Chapter 1

1

There was nothing on television.

Well, no, that wasn’t true.

There were actually at least three movies on right now that Royce liked. One, in fact, that only just started. He just didn’t feel very much like watching any of them.

Royce sighed and tossed the remote to the side. His laptop sat on the couch next to him. It looked up at him in judgment. He frowned at it even if it had every right to judge him. It, like he, knew that he had a screenplay to write—a romantic comedy set in space that his agent secured for him. It was a big deal since it’d been picked up by Raving Films, so if it went well, it could open a hell of a lot of doors for him.

First, he needed to get it done.

But this blank page had been staring at him since he got the job last month. Unfortunately, with everything that had gone on—a pandemic, quarantine, social distancing—his brain had been misfiring all over the place. He couldn’t concentrate. Couldn’t sit still. And instead of being able to write, he sighed and closed his computer.

Royce leaned his head back on the couch, feet bobbing up and down as he tried to decide how to cure his boredom. Boredom, he knew quite well, led to trouble. Royce had certainly gotten himself in his fair share of trouble before and he felt particularly off-balance today.

He figured that wasn’t too unusual. Royce doubted he was the only one who felt this way; it just crept up on him a little more today.

It might be the rain.

A dreary sort of rain. Gray skies and thin clouds and a heavy mist. No thunder and lightning. No big, dark clouds that were fun to watch roll over the sky.

Strange, really. Under normal circumstances, Royce liked the rain. The way it washed over the world in gentle susurrations. Water collecting in little puddles just waiting to be hopped in. Drops sliding down the windows. All things Royce enjoyed, but he couldn’t seem to muster up any enthusiasm for it right now.

Royce scooped up his phone from the coffee table in front of him and considered texting Jack. Silly, since he was just down the hall in his office. They were both working from home nowadays. Royce counted himself lucky in that regard. Not only were he and his boyfriend able to keep their jobs during all of this, they only started living together a few months ago.

With that came the normal trepidation of moving in with someone for the first time. After dating for three and a half years, the time felt right, but no one could have predicted that a pandemic and quarantine would happen just six weeks after they did. So, on top of unpacking and rearranging and learning the little idiosyncrasies that came along with living together, Royce and Jack were thrust into a world of unprecedented turmoil.

Royce knew that he loved Jack, probably ever since the night they met at Paddles, an S&M nightclub in the city. He could remember the first time he laid eyes on him. Those bright, sea green eyes that made Royce shiver when they first glanced his way. Tufts of dark brown locks that swept across his brow. All those muscles. And that smile. Dear God, Jack’s smile still made Royce weak at the knees.

It’d been love at first sight. Even though Jack didn’t believe in the idea of love at first sight and claimed that it was more lustat first sight.

“How could it not be?” Jack said once when his fingers took a soft grip in Royce’s auburn hair and tilted his head back. “Just look at you.” His lips pressed against the collar around Royce’s throat. “Those big, brown eyes. Those plump lips. That big brain of yours. So beautiful.”

While Royce didn’t have a general negative opinion about his looks, he knew how the world worked. Royce reached an average height, but he had always had a curvier physique. And, admittedly, during times of boredom or stress, turned to snacking. Not everyone appreciated his soft curves. He knew he received looks sometimes when they were out.

It hadn’t taken long to exchange the words anyway.

Royce had never felt so strongly about someone he’d just met and they’d only gone on a handful of dates when he came out to Jack as genderfluid. Explained to him that some days he identified as male and on others as female. Jack had listened patiently and openly as Royce told him his pronouns switched accordingly with his gender.

“But I…I understand if it’s too much,” Royce had forced himself to say, too nervous to look at Jack, afraid of rejection and what that would do to his heart. “If you can’t—”

“Royce,” Jack interrupted, slipping a hand to Royce’s cheek. “Go to sleep tonight.” He pressed a kiss to Royce’s forehead. “And whoever you are in the morning, I’ll still love you as much as I do right now.”

Overcome with joy and elation, Royce threw his arms around Jack’s neck and kissed him, more in love than he’d ever been.