Love Is Always Write Volume 4

want to leave the nest for a silent car, chilled and covered with early morning dew.
    Stefan's eyes didn't open. "Sure."
    "Thanks."
    Greg meant to get up before dawn to leave the house before everyone stirred.
    The sound of the baby on the monitor woke him at about four a.m. He waited as her fussing turned into a full-out cry of anger, but Stefan slept on. So Greg got up, pulled on his boxers, and went to get her.
    After he changed her diaper, he brought her back to sit with her in a rocking chair in Stefan's room, but that was uncomfortable, so he piled cushions against the polished wood bedstead, then settled in a half-sit with Emily on his chest and Stefan's soft, slow breathing next to them. The baby slept, her breath coming faster but even. Greg dozed.
    He must have fallen into a deeper sleep, because he woke up with Stefan standing over him, grinning down at them. The baby still snoozed on Greg's chest, her hot little head under his chin. Without a word, Stefan took Emily from his arms and walked out.
    Greg would get up in a minute. First a little more rest. He slid down the pillows and drifted off again.
    He woke to find Stefan standing over the bed again, Emily on his hip, bright-eyed and dressed. He started up.
    Stefan said, "We're making breakfast. How about french toast?"
    Greg jumped out of bed and grabbed up his clothes. "No. No. I have to get going I can't stay. Christ. I have to go into work."
    "That's fine." Stefan sounded cheerful. He stepped away from the bed. "I'll see you around then."
    Did Stefan sound too easy-going, as if he was pushing the don't-care attitude too hard? Greg wanted to say something like I'll be back in a few days or See you next week. But he didn't want to lie. And he knew that if he kept coming around, Stefan would grow attached and eventually get hurt. This really would be a one-night stand. They'd ease into friendship later, when Greg could be casual again.
    He only said, "Thank you. I appreciated last night." He buttoned his shirt, tucked it in, and found his shoes. He didn't like looking crumpled but he'd survive.
    Stefan grinned. "I know you did."
    Greg paused as he pulled on his watch and clicked the latch shut around his wrist. He didn't push anyone but family for emotional commentary, but Stefan was nearly family, right? "You'll be okay? I mean, you don't regret what we did?"
    "No regrets. What I said about needing to know and care about someone first… I need this"—he nodded at the bed—"more than I need pride or whatever it is that stopped me. Ha. I can't even remember my reason anymore."
    Greg should have kept his mouth shut, but some of those words stung. He walked over to where Stefan stood watching. "Well. I care about you. Okay?"
    "Absolutely. See you." Stefan leaned forward, the baby wedged between them, as he brushed his lips against Greg's cheek. Something grabbed Greg's shirt.
    "Whoops." Stefan wiggled his finger between Emily's hand and the shirt to get her to let go. "Come on, baby girl. Wave 'bye to Uncle Greg."
    Uncle Greg walked out to the car feeling extremely grubby, though he couldn't figure out where that came from. Maybe the lack of shower and shave?
    As he got into his car, he flashed on the feel of Stefan's eager mouth… Stay. Away.
    STEFAN
    He would not think about Greg. He refused to think about him when he changed Emily or made breakfast. Later on, he didn't think about Greg as he went for a long walk, Emily in her front pack wiggling when she saw a dog or a tree or a car.
    Over the next few weeks, Stefan spent a lot of his time not thinking about Greg. He even succeeded in actually getting work done and leading his pleasant life. Dull, pleasant life.
    Yeah, now he remembered the reason not to indulge in fun frolics in bed. The memories of the night with Greg made regular day-to-day existence seem so drab in contrast.
    Stefan didn't lose sleep; he didn't stop eating; he still smiled. But life had lost a lot of flavor—and if he hadn't tasted it, he wouldn't have known what was missing.
    He went out with friends and was dismayed to find himself politely rejecting the perfectly nice guy they'd picked for him because he didn't have green eyes and a commanding air.
    "I don't like bossy guys who run away. I have to remember that," he later told Emily as he stretched out next to her on the floor.
    She growled her anger as she tried to go toward the wiggle worm on the floor and ended up pushing herself away.
    "We both need to learn to move