“I think maybe there was a time when we wondered if we were in love with each other. It would be easy together. We know each other, we get each other, we both still like each other regardless of knowing one another so well. That’s a big one. But I don’t think it’s love in that sense. We know we always have each other there. It’s good to have that. You in love with the doctor?”

Trevor nodded. “Yeah.”

“He in love with you?”

That was the part Trevor wasn’t sure of. He thought so, but he couldn’t say for sure. Simon hadn’t said he was. “Don’t know.”

They were silent for a few minutes. Cars drove past them and Jason picked at the wrapper on his water bottle until they heard Blake call, “Trev! Jase! I need you guys for a minute!” from inside the building.

Trevor went to stand but before he could, Jason laid a hand on his knee. “He’s proud of you, ya know? Even if he doesn’t admit it. We all are. You’re doing real good.”

Trevor paused, and let those words sink in. “Thank you,” he said, meaning it. It was something he needed to hear. Something he really hoped like hell he’d keep hearing.

***

People always said doctors made the worst patients, Simon would agree. He wasn’t supposed to be driving, but since he skipped his pain pill, he decided it was okay to make a trip to the grocery store. Trevor would be home (the home he still hadn’t agreed to move in to) from work soon, and they needed some food in the house. Easy food, mind you, but food all the same.

He only made it down a few aisles before he saw someone familiar a few feet in front of him. She had her back to him. It made him a coward, but Simon knew he could back out of the aisle and she would never know he was there.

But he couldn’t do that. He’d already made an ass of himself in front of her, not once but twice. If he wanted Trevor to move in with him, learning to be around his family was probably pretty important. “Tiffany?”

Trevor’s mom turned to look at him with a cautious smile. Eight years. Trevor’s mother was only around eight years older than he was. She’d been twenty when she had Trevor. He was closer in age to Tiffany than he was her son.

Maybe it shouldn’t make him uncomfortable, but it did. Uncomfortable wasn’t the right word, he didn’t think. Unsure? Did Tiffany think he was too old for her son? If he was being honest, he would admit that probably wasn’t her first worry when it came to him. She more likely thought he was too big of an asshole for her son.

“Hey, Simon. How are you?” She shifted nervously. He couldn’t blame her for that. He probably wouldn’t want to be around himself either if he were her.

“I’m okay. Recovering. We’ll know more soon.”

“I’ve been sending good thoughts your way. Trevor’s told me what you lost...what you’re hoping to get back. He knows how important this is to you. We’re all pulling for you.”

Simon knew that Trevor did. It didn’t surprise him that his lover had shared those things with her. He was like that. He didn’t struggle with his feelings the way Simon did. And...it meant something that Tiffany wanted this for Simon as well. It came from her need to see her son happy. For her, Simon being happy would help make Trevor happy. But still, he felt a strange twist in his chest that she’d thought about him.

She loved her son. Just looking at her, that was obvious. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Simon. He could see that as well, but she tried because Trevor meant so much to her. He was glad his lover had that. And he wanted her to know that her son meant a lot to him as well. “I care about him. I know that I haven’t made the best impression, but I want you to know he’s important to me. His happiness and well-being are both important to me.”

This time, the smile she gave him was genuine. “Thank you. I think I needed to hear that, Simon. Trevor...he’s happy. I haven’t seen him happy in a long time. Too long, and he deserves it. He’s been through more than any man his age should have to go through.”

A warmth spread though him, a contentment. He wanted that. Not just for Trevor to be happy, but for Trevor to be happy with him. “He has. I’m proud of him. I respect him greatly for the man he is. That says something about you as well. You raised a fine son.”

A man who made Simon happy, too.

“Thank you.” Tiffany reached over and grabbed his left hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you,” she said again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Simon was at the store when Trevor came in after work. He’d kick his ass for that. Trevor could have stopped on the way home, but he’d beaten Trevor to the punch.