It’s the simple things.
A soft kiss goodnight demanded from a mostly-asleep Oliver when Connor finally joins Oliver in bed. “I’m not going to sleep without it,” Oliver says, grumpy and groggy. Connor takes pity on him. Oliver’s asleep again before the kiss ends.
Their knuckles brush when they both reach for popcorn in the bowl between them at the same time. Somehow they end up holding hands instead, salty fingers tangled atop the popcorn.
Connor sets his alarm ten minutes early, just to watch Oliver stand and stretch, backlit by the sun in the window. He’s shirtless. The light outlines his shoulders and sides. Around his head looks like a halo. He’s Connor’s angel, though Connor will never admit that out loud.
Bored in class, Connor texts Oliver for pictures. Oliver sends back a selfie with a wide smile. The caption, When I think about you. It’s not what Connor expected, but it makes him smile too. He sets it has his background and thinks, I love this man.
At the end of a long work day, Oliver greets Connor at the door of their apartment, his arms spread. His face, sympathetic. Connor drops his suitcase and falls into him. “How did you know I needed this?” Connor asks.
When Oliver replies, “Boyfriend intution,” Connor only sinks further into him until he is wrapped up entirely in this man and their home. “Plus, you didn’t ask me for dick picks today. I knew something was wrong.”
Connor laughs and the world is brighter.
“Want to watch Netflix?”
Connor shakes his head, slight.
“I’ll keep holding you,” Oliver adds.
This time, Connor nods.
It’s the simple things.
