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When Henry had put out the advertisement, he had not expected the most beautiful man on earth to answer it.
Somehow, he managed to keep his composure through the interview, making sure the man was actually qualified to look after David—rather than simply hiring him based on attractive appeal alone.
Leaving David for months on end was hard enough. He couldn’t leave him without proper care on top of it.
His name was Alex, he lived in a large apartment that he shared with his sister and her partner-slash-his-best-friend. He’d produced financial records that proved he was comfortable enough to look after a dog, a notice that allowed pets in his building, that there were a pet store and a dog park nearby.
God, but he was exceedingly and thoroughly prepared and if that wasn’t doing things to Henry.
Apparently keeping David was a trial run, to see if he was prepared enough to have a pet of his own.
“I have ADHD,” he explained. “It makes keeping to a schedule kind of hard, especially when I’m engrossed in something.”
When Henry doubtfully questioned if this meant David might go hungry or thirsty for hours on end, Alex was quick to reassure him. “If I do do that, June or Nora will set me straight pretty quick. That’s why I’m not moving out yet. Besides, I have alarms and shit my psychiatrist recommended.”
They moved on pretty quickly to the details—the laugh Alex gave when Henry said his dog’s name was David took Henry’s breath away even as it annoyed him.
“What’s so funny about that?” He demanded.
“It sounds like a boring old accountant’s name, man,” Alex deadpanned. “Not the fun type of name you tend to give dogs. What’s the story behind it?”
“He’s named after David Bowie,” he informed him.
“Why not just Bowie, then?” He sounded confused.
Henry didn’t mention the actual reason—plausible deniability. “It’s always nice to be a man of mystery,” he said lightly instead, and didn’t comment on the light red staining Alex’s dark cheeks, though it made him giddy.
“David!” He called, and was glad to see Alex didn’t startle.
“He’s well-trained,” was the only comment as his dog made his way to the hall.
“You won’t think that when he’s licked you to his satisfaction,” he laughed, and true to his word, as soon as David saw a new person Henry hadn’t forbidden him from going near, he jumped on him.
Alex laughed again, and Henry could hear the choir of angels singing. He ruffled David’s fur. “He’s friendly. That’s nice.”
He was leaving in a week, and he didn’t think he was getting any better prospects. “You’re hired,” he decided.
Alex beamed, and it was brighter than a thousand suns. “Great! Y’all are leaving in five days, right?”
“How do you know there’s two of us?” Henry asked, puzzled.
Alex gestured at the itinerary that Henry had been perusing before this. “There are two names on that—you and your boyfriend, I guess?”
“My best friend,” he corrected. He wasn’t about to reduce that relationship with a ‘just’ though. Pez was one of the most important people in the world to him.
Alex brightened a little, and this buoyed Henry as well. Could he actually like him back—?
Alex was just Henry’s type—beautiful, snarky, clever.
Utterly unattainable.
Chiding himself to get back to the matter at hand, Henry refocused.
The next thing on the agenda was, conveniently, exchanging numbers.
At least Henry didn’t have to behave like a pathetic idiot to get this particular beautiful person’s number. “Why don’t we exchange numbers? So you can update me on David.”
“Of course,” Alex nodded, pulling out his phone from his pocket with difficulty, since David was still sitting on him. “How frequent do you want these updates to be, and what exactly do you want in them?”
Henry, who had been hoping, Alex would be less professional about this particular part, felt his heart sink. He stated simply: “I’ll leave that up to you.”
Alex grinned. “Okay. I hope you’re ready to get frustrated beyond reason.”
“I cannot imagine any communication from you causing that,” Henry blurted out.
Alex’s brows raised—fair enough, who was Henry to say something like that?—but he said nothing, simply holding out his phone.
He swallowed as he quickly typed his phone number in and handing it back to Alex to save it. He was surprised by a flash of a camera, though. “What was that about?” He asked.
“A profile pic, obviously,” Alex said, typing in his phone and not looking at him. “Could put something generic, but you deserve better.”
Henry’s heart fluttered. He hoped that didn’t show on his face. “Perhaps you had better take your own photo too. I’m afraid I’m not a great photographer.”
Alex took Henry’s proffered phone and rather than first putting in his number, he pouted, taking a selfie.
Henry was already planning on looking at that picture multiple times a day to tolerate the company of his grandmother.
They shook hands when Alex took his leave, and Henry’s hand was still tingling when he decided he needed more photos.
He was looking Alex up when Pez arrived. “So, do we have a winner?” He asked.
“We do,” Henry informed him, flipping his phone to show his best friend.
Pez whistled when he saw the photo of Alex. “Does he have a sibling?” He asked. “Since I wouldn’t dare take him from you, Hazza.”
“He does, but she’s taken,” Henry informed him, still scrolling through Alex’s social media.
“Let me see.” Pez made grabby hands, and in his laughter and trying to avoid it, he accidentally pressed the like button.
He cursed under his breath. “It’s fine,” Pez said breezily, though he looked sorry. “You’re just looking him up, since you’ve hired him.”
“I suppose that could work,” he sighed.
To his surprise, though, he got an immediate notification.
alexgcd has followed you.
He felt a grin stretch his face. “Pez,” he said. “You are the best friend a man can ask for.”
“And here I thought David was,” Pez mused. “Go on, David, give him your best puppy eyes.”
David obeyed, putting his paws on Henry’s knees and whining.
He laughed. “Alright, alright. David is my best friend, and you are merely a random friend. Okay?”
“And what about Alex?” Pez asked with a wicked glint in his eye and Henry tossed a cushion at him.
If it was just one journey, he would have taken David with him.
It broke his heart to leave him behind, but he wouldn’t be able to tolerate the constant travelling his grandmother’s itinerary of the tour detailed.
Henry wondered if Mary had done it on purpose.
He petted his dog one last time, trying not to cry. He hadn’t been away from David since he’d gotten him, only a little before his father’s death.
David even acted like a service dog at times. Henry had no idea how he was going to cope without him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. Alex had arrived. “Hey,” he said softly. “I’ll take good care of him.”
Henry forced a smile. “I know you will.”
And somehow, he was confident of that.
He crouched down, talking to his dog as if he understood him: “I’m going to leave for a bit,” he told him. “But Alex will take good care of you.”
Two months was decidedly not a bit.
But he handed the leash to Alex anyway. He started reciting David’s habits again: “He needs both a morning and evening walk. He likes to wander around. He likes only a specific brand of food—”
“Henry, I know,” Alex interrupted gently. “You’ve already told me all this and more. We’re going to be fine.” He grinned. “In fact, I bet by the time you get back, he’ll totally like me better.”
“You wish,” Henry scoffed with a laugh. He stared at Alex. He had not expected to be able to laugh at a moment like this.
“Why don’t you go on?” Alex gestured at the suitcases and the car in which Pez was waiting patiently. He seemed to understand Henry could not stand to watch David go.
Grateful, Henry nodded. “Thanks, Alex.”
“Anytime, Henry.”
When he’d said Alex could decide when and how to update him, Henry had not expected this.
Hoped for, yes, but not expected.
The first message was a photo of David in his new home.
Alex Claremont-Diaz: totally going to love this place more than yours
Henry Fox: Like I said, dear, you wish
Alex texted him every couple hours, with a ridiculous photo or update.
Alex Claremont-Diaz: Bug mad that David won’t let her get up
A photo of Alex’s sister looking exasperatedly fond as David slept in her lap.
Henry Fox: Why do you call your sister that?
Alex Claremont-Diaz: because she’s annoying and I want to swat her
Henry Fox: Your older sister? Forgive me, Alex, but I also have one and she would kill me were I to call her something based on that
Alex Claremont-Diaz: true, true. fine it’s because her middle name is june and therefore junebug. you know.
Henry Fox: I suppose that is more acceptable
Alex Claremont-Diaz: you text like an old woman
Henry Fox: And you text like a teenager on drugs
Alex Claremont-Diaz: OUCH
Several emojis, to indicate he was hurt, Henry supposed.
Henry Fox: An overdramatic teenager on drugs
Alex Claremont-Diaz: i need backup. quick, what’s your sister’s name and number?
Henry Fox: Beatrice, and no, I am not going to help you hit on her, especially since she’s aro
Alex Claremont-Diaz: if i’m hitting on anyone it’s you baby
Henry felt his face flush.
“Why do you look like a headlamp?” Pez asked curiously. Henry passed him the phone wordlessly.
Pez, being Pez, commented on the least relevant thing. “Alex’s sister is even hotter than him.”
Henry’s head jerked up in outrage. “No, she is not!” He snatched the phone back.
Alex Claremont-Diaz: jk we’re being totally professional
Henry Fox: Absolutely, I can’t imagine why you thought otherwise.
Alex Claremont-Diaz: can’t be that you started the irrelevant conversation
And that was the first of many irrelevant conversations.
Every update Alex sent inevitably ended up spawning hundreds of text messages between them, which only had the effect of making Henry fall deeper.
Three weeks in, Henry was in his hotel room while his grandmother and Pez were in meetings.
“Whom are you talking to?” Bea asked curiously.
“Why?”
“Because I haven’t ever seen you smile this much, Hen. It’s nice.”
Henry flushed. “It’s just the dog-sitter, Bea.”
“Just, huh?” His sister said knowingly.
He rolled his eyes. “Shoo,” he said half-heartedly.
“I’m not David, Henry,” she laughed, but ‘shooed’ anyway, leaving him alone.
Alex Claremont-Diaz: you free for a facetime?
Henry froze. He was wearing his facemask and was decidedly not looking good, but the prospect of seeing Alex’s face live was too enticing.
Henry Fox: Yes.
“Hey!” Alex grinned brightly at him, and Henry’s eyes ravenously scoured every detail of his face. He looked tired—he’d probably been overworking himself again—but he otherwise seemed okay. “Ha! I knew no one could have skin that good without a little help.”
“Hardly help,” Henry said haughtily, heart skipping a beat. “Moisturizing and face masks are basic requirements—and you do need them, I’m afraid to say.”
“You saying I’m ugly?” Alex laughed.
“Not at all, you couldn’t be more beautiful if you tried,” slipped out.
Alex’s face froze and he only had a moment to wonder if it was the call itself, before the screen showed David instead. “David’s been a little down lately, so I thought seeing you might cheer him up.”
David did seem weird, and Henry’s heart skipped a beat from the worry. He perked up when he saw Henry, though, barking.
“Maybe you should take him to a vet?” He suggested.
“Already booked an appointment,” Alex promised.
“Good,” he relaxed into his bed.
“So, what were you doing when I interrupted you?” he asked.
“Bea and I were watching Bake-Off,” he replied. “Just normal relaxation. You?”
“Just going through a couple documents for a case,” was Alex’s answer and Henry sighed.
“Alex,” he said exasperatedly. “Are you being paid overtime or to work from home?”
“I feel like I should say yes.”
“Yes, because that’s the only reasonable explanation! Where are June and Nora?”
“Out on a date,” Alex said flippantly. “Can’t third-wheel them all the time, you know.”
“From what you’ve told me and I’ve seen, they would be very happy to have you around all the time.”
It was true. June loved Alex with a ferocity Henry marveled at, and Nora understood him to a degree that Henry felt jealous of.
Alex sighed, a little despondently. “What else is there to do? Just work and taking care of David.”
“Call me when you feel like this,” Henry said impulsively.
Alex raised his brows. “You serious? Because I feel like this pretty damn often.”
“I have depression, Alex,” he pointed out. “What you’re saying is nothing new to me. Call me.”
Alex’s face softened. “Alright. You know you can call me too, right? When you need to talk.”
Henry swallowed at seeing the sincerity in his face. “I know,” he said softly.
And so began the calls.
If the texts had been getting out of control, the calls tipped them over the edge.
“Are you sure you aren’t dating?” Pez asked him. “Because you’re definitely not just friendly anymore.”
Even Mum—who rarely noticed anything—questioned him about this new boy in his life. Grandmother, of course, just sat through this with her face pinched.
But this was all far from his mind when he got a call from Alex. “David’s ill,” he said without preamble.
“What?” Henry’s world spun.
“It’s just a ear infection, the doctor said he can treat it just fine,” Alex rushed. “Henry, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“Of course you didn’t,” Henry retorted indignantly and he heard his friend’s breath hitch. Realizing how he’d taken it, he sighed. “Alex, I meant that obviously you’re doing your best. You’ve never had to take care of a dog before, and ear infections are tricky to diagnose. You figured it out soon enough to get him to a vet and it’s treatable, obviously.”
Alex’s laugh was shaky. “I should be the one reassuring you.”
“Remind me to tell you about the time David got fleas,” Henry checked the clock. It was pretty late, but he was an insomniac anyway.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Anyway, you should get to sleep,” he said as though reading Henry’s mind. “It’s pretty late over there.”
“How do you know that?” His brows furrowed.
Alex cracked a grin. “I can calculate a time difference, man. The vet’s calling me. I’ll talk to you in a bit, tell you how David is doing.”
He ended the call, leaving Henry a strange mix of concerned and touched.
Alex kept up with what time it was for him?
He stayed up; after all, he needed to know how his dog was doing. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he was eagerly anticipating Alex’s call.
“You didn’t sleep, did you?” Was what Alex first said as soon as Henry picked up the phone.
“Never mind that,” he waved it off. “What did the vet say?”
“He cleaned David’s ear, and gave me a topical cream to apply once a day, and some anti-inflammatory medications in case it gets worse.” Alex’s reply was prompt and factual.
“How will you know if it gets worse?” Henry asked.
“Said if David tries to scratch his ear more even after I apply the cream, if he’s still behaving oddly et cetera et cetera,” he said dismissively. “Here, I think he recognized your voice.”
David certainly had. After quite a few calls, he finally had learned not to batter Alex’s poor phone in an effort to get to Henry; he merely barked in satisfaction at seeing Henry’s face.
“His ear doesn’t look too bad,” Henry commented.
Alex looked bashful. “Yeah, the vet said it wasn’t severe.”
“And he still gave you medications?” He asked, puzzled.
“I might have, um, done some convincing,” Alex confessed.
Henry couldn’t suppress his grin. “By convincing, you mean haranguing the poor man until he gave you contingencies, don’t you?”
“You know me too well,” Alex complained, and his heart soared.
“Not well enough,” he muttered, but it seemed it was loud enough to be heard by the other man anyway.
“You mean that?” Alex seemed cautiously hopeful rather than smug, which struck Henry as strange.
“I will always want to know more about you, all about you,” he said truthfully.
“I’m not too much for you?” His question was quiet, a whisper.
“Too much? Alex, of course not, how could you be?” Henry frowned.
“Even June and Nora complain about me sometimes, so. . .” He shrugged but Henry could see the upset, the insecurity in it.
“Well, they’re wrong,” he said firmly. “You’re just enough.”
“H. . .”
“What?” Henry set his jaw. “You are! I can’t tell you how much of a comfort it’s been, having you text me and call all the time. Knowing I can talk to you about anything.”
“Okay, now I really think you need some sleep,” Alex said hastily. “Night, Henry.”
And he ended the call.
Henry didn’t sleep much that night.
It was a good thing he was flying home in a couple days.
Mum had put her foot down. “Mother, we have lives of our own. We dropped everything to come for this tour because you asked, but we have things to get back to.”
“Go, Mum,” Bea had muttered under her breath as Pip had frowned.
He started several texts he was unable to send. Alex hadn’t called since that fateful call.
The usual updates about David came along, of course.
Alex Claremont-Diaz: look what i made!
Alex had made David a cardboard ear cover to keep him from scratching at it and worsening the infection.
Henry doubled over laughing and couldn’t prevent the affection blooming in his chest.
And he didn’t want to.
“I’m in love,” he realized out loud.
“Bit late of a realization, mate, but I’ll take it,” was Pez’s calm response.
He stopped trying to text what he felt. This would have to wait until they could meet in person.
Which, fortunately for his sanity, wasn’t far off.
Two and a half months ended in a day, and soon enough, he was in an airplane, telling his seatmate all about his dog and the dog-sitter.
“You’re in love, man,” was the woman’s conclusion, and Henry beamed in agreement.
Pez had remained in England for a week more to conduct some business for one of his charities. Henry had planned to go home first and freshen up before going to collect his dog—and almost more importantly, see Alex.
This plan was immediately ruined, since he was greeted by a sign saying ‘DAVID’S OWNER’ at the airport, held by a fair-skinned girl he knew only through Alex’s photos.
“Nora,” he greeted in surprise.
“Come on, Alex, June and David are in the car,” she said without preamble.
He followed her, bemused.
“We heard you were coming back alone,” June explained, as David greeted him by leaping on him and licking every part of Henry he could reach. “We couldn’t let you take a taxi.”
She sounded appalled by the prospect, and before Henry could ask, Alex hastily shook his head from behind her.
Far from taking the cue, Henry was actually stunned into silence by the sight of the man. Undistorted by the phone. Actually in person. Someone he could reach out and touch if he wanted to.
No. That was not in question.
If he dared to.
“Hey,” Alex whispered to him, as June and Nora bickered in the front seats.
“So, did you achieve it? Your goal?” When he only looked confused, he elaborated. “Does David like you better than me?”
“Oh, that hasn’t been my goal in a while,” Alex grinned.
Henry raised a brow. “When did it change?”
“Right about when I fell for you,” he grinned sheepishly. “Then my goal became to convince you to let us be David’s co-parents. Why should I get a dog when I can get a boyfriend and a dog?”
“A little presumptuous of you there, love,” Henry smiled.
“You call me darling and love,” Alex pointed out. “If anything, I’m not presumptuous enough.”
“Fair point,” Henry agreed and leaned in to kiss Alex. It sent a thrill through him, like an electric shock. Alex grinned up at him lazily.
“Finally!” Nora exclaimed. “Now he can stop annoying us about how to woo someone across an ocean.”
“Your advice was in vain,” he told her. “Since he’d wooed me before I’d even left.”
Nora threw her hands up in exasperation. June just looked at him, considering. He knew he’d have to earn her approval, but he wasn’t too worried.
He knew her pretty well, since Alex could not shut up about his beloved big sister.
Alex looked far too smug. “Hear that, David? I totally won our bet—”
Henry shut him up with another kiss.