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Patrick Brewer had attended many conferences in the three years that Rose Apothecary had been open. Some were useful, most were tedious. This current one he was sat at, in rural Ontario fell firmly into the latter category. All it seemed to be was an endless stream of awkward small talk and uninteresting presentations.
Normally, he was very much able to put on a brave face and get through it, for the betterment of their business. This time however, he was finding it particularly challenging. He found himself mentally counting down the hours, until it was over. All he could think about was being back in the store. Being back with his husband.
As soon as the last conversation at the evening cocktail mixer had finished, Patrick practically ran back to his room. Unlocking the door, he kicked his shoes off and unbuttoned his shirt. He sat down on the bed, while clicking on David’s contact name, as if he was on autopilot. If I can just talk to him, he thought to himself, maybe it will spur me on to get through the rest of this conference.
After merely two rings, David picked up. Patrick felt a grin spread across his face, as his husband appeared on his screen. “Hey baby,” he said, greeting him.
“Hi, husband” he replied warmly, but quieter than usual. Patrick immediately felt his stomach do a small drop, quickly realising that something was not quite right. He noticed that David was wearing one of Patricks old Blue Jays hoodies. As much as Patrick faced relentless teasing about how warn out, and generally incorrect, they were, David always seemed to sneak one on whenever he needed some comfort. Patrick hid a smile while realising that this mood was probably a result of him missing him too.
“Are you okay, David? Was everything okay at the store?” Patrick asked, making conversation, and hoping to find out what was making his husband feel down.
“It was fine. Roland came in, asking again if the new body milks are safe for ‘intimate use’ which was obviously traumatic,” Patrick laughed and nodded, letting him continue. Despite David being on his usual dramatic form while retelling the rest of the day, Patrick still was not convinced he was okay.
“Is everything okay –“ Patrick blurted out, completely cutting him off.
David sighed, “Um, yeah, its just, everything feels a bit wrong.”
“Things are a bit wrong?” Patrick questioned.
“Yes. The towels are wrong, Patrick. They’re just… wrong. And I don’t know how to fix them because apparently you’ve been secretly managing that our entire relationship.”
Patrick pressed his lips together, finally smiling again. “I showed you how to fold them.”
“You showed me your version,” David corrected. “Which I now realize is the only acceptable version.”
“Wow. High praise.”
“And the coffee is bad,” David continued. “I don’t know what you do to it, but without you it tastes like burnt wood.”
Patrick laughed, fully now, realising what David actually meant by this “I really miss you too, David,” he replied.
“…I miss you more,” David said, quietly.
Patrick softened. “That seems unlikely.”
“I don’t know,” David replied. “Are you currently sat in a very uncomfortably empty bed looking at pictures from our wedding and feeling abandoned?”
“No,” Patrick said, smiling. “but I am sitting in a very bizarrely decorated HomeWood Suites, wishing that I was in that bed with you, instead of this cold one.”
“Okay, well, that’s close,” David admitted.
Patrick shifted the phone, glancing down at David. Despite him still only being a face on his screen, he still felt so much comfort just looking at him.
“I just—” David started, then stopped. “I really don’t like this. You being gone. It’s incorrect.”
“I don’t like it either,” Patrick said. “But it’s just a few days.”
“I know. I know that logically. But emotionally, it feels like my husband has been shipped off to war for 10 years.” Patrick eyes grew fonder as he noticed David suddenly stop and become shy.
“I’m, uh, I’m sorry” he continued after a breath, “I’m being very dramatic.”
“Absolutely not,” Patrick quickly responded. “I’ve literally been walking around like a lost puppy all day, missing you. I genuinely have been counting down the hours until I’m home with you again.”
Both men shared a smile at each other. Neither really wanting to hang up the phone just yet.
“I love you, Patrick. So much. Thank you for going to these things for us.” David finally said, breaking the silence.
“Always. I can’t wait to be home with you. Good night, David.” Patrick added softly.
“Night honey, love you.” David whispered, his voice getting caught as he said it.
“Love you more, baby, I’ll call you in the morning.” Patrick said, also feeling himself start to well up.
Reluctantly, he finally hung up the phone. Well, that won’t do, he thought to himself. After hearing what Patrick considered to be horror stories about how people had treated David in the past, he had vowed to himself that he would do everything he could to make sure David never felt sad again.
Before he even realised, he was zooming around the plain hotel room, gathering the few things he had unpacked. He shut the door behind him and headed straight down to the front desk to check out. The two seminars on the finer parts of Canadian tax laws suddenly felt completely futile when he could be at home, putting a smile back on his husband’s face.
****
As soon as Patrick turned into the cottage, he felt all the tension that had been building in his body over the last day, immediately dissipate. He checked the clock in his car. 3:54am. He had definitely broken at least 10 road laws, he thought to himself climbing out of the car, but at least he was home.
He quietly crept into the house and went straight up the stairs to find his husband. Patrick smiled as he saw his David tucked up in bed, looking unfairly gorgeous, even while asleep. He moved slowly over to his side of the bed, trying his best to sit down without making too much fuss. He had a small moment of insecurity, realising that this was maybe a bit dramatic and that despite just driving for nearly 4 hours, he had absolutely no plan.
Before he could get too lost in thought, David seemed to sense the presence of another body in the bed. Patrick watched as he nervously opened one eye, before realising that it was his husband and practically flinging himself into his arms.
“Hey, baby” Patrick whispered into David’s ear, enjoying the way he seemed to be holding onto him like a raft”.
David reluctantly pulled back, clearly in complete shock “What, what are you doing here?”
“Came back early. Missed you so much that the rest of the seminars tomorrow started to feel very unnecessary, when I’d rather be here.” Patrick replied, smiling fondly.
David took a breath, laughing as he felt his eyes well and the tears start to fall. “My god, I love you more than anything,” he said, pulling Patrick in for a deep and very long-awaited kiss. “Thank you, honey”.
“Anytime” Patrick replied, wrapping a hand around the back of David’s neck, pulling him in once again.
When they finally had to stop for breath, Patrick took the opportunity to properly get into bed, lifting an arm for David to return to his favourite position, lying on his chest. “You are the best husband ever. Like husband Olympics, you’d be winning gold.” David said, a smile now firmly back in its correct place.
“Oh, I don’t know” Patrick said nudging David, “I’ve got some very strong competition”.
Both men laughed, wrapped up completely in each other. David exhaled, tension he hadn’t even noticed leaving his shoulders as Patrick reached for his hands.
“I hated you being gone,” David admitted. “I missed you too much. The bed was wrong without you. And the coffee was bad. And Stevie is deeply unsympathetic”.
“Well, I think from now on, you’ll just have to come with me to whatever town in the middle of nowhere is holding the next conference.” Patrick replied. “Just not very interested in ever being apart again.”
They looked at each other, just completely in love, before settling down properly, ready to fall asleep. And for the first time in two days, Patrick finally felt right again.