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Troy snorted as he wiped down the stove. “And leave you to wash everything? I’d never hear the end of it.”

“You act like I nag you.”

“No, but you do like to remind me I’m not the cleanest of people.”

“This is where I remind you that you never got around to putting back the boxes of unused stuff after dragging them out earlier this week.”

Troy resisted the urge to glance out into the hallway, where a stack of boxes still awaited him to drag them down to the basement. He also wasn’t going to give Oscar the satisfaction of knowing he was right. Instead, he contented himself with watching Oscar’s arm muscles flex as he held the pan, scrubbing it vigorously.

He honestly didn’t think he’d ever get tired of seeing him do anything.

With everything scrubbed and clean, they made their way to the living room and plopped down on the couch. Oscar beat Troy to the remote control, much to his grumbling, as the larger man cycled through the channels. As Troy waited for Oscar to pick something, he found his mind returning to the conversation with Dean. He glanced at Oscar, chewing his bottom lip before finally speaking up.

“So, are you going to the Gala?” Troy asked, hoping he sounded casual.

Oscar frowned. “Gala?”

“The Fort Dale Gala, you know, the one coming up?”

“Oh, right, that.”

Troy snorted. “You forgot, didn’t you?”

Oscar scrunched up his nose. “Not exactly my kind of thing, you know.”

No, he supposed it wasn’t. Despite his brother having found his place among dignified professionals, Oscar had always been content to be among the more blue-collar elements of life. It was probably why Oscar had stuck with Infantry for so long rather than going for any off-the-field officer role or making a lateral move into a safer position.

Oscar hesitated a moment before looking askance at Troy. “Why? You going?”

Troy shrugged, keeping his eyes on the TV. “I was thinking about it. Never been to one before, so I figured I’d see what all the fuss was about.”

Another pause. “Do youwantme to go?”

Troy hesitated before answering. “I mean, I wouldn’t pass up the chance to see you all dressed up.”

He knew there was no way Oscar didn’t know what was going on in Troy’s head. The unspoken, possible argument about going together as a couple sat between them. Troy, however, reminded himself not only that he’d just got Oscar back in his life and to drive him away at this juncture would be stupid but of Dean’s advice to be patient.

Troy finally looked at Oscar and grinned. “If only because it would give me the chance to take them off later.”

There was still discomfort in Oscar’s eyes, but he smirked. “I should have known that’s what it was all along.”

Troy sidled up, leaning against him with an approving nod. He would have liked to see Oscar dressed up, his hand around Troy’s waist, while they danced to some cheesy song. Maybe even find Oscar’s hand stealing around him during a conversation with other people and stealing a kiss.

A man could dream.

Oscar grunted, wrapping his arm around Troy and squeezing him. “Maybe I’ll go.”

Contenting himself to lay there for the rest of the night, Troy curled against Oscar’s side and made himself comfortable. Oscar’s arm wrapped around him was the cherry on the sundae that made for a wonderful night. There was a serenity to simply watching TV with Oscar, with barely a word between them as the hours ticked by.

It was just as good when they finally made it to bed, calling it an early night. Of course, it wasn’t quite that peaceful in bed. Hands roamed, and kisses were shared, and before long, Troy was pinned beneath the bulk of Oscar’s body as he drove into him until they both cried out in shared pleasure.

Sweaty, fulfilled, and happy with his life, Troy pushed against Oscar’s body and lay there comfortably, listening to the man’s breathing as it slowed. The rhythm of his lover’s breath soothed the last ragged edges of Troy’s thoughts and dragged him slowly into the abyss of sleep. Cozy and warm, Troy slept peacefully, drifting between pleasant dreams and comforting nothingness.

That was until the sounds of movement brought his consciousness back to the surface. Grunting, he lifted his head to peer around the room curiously. Beside him, Oscar continued to sleep, his breathing giving way to faint snores. Troy smiled as he watched Oscar’s peaceful face in the dim light, knowing the man slept heavily, especially now he was on meds.

Just as he lay his head down to fall asleep, he heard something again. Troy’s head rose, sleep falling away rapidly as he realized someone was in the house. Worse, someone was coming down the hallway toward the bedroom with quick and purposeful steps.

Troy nudged Oscar as he sat up. “Oscar! Someone’s in the house.”