It’s days like to today that remind Dave why he loves John, and John knows that’s what he’s thinking when he comes up behind Dave loud enough so he can hear his feet on the carpet. He thinks John’s going to put his arms around him or kiss him or do something cute, probably. John can be cute. He’s not being cute now, but he takes advantage of Dave’s easiness and lets his head rest on Dave’s shoulder over the edge of the couch. It’s a modern couch. They bought it at that Swedish store where every bowl is a kernkuffel and every lamp is a gigglemitt because Dave doesn’t know where else to buy furniture. They put it together themselves, and he’s happy it’s made of hard plastic and ninety-nine percent air because it makes kissing the soft spot on Dave’s neck and sliding his hands down the backrest to dump him out onto the floor that much easier. Dave glares, disarmed, and John laughs, pointing out the window. It’s bright and sunny, he’s packed a lunch, and “We should be out there,” he says, and might mention that he dropped Dave’s phone in the toilet on ‘accident’ because it’s been ringing all day. What he means is: That clears your schedule up for a while. And Dave makes says something witty, something pissy, and moans and gripes, but then John is sitting beside him on the floor, grinning down at him, and he can see the appreciation in his eyes.
When he’s shaking his head and pushing himself up to kiss John on the nose in his way of silently thanking him - ironically, of course -, it’s days like today that remind John why he loves Dave, and Dave probably knows that’s what he’s thinking.


