Work Text:
Mike checked the time on his phone for the hundredth time, the bright screen illuminating his dark bedroom. He was waiting for Billie Joe to return home after a night out and the fact that his phone was reading 4:09 am was making him anxious. Earlier in the night, Billie had told Mike he was just going to have a few beers with his friend Tre but now it’s well after bar close and Billie still wasn’t home or answering any of Mike’s texts. What’s worse, Mike had texted Tre an hour ago to ask if everything was okay and much to his surprise, Tre responded that he wasn’t even with Billie and wasn’t at all that night. He knew Billie was lying and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Billie had been a little distant lately and Mike had blamed himself. Mike was going through a dark spot in his life and he had closed himself off from his husband and his advances - he was too depressed to really try to be sexy for Billie or make any efforts on his appearance, let alone be intimate. Mike was working on it but he knew it was driving him away but he never thought that Billie might step out on him. Hell, he wasn’t sure that’s what was happening now but the circumstances seemed right. Still, he waited up for him, hoping to God Billie was okay and had a reasonable excuse.
Mike heard the lock unlatch to the front door and he looked at the time on his phone again. 4:24 am. Billie was just getting home and Mike could feel his heart pounding out of his chest. He decided to pretend to be asleep to observe Billie’s next actions, unsure on really how to proceed once he was face to face with him. He heard Billie quietly creep into their bedroom and head directly into their master bathroom. Mike heard the shower turn on with a hiss. He immediately got out of bed and looked around for Billie’s jacket. Mike was never one to snoop around or look through Billie’s phone but there was something off about tonight and he knew his husband had to be hiding something, he was just unsure of what. He felt around in both pockets and found nothing of note except a few dollar bills and a pack of cigarettes but the damning part was the smell. Billie’s jacket was coated in a cologne that Mike had never smelled before. Instinctively he inhaled the smell trying to place it, but he couldn’t and his heart broke.
Mike was angry, to say the least, but it was more of a hurt anger. Why was Billie taking a shower right now of all times? Usually when Billie would stumble home in a drunken stupor, a shower was the last thing on his mind. He always just flopped into bed without even removing the clothes he was wearing. Was he trying to wash away the evidence? Mike slouched back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, opting to wait for Billie to come out so he can confront him. He heard the water turn off and then the sound of Billie’s electric toothbrush. Mike’s heart was in his throat now and he was actively pushing back the tears forming in his eyes. The toothbrush was now silent and he heard Billie’s hand on the door knob.
“Where were you?” Mike’s voice was barely above a whisper and his words came out cracked and pathetic.
“I told you I was out with Tre.” Billie was talking so mater-of-factly, it was making Mike sick.
“It’s almost 5 am. Tre said he wasn’t with you.”
“You asked him?”
“I was worried and you never texted me back.”
“I haven’t looked at my phone… I’m sorry, babe.”
Mike cringed at the sound of the word ‘babe’. He knew Billie was trying to get to him with niceties and kindness and maybe he’d forget what he was mad about but it was too late for that.
“Were you with someone else?”
“What?” His response lashed out at Mike incredulously.
“Your jacket smells like cologne and I know you don’t wear any.”
“It probably rubbed off from someone at the bar, I don’t know!”
“Who?”
“I don’t know Mike, someone next to me?” Mike could tell Billie was getting angry as he watched the tips of his ears grow red.
“Billie…”
“I’m serious. I don’t know what you’re trying to say, Mike, but it’s pissing me off.”
“Who is he?”
“Who is who?”
“Who were you with, Billie Joe? Obviously it wasn’t Tre so you’ve already lied.”
Billie just rolled his eyes and averted his gaze, causing Mike’s heart to break just a little more. Mike sighed and let a tear fall down his cheek.
“Please… just tell me. I know you were with someone. You look guilty. I think you owe me the truth, don’t you? Look me in the eye and tell me you weren’t with someone else tonight.”
But Billie couldn’t do that. Mike knew that what he feared was the truth was indeed what happened tonight and he couldn’t bear to look at Billie anymore.
“Did it mean anything to you? Did you feel anything? Did I mean anything?”
Billie remained tight lipped as he walked out of their bedroom and slammed the front door with force, leaving Mike to sob in silence.