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If anyone asked, Alex will blame June for distracting him so much that he doesn’t notice the sleeping figure on his shoulder until he has a question.
They’re all seated around the fireplace in the White House, Nora’s legs extended over June’s on the couch and Alex and Henry curled into the fireplace, arms tangled together and Henry’s face buried in Alex’s collar. “How about the end of August?” Alex asks as he absentmindedly moves his hand through Henry’s hair, gently untangling the knots whenever they snag against his fingers. “I have to make sure it works with our schedule but I should be done with my internship then.”
June purses her lips. “You and your damn law school,” she grumbles until Alex throws her a chocolate wrapper, but even then she just makes a face. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to Texas during a goddamn heatwave.”
“Hey, it isn’t that bad.”
“Tell that to literally the entirety of Texas.” Alex rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue, opting to press a little kiss on Henry’s forehead instead. Henry’s arm tightens around his waist almost absentmindedly and Alex has to smile; this, he thinks, he’ll never get tired of at least. Henry pressed so close to him, his breath washing over Alex’s skin, his hair tickling his chin as he’s tucked under there. Henry is all sharp points and lanky limbs, but when he sits on Alex’s lap he melts into a puddle of goo wrapped inside Alex’s arms, like two pieces coming together perfectly.
“May?”
“Hm?” Alex tears his eyes away from Henry to look at June.
“How about May? Your school lets out early, right?” Alex purses his lips. He really should’ve paid more attention to his schedule.
“I think so?” he asks, shifting so he can reach for his phone. “Let me check. I know my internship doesn’t start until June, so…”
“You mean until—” Nora pipes up but Alex sends her a glare.
“Don’t.” It’s a running gag that she makes a joke about his sister’s name whenever the month June is brought and despite the fond smile June sends her way every single time, it’s gotten old real quick. He narrows his eyes and glares at June’s smile as she rubs Nora’s legs, deciding not to question whatever the fuck is going on between them. Alex thinks he’s better off not knowing for now.
His eyes flicker back to his phone. “May should work,” he says tentatively, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “As long as Henry doesn’t have some crazy royal stuff going on. But we can always kidnap him from England, right, baby?” He grins at the lump seated on his chest, expecting a laugh or even a roll of his eyes but Henry stays silent. Alex’s hand stills in his hair when he catches sight of his face—it’s pressed close to Alex’s collarbone but his head is tilted just so that Alex can see his closed eyes, lashes tickling his skin, lips parted in soft, steady breaths. “Oh,” he whispers, a protective feeling surging in his chest at the sight of his boyfriend sleeping. He absentmindedly tightens his grip around Henry and rearranges himself so he’s settled better on his chest, letting his head drop further so Alex’s collarbone doesn’t dig into his forehead. “I’ll ask him later,” he tells June, though he can’t quite look away from Henry. “When he’s…”
“Long day?” June asks, quieter this time. Alex finds a small smile on her face once he finally manages to tear his eyes away.
“Yeah.” Gently, he moves Henry’s hair away from his forehead so it doesn’t tickle his eyes. “Long week, really. He’s been working hard at the shelter, getting things ready for the Christmas party, and I think it took a toll on him.” For days, Henry has been coming home late, greeting Alex with a tired smile and a kiss on his forehead before settling for a quick dinner, and even working until midnight at home to make sure everything runs smoothly at the shelter in his absence. Alex had to coax him to bed every night with kisses on his forehead and massages on his shoulders, and even then it would take him minutes to tear himself off from whatever email he had to send.
“What would I do without you?” he slurred into Alex’s shoulder one night, earning a small laugh from Alex’s lips. Alex just kissed his forehead and tugged him close to his chest.
“Count it to all those times you pulled me to bed during finals week.”
Alex blinks away from his thoughts when he hears June let out an exaggerated yawn. “Nora?” she says, nudging the other girl. Nora looks up from her Kindle with narrowed eyes but June just pokes her again. “You wanna go to bed? I’m feeling pretty tired.” Pointedly, she yawns again, and Alex rolls his eyes but he’s smiling anyway. He shoots June a grateful look as she drags Nora out of the room.
“Tell your prince he’s expected in the lakehouse at the end of May,” June yells right behind the door. Alex lets out a quiet laugh.
“Good night to you too, Bug.” He listens to their footsteps disappear before he turns his attention to his boyfriend, sleeping so deeply he doesn’t even stir. A smile curls on his lips as he shifts on the armchair so Henry can settle better on his chest, peppering his hair with kisses.
He should wake him up. Alex knows that. He should wake Henry up and bring him back to their room, to their bed, tucking him under the sheets and into his arms. Yet he doesn’t have the heart to stir him from his sleep.
“Good night, baby,” he murmurs instead, pressing a kiss on his forehead before he rests his cheek on Henry’s head. Slowly he lets his eyes flutter closed as well, the beats of Henry’s heart lulling him into a soft sleep.
They do, eventually, end up in bed that night. Alex still doesn’t regret those few stolen hours of sleep in front of the fireplace, a moment just for the two of them.