“I’m just tickled that it’ll be done before the holidays. It’ll be cold before we know it.” And they’d be cooking on the patio.
“Uh-huh.” Hudson put an arm around his waist. “Did you order that hot tub?”
“I did. It’s coming tomorrow along with all the decking shit.” He’d gone a little overboard, but he wanted an outdoor space for summer and winter, so there was a warming walkway, a towel and robe warmer, and a screen when they needed it.
“Decking?” Hudson looked at him sidelong. “What did you do?”
“I am having the hot tub put in.” With an amazing fucking deck of joy.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, but I can’t wait.” Hudson grabbed his bag off the porch. “I need to get out of these sticky jeans, man.”
“I hear you.” And least they still had working bathrooms.
Hudson took them upstairs. “So. I had a great week. I have two new clients, and we’re an official vendor at Finals.”
“Ooh. Then you have a reason for being there that’s not just me?”
“I never need more of a reason than you, but yes. I’m actually working the event. I won’t miss the show itself. I’ve made it clear I’ll work in between. I want to watch the riding.” Hudson shimmied out of his jeans. “And you.”
“Mmm… I like that. Thank you, darlin’.” That suited Jack down to the bone.
“You’ll make sure there’s a seat with me for Mackey, right?”
“Always.” Jack wouldn’t let his buddy swing in the wind.
“I mean, obviously he could get his own seats but… I think he’d like to know we want him with us. Which, maybe he knows anyway, but it’s still nice to make it clear.” Hudson shrugged. This was new to his lover, this level of injury to someone so close.
“They’ll fly in. We’ll be on the road for three weeks. You excited?”
“You know it. I love that we get to do this together. And I love the riding. It’s a win, right?”
“You know it, darlin’.” Jack pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. He had a sweatshirt downstairs for when he got chilly.
“So it sounded like you had a good week. Your random pictures made me smile a lot.”
“You’re just glad I didn’t find another mule…”
“I might not have come home.” Hudson laughed and dressed comfortably in shorts as well.
“Yeah, yeah. That beast adores you.” He stuck his tongue out, playing with his lover.
“No.” Hudson snorted and pulled him out of the bedroom. “If we do well at finals I’ll have enough for a nice vacation. Did you decide where you want to go?”
He’d finally figured that out, actually. “I want to go to Spain, I think. Listen to the pretty men talk, eat tapas and shit. You?”
“Spain sounds good to me. Maybe a few days in Portugal since we’re there? You want a beer? Oh, God. This kitchen.” Hudson opened the fridge, which was actually sitting in the hallway outside the kitchen.
“Sounds good to me, and yes and you don’t know the half of it.” He hated the mess and noise, but it was worth it, to see Hudson’s excitement. Well, the excitement made it better.
“You’re so agreeable after you get off.” Hudson opened his beer and put it in his hand. “Do we get to sleep here tonight?”
“We do. All night. Mackey’s solid. Sid is home.”
“Right on. No sleep for us!” Hudson chuckled. “Dinner?”
“Chicken breasts and grilled veg?” Easy and cookable outside, for the win.
“Let’s put on some music and get to it.”