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“A lone rose.” TK’s eyes zero in on it; the red rose standing out in stark contrast of the beige countertop. “There’s a lone red rose.” It’s upright in a translucent vase, a golden hour sunbeam peeking through the blinds of Carlos’ kitchen.
“Huh?” Carlos closes the fridge door and follows TK’s gaze. “Oh yeah.”
TK looks over at Carlos, eyebrows knitted together. “Why?”
“Well, you know how I go to the farmer’s market every so often?” Carlos asks and TK nods.
“Do I? It’s basically your second home.”
“Well, you know how I like to buy you a bouquet of roses from the florist around the corner on my walk back home?”
Again, TK nods and he feels his face heat slightly. He knows he’s blushing.
TK had always been the gift giver in previous relationships; the one to give little romantic reminders here and there. When Carlos showed up with a bouquet of a dozen red roses after they had made things official, TK didn’t know what to do. He’d told Carlos he didn’t get him anything and Carlos responded with, ‘were you supposed to?’
“Yeah.” TK nods slowly, wanting to see where this is going.
“Well, every time I do, I keep one flower for myself so I know when you need a fresh bouquet.” Carlos answers him, nonchalantly. As if he hasn’t just said something that makes TK want to fold in on himself.
Quietly, TK says, “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
Carlos reaches out and grabs TK’s hand, “You weren’t supposed to do anything but be you.”
—
“Diet Coke.” Carlos is looking into the fridge; looking at the grey package sitting on the bottom shelf. “There’s Diet Coke in your fridge.”
“Huh?” TK closes the pantry door; a bag of pistachios in his hand. Carlos looks at him and points to the fridge.
“There’s Diet Coke in your fridge.” He turns fully to TK, closing the door. “You hate Diet Coke; and the only carbonated drink Owen drinks is Limoncello La Croix.” Carlos suppresses a shudder, thinking about the drink with nothing more than a hint of flavor.
“Obviously.” TK grabs a bowl from one of the cabinets, “You know I think it tastes like melted metal.”
“Then why do you have it?” Carlos asks.
“Because you love it.” TK shrugs, pouring the pistachios into the bowl, pulling out the empty shells. “Felt like a traitor to Coke Zero when I was ringing it up at the self check-out yesterday, by the way.”
Carlos pauses, “You added Diet Coke to your shopping list?”
TK looks at him, a look that reads, ‘of course.’
“Of course.” TK says off handedly, walking back to the pantry. “I love having you here; wanted to make sure something you loved was here too.”
Carlos feels a skip in his heart; he belongs. His last few relationships; he felt more like a guest than a partner. He’s wanted; TK wants him.
Carlos grabs TK by the hips, pulling him closer. He says, quietly, “What I love most was already here.”
—
Carlos greets TK with a compliment because of course he does, he’s Carlos. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”
TK rolls his eyes, still not knowing how to react to kind words. Carlos tells him it’s fine, his smile always says enough. “Right back at ya, babe.” TK replies, buckling himself in.
Carlos starts the car and TK’s eyes cut to the stereo once the music starts playing. “Are you listening to The Strokes?” TK picks up Carlos’ phone and finds he’s playing them from a playlist. It’s filled with The Strokes, The Kooks, Rooney; all bands TK mentioned loving in passing.
He’s playing a playlist called “TK”.
“Since when you listen to The Strokes?” TK asks, watching Carlos watch the road.
Carlos shrugs, “Since you told me you love them.”
—
TK bends down, placing his face in Carlos’ car window. “Until we meet again.”
“So tomorrow?” Carlos asks and TK rolls his eyes.
“Let me have my moment, yeah?” Carlos chuckles because of course he does, he’s Carlos. He goes to give TK a kiss goodbye, when TK beats him to it. TK places a soft kiss against his nose. the bottom of his chin, and finally, his lips.
Carlos pauses, caught off guard. “That’s from Rebel Without a Cause.” He knows the scene like the back of his hand. “When did you watch Rebel Without a Cause?”
“Probably around the time you told me you loved it.”
—
They have tickets for the nosebleeds, and now they're waiting for The Strokes to take the stage. TK is strategically trying to walk down the stairs, careful not to spill either drink in his hand. He finally makes it back to Carlos and Carlos stares at the drinks in his hands.
TK hands one cup to Carlos, “Diet Coke for you.”
Carlos takes the cup without a second thought, well, with half a second thought. “I thought you were just going to be the bathroom.”
“Yeah, but what if we got thirsty?” TK asks and Carlos doesn’t refute him. “And I would be pissed if I missed them play my favorite song.”
Carlos names a song from their second album, TK looks at him after taking a sip of water.
“Yeah, how did you know?”
Carlos smiles, “It’s my favorite too.”
—
TK’s pleading with Iris.
If you asked him, he’d say he’s not too proud to beg. Maybe it’s because his heart swells at the thought of Carlos the way one does when they’re filled with pride.
Iris holds an unwavering gaze at TK, “You think you two are a match?”
TK answers the question without a hint of hesitation. “In every way that matters.”
