the hall to breakfast, hand-in-hand.
"Charlie?"
"Yeah, Banksie?"
"I have something to ask."
"What?"
Adam stopped walking, pulling Charlie back.
"You promise you won't get mad?"
"Promise." He said. "What is it? Is something bothering you?"
"Well, kinda. I was just thinking, maybe, in public, maybe we should back off a bit on the PDA's."
"But why? I mean, we've come out, right? What's wrong with the innocent holding of hands?" Charlie replied.
"It's for our own safety, Charlie. We don't know anybody around here. They're not like the Ducks. We don't know how they feel about us. We could end up being followed!"
Charlie sighed and looked down at his fingers, entwined with Adam's like they had been many times before.
"I guess you're right. As much as I hate to admit it." He said, and dropped his hands to his sides. Immediately, something told him that things were wrong.
"I'm sorry." Adam said.
"Don't be. You're right. We don't want to get in any trouble, do we? This trip's supposed to be fun!"
They walked the rest of the way down to breakfast, ate, and got their things packed. Charlie was driving this time.
"Now can we hold hands?" He asked.
Adam laughed. "Yes."
Charlie grinned and took Adam be and the hand and kissed it lightly.
"That's good." Charlie whispered.