“From yesterday. From when we first met.”
“And now?”
I held his gaze. “Now I know what I’m looking at.”
Something shifted in the air between us.
“Is that a good thing?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation.
Stefan studied me for a moment longer. “Good.”
I had to smile. That word again.
His hand was on my hip, not pulling me closer, but connecting us, a comforting weight.
Where we are feels good.
Where we might go next made my pulse race. There were things to discuss, important things, and for the first time, I felt ready to talk about them.
Stefan shifted his hand to my chest, his fingers brushing over the mat of hair, pulling gently on it, until at last he came to a halt over my heart.
He looked me in the eye. “We should talk for a moment.”
I swallowed. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing.”
He propped himself up, his head resting in his hand. “I get tested regularly, every three months.”
I blinked, not because of what he said but because of how naturally he’d said it.
“I’m on PrEP,” he added.
I jumped in before he could get any further. “I know what that is, before you ask.”
He nodded in obvious approval. “And my last results were clear.” He held my gaze as he spoke. He inclined his head towards his phone on the bedside table. “I can show you, if you want.”
For a second, I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t expected him to be so forthright, but I had to admit, I liked it.
“I… get routine physicals,” I said. “Everything’s always been fine.”
Stefan nodded once. “That’s good.” He paused. “I don’t usually use condoms, but I don’t assume that’s what you’ll want.” There was no pressure or expectation in his tone. Then he took my hand in his. “I want you to decide what you’re comfortable with.”
I took a moment to breathe.
“I don’t know what I’m doing yet,” I admitted. “Not really.”
This felthuge.
“That’s fine,” he said. “We go at your pace.”
I let out a breath, because that was exactly what I needed to hear. “And the rest of it?” I asked. “This… being open about it.”
He stilled. “It’s important. Not just for safety, but for trust. If you’re going to have sex with a guy, you should be able to talk about this without hesitation.”
I nodded slowly. “I’d like to get it right.” It felt like a good habit to get into.
“You will.” Stefan sounded so sure.