No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 6

"Go do the bloody dishes." Newt laughed.

Thomas stepped away and towards the dishwasher once again, noticing with relief the air between them felt much lighter. When he turned back around to glance at him, he saw Newt's lips twitching up in a grin as he busied himself with preparing dinner.

~~~~~~~

On Wednesday evening Thomas arrived home to find Newt in the backyard watering the garden. He changed out of his work clothes and into something less clinical before stepping out onto the back porch. The concrete was still warm from the sun beneath his bare feet. Newt hadn't noticed him yet, so Thomas took the time to observe him.

His back was turned to him, the setting sun illuminating him fully. He wore the flip flops that he'd been begging Newt to get rid of for years as they were falling apart, but he kept them on account of how comfortable they were. A pair of shorts slung low over his hips, and he was shirtless. In the mid-July southern California heat, Thomas couldn't blame him. Shoulders that were beginning to freckle with the sun shone strong and sturdy. The muscles in his back rippled as he moved the hose from side to side across the garden, backing up slowly as he did. He caught the slight bulge of his bicep as he did so, and Thomas found himself admiring the whole of him appreciatively. He watched him for as long as he watered the garden, and when his best friend turned around, he had to shake himself from his wandering thoughts.

"Hey, Tommy." Newt greeted warmly. "How was work?"

"It was fine." Thomas shrugged. He nodded towards the garden, "Looks like things are doing good, huh?"

Newt's smile widened and he nodded, backing out of the garden and turning the hose off. As he coiled the hose back up he said, "We're getting sprouts on the carrots we planted. And the cherry tomatoes that were already on the vine when we planted them are about to ripen. We'll be able to eat them soon, I think." He sounded excited at the prospect of getting to eat the food they'd grown, and so soon. He could see it in the play of his smile and his proud stance as he surveyed the growing plants. A burst of affection for him flooded Thomas' chest and he reached out to take Newt's hand.

He was given a bemused smile, but Newt squeezed gently as their fingers clasped together. "I, for one, can't wait for you to make something amazing out of all this food we're growing."

"I have many meals planned; you'll see." Newt chuckled, giving him a wink.

"I'll hold you to that. You're off the hook for dinner tonight, though. I brought us some burritos from that place down the street."

"Oh, I love you." Newt groaned, lifting his hand to kiss the back of it repeatedly while Thomas laughed and bowed dramatically. Newt laughed and let go of his hand, leading the way back inside the house.

~~~~~~

"I have to get up, Tommy, I have to work." Newt said the next morning, voice sleep-thick and warm. Thomas would never tire of hearing Newt's voice first thing in the morning as it washed over him while he struggled to wake up and comprehend what was going on. He took stock of himself in relation to Newt and found they were lying close, facing each other.

Thomas smiled but didn't open his eyes. He felt Newt roll closer to him beneath his arm that was draped over his waist, an arm settling over his shoulder as fingers gently toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Ah. . .I get it. You're holding me hostage." Newt laughed quietly after a moment, and Thomas opened his eyes to see deep brown ones staring back at him, still bleary from sleep. He nodded silently, unable to fight the grin that widened on his face. Newt laughed again and warmth reverberated through Thomas. "Well, some of us work for a living. Let me up."