14

Graham Birch

Spencer was busy for a while. It seemed that my words of encouragement sent him into overdrive and worked twice as hard to win his case.

I still couldn't believe that I had told Spencer my deepest secret. The only ones who know besides my family is Rick Ginkgo, the delivery driver, and his husband. I guess the trust I had built with Spencer made me find comfort in him.

Was it smart of me to tell him that? I think so. He's a nice person and even told me his reasoning for being here. Whether we like it or not, the two of us came here running away from something.

Never knew I'd have someone to trust deeply again after all this time.

Spencer was gone for the day. He had to go to LA for something about his case. While he has preferred to not tell me of all the details because he said it's too confusing, he has assured me that things are going great.

For the day, I finished my work and did my chores.

My sister began to call me. Spencer had let me know that he would be coming in an hour.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"You know exactly why, Gram." she teased.

I let out a groan. "It's going good." I said.

"That's it?" She asked. "Give me something more than that."

"We've been going strong. Last night, we talked on the phone until midnight. We would have talked more but he had to go to bed early." I replied.

"And how are you feeling about having a boyfriend?"

I stared out the window that faced Spencer's house. "It's taking some getting used to. I never expected to date again, let alone date a guy. But I'm happy. And I like him that much." I replied.

"I'm proud of you, Gram. You've come a long way since that day 8 years ago. You should take a day off from work and take Spencer somewhere nice."

"Like a date?" I asked.

"Well, yes. That's what people do when they date. I'm sure Apple Valley has some nice places around for two men to have a date. Make that your number one priority." She told me.

"Alright. I'll try to do that. But Spencer has been busy with work. How do I manage to convince him to take time off?"

"Do that thing you do with your eyes. Trust me, he'll fall for it."

"Bet." I replied. "When are you and Amir coming to visit again? I'd love for the two of you to meet the man himself."

I could hear her daughter screaming in the background. "Soon, Gram! I promise I'll make time before the school year starts back up."

The phone call ended with the promise that my sister and her family would visit us eventually. I sat back and watched as, right on cue, a black car pulled up to Spencer's driveway.

Spencer got out of the car, still wearing a fitted suit, and talked to whoever was in the passenger seat. Then the car drove off. Spencer, instead of entering his own house, skipped over to my front door.

He knocked aggressively and only stopped when I opened the door.

"Graham!" He threw himself on me and began to kiss my face. "Oh, how I miss you!"

I felt my face heat up. "Was today good?" I asked.

"Good? It was amazing!" He said. He looked up at me with amazement.

"Tell me all about it. I made us some dinner in case you're hungry."

"I could eat a horse." He mentioned. I led him inside the house and served us dinner.

"So, what is my boyfriend so excited about today?" I asked.

"We think we might have my ex-boss trapped in a corner. My lawyer managed to go through some old files and found that my old boss had sent an email accidentally to another coworker of a similar name. The coworker remained anonymous but nevertheless we've got something." He told me.

"Which means?" I asked.

"We got his ass." Spencer told me.

I could only be happy for him. Spencer's case, while I don't know much about it, is an interesting one. I asked him what he'll do when it's over. But even he doesn't know about his future. I hope I'm in it, at least.

"Is there going to be a trial?" I asked.

"Yes. It's scheduled for August." He replied.

Juniper begged for some food. Spencer asked me if he could feed the dog some. I figured why not.

"You should get a pet." I said.

"I've thought about it. But then who would look after it if I'm gone?"

"Me!" I eagerly said. I quickly slunk down in my seat when I saw how overly excited I was. "I mean, I'll do it. I can look after it."

"Perhaps. Maybe when the trial is over." Spencer said.

After dinner, Spencer and I watched a movie in my living room. It was a ploy for me to get him to stay with me longer.

"Look! This is the scene when she finds out he had been writing to her after she left!" Spencer said.

I couldn't be bothered to look at the TV. My attention was all on him. Something must've happened to me in the last few days because I've seemed to have found myself falling more for him.

"Ugh! I cried the first time I watched this movie." He said.

"Mm, yeah." I muttered.

"They say love is dead. But it's not. It's just... being changed. Ya'know?" He asked me. He turned and saw me staring at him. "What? Is there something on my face?"

He began to rub his face using his fingers. I grabbed his wrist and brought them down.

"It's what isn't on your face." I replied.

"Huh-" He asked. I brought my lips onto his face and began kissing every part of it.

Spencer began to chuckle and mention how it tickled. My kisses led from his face to his neck. I could smell his cologne that he had put on earlier that day. A nice woody scent, like pine. The smell also mixed with his aftershave.

He eventually stopped paying attention to the movie. Spencer's hand began to grab at my hair, grabbing handfuls in his fists.

My hunger for him has only been growing in recent days.

Finally, I let go of him and admired him. His face was flushed red, and he was breathing heavily.

"That was unexpected of you." He said.

Spencer sat up on the couch. He brought his hand to cup my cheek.

"Did you get it out of your system?" He asked me.

I shook my head. "Nope."

Chuckles were let out. He grabbed both of my hands and placed a kiss on the back of them.

"Let's go on a date!" I quickly said.

"A date?" He muttered. "Hm, sure. Let's go on one. We've been dating for a while and haven't done so."

"I'll find a nice place. Let me do all the work, please?" I begged.

"No need to be desperate, Graham. Do what you want. I'll still go regardless." He replied.

"Yeah!" I cheered.

Spencer pulled out his phone and checked the time on his phone.

"It's getting late. I should go back." Spencer said. I gave him a few more kisses all over his face until I was running out of air to breathe.

"Breakfast tomorrow?" I asked. I handed him his coat and then escorted him to the front door.

"Yes. I'll swing by tomorrow. Would you mind if I did my work at your house, actually?" He asked.

"Why?"

"I feel weird in my house. Ever since the Fourth of July, I've been feeling like I wasn't alone in my house." He told me. "I hear scratching on the walls when it gets really quiet."

"Is it a ghost?" I asked.

He patted my head. "It could be a rodent, maybe. I'll call the exterminator soon." Spencer said. "Well, I should head out now. Good night, Graham!"

"Night!" I replied. Spencer gave a pet to Juniper before exiting my house and quickly running to his side.

I watched from my side as he entered his home and quickly turned on the lights inside his house. I let out a giggle and wondered if he was scared of the dark and needed someone to protect him.