Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Do you see him?” Oregon asked, leaning over the center console to angle his body in front of Washington, who was in the passenger seat so that Oregon could take a look at the Carhartt store from the right. The Carhartt store that they were parked in front of wasn’t going to be in the running for the largest one in the world but it was a bit bigger than average, with the left and right windows being larger than most in an attempt to seemingly make up for the fact that the door was very tall and made up of the same solid heavy looking wood as the Carhartt building itself and preventing anyone- even relatively tall West Coast states who had made the galant sacrifice of cooping themselves up in Oregon’s Subaru’s with nothing but their to-go coffees and a dream of surprising their boyfriends. 

“I already told you, no. He’s 6’5, I don’t think we’re going to miss him. Unlike mine, who is stuck at being 5’8.” Washington took a sip of his oat milk latte, that he had protected from spilling onto jeans- not because he wanted to avoid ruining his jeans or getting burnt but because he did not want to waste a single drop of the coffee. He took coffee over life very seriously. 

Oregon leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling of the car, indignant. “Are we even sure that they’re going to be here?” 

“Firstly, this was your idea.” Washington pointed out with perhaps a bit too much bite in his words for Oregon’s liking as Oregon lifted up his wrist to show the matching friendship Apple watches that Washington had gotten the both of them. It had become their code for one of them to let the other know that they were way too bitchy towards their BFF instead of the people who they should actually be bitchy towards- everyone else on planet Earth except for the men they had deemed attractive enough to be spared. “Secondly, they’re always here.” 

Oregon smiled. “I know. Just like I told you when I picked you up that we are surprising them with brunch reservations, why do you wanna stop for a latte first. You have that huge ass Breville at home, you do realize that right?” 

Washington scoffed. “Of course I know that. What do you think Georgia used this morning when he was making his coffee before he went to pick up Texas?” 

Oregon shook his head and though he was agnostic, said a prayer for the double coffee breath that Colorado had to go through whenever he wanted to kiss his boyfriends. 

Washington hit Oregon’s arm with the back of his hand. “Look, there they are now!” 

Georgia and Texas walked outside of the Carhartt with the reusable bags that Washington and Oregon had convinced them to use and that they had agreed on using after they had shown them that the patterns came in the Braves logo and in the Texan state flag. 

Washington and Oregon stuck their heads out of the windows of the car and waved to them. Georgia and Texas slowed down before realizing that it was Washington and Oregon and picked up their pace. Texas pulled Oregon into a hug that had him being lifted an inch off of the ground and Georgia wrapped Washington into the kind of bear hug that only a bear could properly give. 

“What are ya two doin’ ‘ere?” Georgia asked as he gently adjusted Washington’s glasses that had gotten askew and fogged up from the hug. 

“We made reservations at that allergy friendly brunch place. We figured since you two were having your own friend date this morning and so were we, we could get brunch together.” Washington explained. 

Texas and Georgia showed their boyfriends what they had gotten at the store and Texas had even gotten Oregon a Carhartt beanie of his own. The smile was impossible to wipe off of Oregon’s face. Texas folded the beanie down enough to make it clear that Oregon was more of a UX designer than he was a construction worker when he wore the beanie. Oregon smiled bigger at that. 

“We’re gonna go pick up Colorado at the REI store really quick. We’ll see you two at the restaurant!” Washington waved as he and Georgia walked hand in hand to Georgia’s truck. 

Oregon slipped his keys over to Texas. “Here, you drive.” 

Texas had never driven a Prius before but he was a good driver and most importantly, Texas had told Oregon that it was considered something special to drive your partner’s truck. Oregon had never owned a truck in his life but he figured a Subaru would get the message across just fine. Texas gave a kiss to the back of Oregon’s hand. “Love ya so much, mah dear.” 

Oregon covered his mouth as he giggled and let himself rest against Texas’s chest for a moment before they went to the car.  

Inside the Barnes & Noble that was located next to the Carhartt store, Alabama looked wistfully at the shared wall as if he would be granted x-ray vision and be able to see all of the goodies he wanted to get. 

He felt a kiss be pressed to his arm and looked down to see his boyfriend, Delaware, with two very heavy and thick hardback biographies. Alabama leaned down and outstretched the four book stacked pile of hardback literary fiction and translated works that he was carrying for Delaware. Delaware placed the two books he had just grabbed on top and gave Alabama a quick kiss. 

“Thank you for helping me with my books.” Delaware said, a tinge of pink taking over his cheeks as was common when Northeastern states said the words thank you or sorry. He nodded towards the wall between Carhartt and Barnes & Noble that was filled with jigsaw puzzles and adult coloring books. “You saw that they got a farrier jigsaw puzzle?” 

Alabama’s face lit up. “Naw. They do? Ah was wantin’ ta go ta Carhartt and get mah self something.” 

“No you won’t. I’m buying you the jigsaw puzzle and whatever you want from Carhartt.” Delaware took out his solid black American Express and placed it in the back pocket of Alabama’s jeans before heading over to the jigsaw puzzles, Alabama trailing behind him happily.