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Oliver has never been a particularly nosy person.
He doesn’t pry into other people’s business. He doesn’t push people to tell him things unless they may need help. He respects everyone’s belongings and secrets and doesn’t intervene where he isn’t wanted.
But when Oliver saw that his boyfriend had received a new, unopened email from Stanford while Connor was in the shower, he couldn’t help but take a look.
And now Oliver remembers why you shouldn’t go through people’s things without asking. The words of Connor’s acceptance e-mail screamed at him from the screen and Oliver couldn’t focus on anything else. Blood was rushing through his ears and he was sick to his stomach.
Connor got accepted into Stanford University
Stanford. The prestigious university on the other side of the country that any law student would give their right arm to go to.
But Oliver didn’t want to move to California, there was nothing for him there other than the prospect of Connor transferring there.
Plus he liked Philadelphia.
Sure the weather wasn’t the best at times and ever since he quit his boring job, he has been technically unemployed but that doesn’t mean he wants to move away from all his friends and his life here.
So if given the choice Oliver would prefer not to move.
But Connor desperately wanted this.
Oliver knew Connor didn’t really care about the fact that it was the amazing, world-renowned university that he would be attending. Connor just wanted to get away from here. He wanted to escape from Annalise Keating and whatever terrible thing she made him do that he refuses to talk about.
Connor takes long showers so Oliver has a bit of time to think about what to do.
He could just delete the email. He could easily erase it from Connor’s inbox, vanish it from the deleted emails section and that would be it.
No, someone would likely ring Connor from Stanford if he didn’t respond to the e-mail.
Oliver could ring them.
He could pretend to be Connor and decline the offer.
Oliver shut his eyes.
The idea was so tempting.
To just ring the number attached to the bottom of the e-mail, tell whoever answered that he was Connor Walsh and that regretfully he would have to decline the generous offer.
It would be so simple. Connor never needed to find out.
The knot in his stomach tightened at the thought.
Oliver forced himself to remember when Connor lied to him, when Connor cheated on him. He remembered how awful he felt when he found out, how Oliver felt like his whole world was falling apart even though he hardly knew Connor back then.
He could only imagine how Connor would feel if Oliver betrayed him like that now.
So as much as he wanted to delete the email, ring the university and decline the offer, Oliver knew he couldn’t.
Maybe if Oliver told Connor why he didn’t want to move, if he begged Connor not to transfer and to stay in Philadelphia with him then Connor would stay.
Imagining Connor moving to the golden state without him made bile rise in Oliver’s throat but he knew he needed to respect Connor’s wishes.
Oliver couldn’t expect Connor not to move to the state of gorgeous boys, amazing universities and hot weather just because his clingy, geeky boyfriend didn’t want to move. This was an incredible opportunity for Connor and Oliver wasn’t sure if he could live with it if Connor turned the offer down just because of him.
Oliver was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the sound of running water come to a stop. He didn’t even notice Connor coming into the room until he was brought back to reality when he felt Connor pressing gentle kisses to the back of his neck.
Jumping out his own skin, Oliver sped to stand and face Connor so his boyfriend couldn’t see what was on the laptop screen behind him. His boyfriend who was only wearing a towel around his waist and a sly smirk, a fact that would usually turn Oliver’s brain to mush but now he hardly noticed.
“So I was thinking about California.” Connor began.
This was it.
“Connor…”
“You don’t want to move and I do so how about-“
Oliver couldn’t bear the sound of Connor’s seductive rambles any longer so he tugged Connor closer and kissed him hard on the lips. Connor responded instantly and Oliver made sure to pour everything he had into the kiss, more than fearful that this could be one of their last.
They didn’t pull apart until they were both utterly desperate for air. Oliver gripped onto Connor’s naked shoulders as if he was a lifeline, his eyes shut tight as he tried to regulate his breathing to say the words that he desperately needed to say.
Oliver felt fingertips gently stroking his cheek and he forced himself to open his eyes to stare into the beautiful brown ones that were watching him carefully.
“That was something along the lines of what I was about to say actually.” Connor teased “You alright?”
Oliver hesitated for a moment, deliberately delaying telling him the truth.
He took in Connor’s eyes that are glazed over with lust and a hint of worry. His ridiculous hair is still flawless even when it’s wet and not gelled to perfection. Oliver lets his eyes fall to Connor’s lips that are pulled up into a smile. A genuine, loving, playful smile that’s so rare to see on Connor’s face nowadays.
Would that smile appear more often if they were living in California?
Maybe...probably.
Either way, Oliver had to give Connor the option to find out.
Oliver swallowed and he reluctantly stepped aside.
Connor raised an eyebrow at Oliver but he froze when he caught sight of what was on the laptop screen.
“Oliver-“
“I’m sorry I opened it.” Oliver obligatorily said “It was there and I was curious. It wasn’t my business.”
Connor put a hand to his mouth, his eyes wide in pure disbelief as he stares at the shocking words “you have been accepted” in silence.
Oliver looked down at his own wringing hands and spoke just to break the silence,
“Congratulations.” Oliver whispered “I’m…I’m happy you got in. You deserve it.”
Oliver hadn’t been lying when he said that he never saw Connor study but he knew just how smart Connor was and he had heard Connor tell him plenty of times that he was studying with Michaela, Laurel or Wes. He was just never sure if that’s what they were really doing or not.
Connor lets out a little laugh but it doesn’t seem to be directed at Oliver.
“I just…I can’t believe it.” Connor said, finally pulling his eyes away from the screen to look at Oliver.
Oliver feels guilt pool in his stomach when he sees the happiness and pure joy in Connor’s eyes. Before he can say anything, Connor has thrown his arms around Oliver and is hugging him tightly.
Connor laughed again into Oliver’s neck and Oliver thinks he can feel teardrops fall onto his neck but he doesn’t mention it.
“Yeah…” Oliver whispered, his arms wrapping themselves around Connor’s waist pulling him even closer against him as he chokes back his own tears. “I can’t believe it either.”
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