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

Chapter 6

"Not today you don't." Thomas replied for the first time that morning, tightening his arm over Newt's waist. "You called out sick last night. Food poisoning. Both of us got it 'cause we ate the same bad take-out so regrettably, neither of us will be making it to work today."

Newt's brow creased, "What?"

"You called out of work due to- "

"No, no, I heard you the first time. . .but why?" To his relief, Newt only sounded confused rather than upset. Thomas knew he'd been going out on a limb calling them both out of work without warning, but he figured it was worth it.

He shifted up onto one elbow and rubbed his face for a moment before answering, "We needed a break. Let's go to the beach today or something. I don't know, just not work."

Newt stared at him for a minute before grinning, and he laughed, "You and your last-minute plans."

"Thank me later." Thomas replied, winking and joining him in laughter that left him breathless.

~~~~~~

Once they had gotten up for the day and showered, Thomas slid onto the stool next to Newt as they ate breakfast. "What should we do today, then?" He asked, taking a sip of coffee.

"I don't know, this was your idea, Tommy." Newt gave him a look.

"I know, I know. I just can't stand going to work and being distracted as hell all day because we still don't know what our results are."

"Don't you mean my results?"

"This impacts both of us, just because you're the one getting the green card doesn't mean we won't both go to jail if they find out this marriage is a scam."

Newt chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair point. You mentioned somethin' about the beach, why don't we drive down there?"

"Sure, why not?" Thomas agreed easily with a shrug. "I don't have anything better to do today, do you?"

"I don't, thanks to you."

"You're welcome." Thomas grinned over the rim of his coffee mug.

Half an hour later he and Newt were on their way down the freeway, headed towards the Pacific. They had packed towels, worn swim trunks, and brought bodyboards in case they wanted to get in the water, as well as a cooler full of cold drinks and some sandwiches to eat on the beach. He glanced over at Newt in the passenger seat of his Honda, who fiddled with the radio until a station came through clear and without static. The windows were down, ruffling his hair, and sunglasses shaded his eyes. The sun lit up his skin and highlighted the freckles there. He chuckled to himself as he recalled the night Newt had counted all of his freckles, leaning closer than was necessary. Both utterly wine-drunk and half-hysterical, Thomas had found himself never happier than in that moment where he had Newt's attention fully on him. There was something special about the way Newt would turn his attention to him sometimes, like he was the only person who mattered at that moment.

Maybe that was why he had called them out of work; to have Newt just to himself for a while before it ended disastrously. If the green card results came back the way he was worrying they might, he'd likely never see Newt again. Or if he did, it would be from behind the bars of a cell. It was worst-case scenario, but it made him all the more aware and grateful of the time he got to spend with him. His best friend; his husband. The man sitting next to him and humming along to some oldies top hit, faint smile lifting the corners of his lips, more relaxed than he'd seen him in days.

Thomas reached over to grab Newt's hand, clasping their fingers together. Newt looked over at him and smiled in response. "Today's gonna be a good day, I can feel it."