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Jonathan hadn't thought about what it would be like when spring shifted into summer and he could no longer escape the heat. The house was kept warm all through the winter—warmer than it had been when he was a kid. Will deserved it; and they were all comforted by the confirmation that the monster was gone. So long as Jonathan kept his door closed and his window cracked open, he could handle it.
Once summer began, there was no way to escape it. It lingered, clung to and burrowed under his skin. As the days grew warmer, Jonathan caught himself taking shallow breaths. Each time, he fiercely missed being able to step outside and fill his lungs with the biting chill of winter air. Four months of this to look forward to felt more like an eternity.
Thank God they didn't live somewhere like California or Florida. He didn't think he would be able to handle anything hotter than they dealt with in Hawkins.
A knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts and he pushed himself from the couch. Will was at Mike's, or with Mike and the rest of his friends. Jonathan was trying his best not to hover. Each month without any sign of the Upside Down or any monsters made it easier. Mostly. It was still difficult not to know exactly where his brother was at all times; just to make sure he hadn't disappeared again.
Steve was standing on the other side of the door, sporting a grin and a pair of familiar sunglasses. Though it stood up, his hair wasn't full of product. Jonathan didn't know whether it was because of the heat or if he hadn't felt like taking the time to perfect it. Didn't mind either way; he liked being able to run his fingers through Steve's hair without the brittleness created by hairspray.
"Hey," Steve said, leaning in for a brief kiss. Jonathan's heart sped up, but there was no one around to see. They didn't exactly have many neighbors close by. Steve didn't crowd into his space or pull him close, though. His hand rested lightly against Jonathan's cheek for a moment, but dropped back to his side when he straightened out. There was no doubt in Jonathan's mind that Steve was being careful for the same reason he'd followed Jonathan outside when the house felt too warm during the winter.
"Hi." Jonathan reached for Steve's hand. It was warmer than usual, but it was familiar. "Did we have plans?"
"We didn't, but we do now." Steve squeezed his hand before letting him go. "Get your stuff and let's go."
Jonathan raised his eyebrows, but Steve rocked back on his heels, shoving his hands into his pocket. The grin on his face said he wasn't going to explain anything. Relieved at having something new to think about, Jonathan held up his pointer finger for Steve to give him a minute. Unlike his mom, Jonathan kept his keys in the same place and it was a matter of seconds to grab them and his wallet. He scribbled a quick note so his mom didn't worry, then met a still-grinning Steve at the door.
"Where are we going?" he asked as he locked the door. Steve still hadn't answered by the time they reached his car.
"You'll see," was all he said before climbing inside. Jonathan shook his head, helpless to do anything but follow. Inside the car was cooler than his house—Steve must have been blasting the air on the drive over—and Jonathan settled into the passenger seat with a sigh. He closed his eyes, leaning into the headrest.
The engine turned over and Jonathan was greeted with a blast of warm air that quickly cooled as Steve began to drive. It took more effort than it should have for Jonathan to get his seat belt on, but this was the first time he felt like he could breathe in days.
"Better?" Steve asked quietly. Blinking his eyes open, Jonathan angled his head to look at Steve. He was watching the road, but Jonathan knew his attention was all on waiting for an answer.
"Much better," Jonathan told him. He meant to reach out, cover Steve's hand with his or rest it on Steve's thigh where no one would be able to see. As it happened, Jonathan didn't have to. Steve reached out first, tangling their fingers together.
Steve nodded, the smile on his face softer than the grin from before. "Good."
Jonathan's eyebrows couldn't climb any higher if he tried—and he did.
"The surprise is your house? I've been to your house before."
Not often. Steve's parents weren't exactly present, but they were still home more often than he would have guessed given how little he saw them around town. The handful of times that he had come over while they were in town, he had seen them twice. Maybe three times, with the third being in passing as they left to make their dinner reservation somewhere a town or two over.
Still, Jonathan had spent more than one night in that house. It wasn't exactly what he'd pictured when Steve told him to grab his things.
"Trust me." Steve said it without a hint of doubt that Jonathan would—did—and it was impossible not to nod. He didn't have to understand why they were there. It was enough that Steve had a reason, even if he wasn't sharing what that reason was.
The drive from Jonathan's house to Steve's took almost surprisingly little time, but it was long enough for the heat to hit him like a wave when he stepped out of the car. Jonathan frowned. Whatever they were here for, he hoped it wasn't too bad inside. Maybe Steve was planning on them spending the day in his pool. As far as Jonathan knew, Steve hadn't used it since Barb, but that might have changed.
Then Steve opened the front doors, waving Jonathan inside and he realized it was cool. Not livable, like Steve had kept the windows open all night and closed them before the heat hit. No, it was like his car only more. Better.
"What—"
Steve closed and locked the door behind them, lifting one shoulder up in a half a shrug. "You've never been over during the summer. Air conditioning. My parents made sure it was put in."
He led Jonathan into the living room. Even the couch was cool against Jonathan's skin when he sat down.
Steve pointed at the couch and said, "Wait here for just a minute, okay?"
"Sure."
It wasn't that long before Steve was back, a bright box in his hands. Jonathan had been wrong before; his eyebrows could move higher. "Are those popsicles?"
Steve shook the box and nodded. Dropping down next to Jonathan, he ripped open the box and held it out. The plastic crinkled as Jonathan took one out. Well, two.
"Take them both," Steve said before Jonathan could put one of them back. "There's a whole other box in the freezer."
Tossing the two he took for himself, Steve hopped up off the couch. It wasn't long before he was back, a can of pop in each hand. Those were cold, too.
Jonathan stared hard at the can Steve handed him for a second. Leaning forward to set it on one of the coasters on the coffee table, he turned to face Steve. Steve who was smiling the soft smile that Jonathan loved. Watching him carefully.
He smiled against Jonathan's mouth just like he knew Steve would.
"Thank you," Jonathan told him when he pulled back, resting the side of his head against the back of the couch. "This is…"
"Good." Steve kissed him again. He cupped Jonathan's cheek. Pulled him close. Jonathan followed, letting himself be pulled until they were stretched out over the couch, Steve underneath him. Steve was warm, but Jonathan didn't mind because he could breathe again.