I lost track of time with you, Steve. You're addictive in all the best ways.

The only problem is Tommy. I wasn't supposed to spend so much time away. I don't regret it, really, I don't.

But Tommy went all out. He's been dead a while, judging by the smell. Overdose is my best guess. I knew I shouldn't have left him all that crack, but what can I say? I was feeling generous. Now I'm paying for it.

It's a miracle Wayne didn't get it into his head to come down here, and I took the other key with me. At least Tommy spared me the job of killing him myself. His last act was a selfless one. Who knows, maybe it was enough to get him into heaven. But time is running short. I have to get rid of the body somehow.

Thank god it's dead in the shop. I can't tell if I'm imagining the smell or not, but nobody says anything. Tommy better not make a permanent residence in my nose.

Moving a dead body is no easy task, Steve. Once he's in the van, I drive him out of the city, and I don't stop for hours. Finally, we pull off down a disused forest lane littered with old branches and debris. It's clear nobody has been down here for a while.

It's peaceful in the dark. Even the animals are quiet as I dig. It's like they know this is now a resting place for Tommy and are paying their respects. They will guard his grave and keep trespassers away. Nobody will ever find the body.

I sit with him for a while, crack open two beers and put one beside the unmarked grave as I sip mine. Honestly, it's the most time we've spent together without wanting to rip each other's throats out. Tommy isn't bad company when he's quiet. It's a shame he had his claws in you. Maybe in another life, he would have let you go, and we could have been friends.

Not in this one, though.

I leave his beer behind. One last toast for the hardcore party boy.

The sun is rising by the time I'm back in the city. Sweaty, dirty and sore from a night of digging, the last thing I want to do is open up the shop.

Gareth is amenable when he stops by to grab the keys. "Late night? You look like shit."

"Thanks." I toss him the keys, and he laughs. I keep the basement key. It's not ready for visitors yet.

"Don't forget the club this weekend. Everyone said they can make it."

"Yeah. I got the campaign ready."

"Awesome. See you later, Eddie."

My bed is calling, but Wayne needs help moving the sofa out of the way so his delivery of manure can get through. Finally, finally, I get to go to bed. It feels like only minutes have passed when there's a knock at my door. It isn't Wayne.

It's you. You smile sheepishly and edge into the room. "Hey."

"Hey," I mumble, rub the sleep out of my eyes. "What're you doing here?"

"The uh, door was unlocked, and no one answered. I got worried. You weren't at the shop today."

"Long night. Gareth opened."

"Yeah, he said." I sit up as you reach the bed. You sit on top of the covers, cross-legged and smile. "Wanted to make sure you weren't dead."

"Well, as you can see, I'm fine."

"Are you?" Your hand is under the covers, in my pants and around my dick. "You seem a little tense."

"Steve…"

You lean in to kiss me. You taste like strawberries today. It must be a Tuesday. You have a different fruit every morning in your juicer. I can tell what day it is based on the fruit. "I can stop."

I grab your wrist. Your laughter is almost as sweet as your taste against my lips. "Don't."

You climb into the bed. We're both naked and together, and it's better than the cottage because we're not high this time. There's no filter. It's just us. When we're spent and sweaty, I realise I'm going to need another shower. You keep me good, Steve.

Your cheeks are flushed from your orgasm, your smile sated. You draw patterns on my chest and bite your lip shyly. "I hope you don't mind. The no-sex thing. I don't wanna rush this."

"We don't have to." We have all the time in the world, Steve. You're right. We don't need to rush. When you're ready, I'll wait for you to open up. Besides, there's nothing you can hide from me. I'll know all your secrets before you tell me so that way, neither of us will be surprised.

"I really like you, Eddie." It's hesitant, like you're unsure of the words, but when I look at you, I realise it's because you're afraid of how I'll react.

I can't resist teasing you a little bit first. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. I don't… I don't normally get close to people. Not like this. People usually want a quick fuck, and that's it. Which is fine, y'know? Sometimes I want that too. But you're different."

Different. Hot.

It's not easy falling in love. Neither of us asked for this, but you can't deny it either, Steve. We're good together. You walked into my shop and changed our lives irrevocably. You can't take that back. I don't think you want to.

Not when you kiss me and climb onto my lap again. We're both spent, but your mouth is addictive. My own personal crack. Except I can't overdose on you, and Tommy is buried in the forest. He's somewhere far away where he can't hurt you anymore. You laugh when I push you down on the bed, drag me on top of you, and I could do this forever, Steve. Make you laugh, make you moan and then make you breakfast—every day. I think you'd like that.

You don't stay long after that. You've got lessons, and Robin is leaving soon, so you want to spend time with her. I know I can't take up all your time, so I let you go. You kiss me goodbye as you pull on your clothes and promise to call. It's a lie, and we both know it. You never call.

But now I know you want me to call you. You like the chase, the feeling of being wanted. So no matter where you go, Steve, I'll hunt you down.

I check your messages when you leave to discover you're texting Tommy.

Steve - [11:22 AM]

I don't know where you are or what you're doing but stay there.

Don't come back.

You used me for years. Promised you'd tell everyone over and over.

I was nothing more than a warm body to you, was I?

Eddie treats me like a person. He's not afraid to be seen with me. I'm not a body to him.

Stay away from him or I'll make you regret it.

Goodbye, Tommy.

I have to admit. It is kind of hot knowing you're out there protecting me too. But you don't have to worry. Tommy isn't going to come between us. Even if I can never explain it to you, I'll let you know he won't be coming back. He got your message, Steve, loud and clear.

You choose me.

How can I sit in bed knowing you love me too?

You're in class when I get to Kelley's. I checked your timetable, and you should be done soon. I've got your favourite coffee - still warm - and a cake from the local bakery you like to stop at whenever you have to go to school. It was expensive as hell, but for you, I made the sacrifice.

I hold up the drinks and to-go bag when you finally leave the school. Your expression brightens immediately before you turn to make your excuses to the girl you're with. She's the same one from the bar, Nancy, I think. Then I realise she's also the girl from Tommy's video that you disappeared with. So you do have a history with her.

She looks over too, offers me a small smile, nods goodbye to you and leaves. You jog down to meet me and take your drink. "You are a lifesaver. How did you know?"

"Maybe I've been out here a while, and that's the fourth coffee I got. The others went cold."

You laugh and sip your drink. "What's in the bag?"

"A present."

Your eyes widen, and you snatch it away to peer inside. An honest to god moan escapes your mouth. "Oh, you are the best! I was craving one of these!"

It doesn't take much to please someone you love. Just bring them stuff they like. If people took the time to learn about their partners, there would be a lot let divorces.

I have earned myself a kiss for my efforts, and you take my hand to lead me down the street. "I was gonna go study with Nance, but we can hang instead. She doesn't mind."

"Nance?"

"Yeah. We've known each other for years. Used to date, if you can believe it - back when I was still closeted. She figured me out pretty quick."

"And?"

"And…?" You grin and elbow before sinking your teeth into the pastry. You get jam on the corner of your mouth, so I wipe it away with my thumb. When you grab my wrist to lick my thumb clean, our eyes meet, and it's a good thing we're in public because I want you. You drop my wrist after a long pause. "There's no one else at the moment. What about you?"

"I'm more of a one-person-at-a-time kinda guy."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I don't date unless I like someone. Really like them, you know?"

"No." You're a serial dater, and I know you've slept around. It's different now because you have me. Maybe I'm your first serious relationship too. Tommy doesn't count. He was never serious about you. Not like I am. "But I'm starting to understand."

You blush and go quiet, nibble on your pastry. Shyness suits you, Steve, much more than that sailor shit.

"I didn't tell you earlier, but I like you too."

A reminder, a little push that makes your blush deepen as you remember our morning together. "I'm glad. Come on, let's go back to mine."

It's my first time in your place, and it's different being on the inside. Everything looks smaller even though I'm pretty sure it's bigger than the shop. You look out of place in this mausoleum as you stand in the middle of the main room.

"Do you want a drink?"

"Sure."

You come back with two glasses and a bottle of vodka. You're not planning on any more work today. That's clear. "I think we should celebrate."

"Celebrate what?"

"This. Us." You sit on my lap and pour a healthy amount of alcohol into each glass before you press one into my hands. You lean back to put the bottle on the table, and your shirt rides up, exposing your stomach, and just like that, I'm half hard. You get me going in ways I didn't think possible. When you're done and turn back to me, you feel my dick and grin. "Slow down, cowboy. We haven't even started yet."

"Don't be so pretty then."

"Shut up and drink."

I clink my glass against yours. "To us."

"To us," you agree softly before you down the shot. The alcohol is barely past my lips before you toss aside your glass and yank me into a kiss. You're aggressive in all the right ways, Steve. Your tongue burns from the alcohol when you lick behind my teeth, and you taste like the jam from your cake. You're addictive, and I can't get enough.

When we break apart to breathe, we're both hard.

You sink to your knees between my legs, hands moving to my belt but frown when I grab them. "What?"

"We don't have to do this, Steve."

"But you're hard."

"So?" I bring you back up so you're sat on my lap and peck your lips. "It's hard not to be around you. Pun not intended. You don't have to get me off every time we kiss."

"You get hard every time we kiss?" You tease.

"Steve. You have no idea how much I'm attracted to you," I tell you seriously. You look anywhere but at me, so I have to grab your chin to make you meet my gaze. "That doesn't mean I'm only in it for your pretty face, though."

"You're sweet."

"You're deflecting."

You nod because it's true, hands coming to rest on my chest. You don't squeeze this time. You're not high. This is us sober (mostly) and real. We don't speak for a while. I can see you're thinking hard, so I let you figure it out. Finally, you ask in a soft, hesitant voice, "Do you want to be my boyfriend?"

"I'd like nothing better."

Just like that. We're official.

I spend the night in your flat, in your bed. Your room is so different to the rest of this place but entirely you. There are clothes strewn about, and although you were initially embarrassed, I reminded you that you were in my room that morning, and it was no better. Reassured by that, you let me into your room, into your bed and into your heart.

It was the best night's sleep I've ever had. I think it was for you too, because when I woke up, you were curled against my back, arms tight around me. There's no need to worry, Steve. I'm not going anywhere. One day, you'll know that, but you can keep holding me like this. We both need someone to hold on to.

Lucky we found each other.

You make pancakes in the morning and laugh when I refuse to drink your banana smoothie. I could get used to this, waking up with you. But it's brief. You want to run, and I have to open the shop. We kiss goodbye in the doorway and linger together until you give me a playful shove down the steps.

"Goodbye, Eddie. I'll see you later."

With one last kiss, you take off down the street. I watch you out of sight, smiling like a love-struck fool, and maybe I am. It's been a long time since I felt this happy, so I plan to enjoy every second of the rest of my life with you, Steve. Before you round the corner, you turn and wave. You're just as addicted as me.