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walked over to the window to peek out. A gloriously sunny day. No one in their right mind would want to go in the office on such a day. Which had him thinking.
    Turning back to face the bed, he called out, "Hey, Pres, wake up."
    Preston stirred, but didn't open his eyes. Scotty walked back to the bed and sat next to him. He shook him further awake.
    "What?" Preston grumbled.
    "Let's play hooky from work today. It's Friday. You could call in sick and I can say I'm out in the field all day doing investigative stuff. We can drive up the coast to Morro Bay and make a weekend of it." Morro Bay in Central California was Scotty's favorite location in the world. Someday he hoped to live there. He loved the idea of going there with Preston.
    Preston rubbed his eyes with his fists and then sat up. He frowned. "What the hell? What are you talking about? Play hooky?"
    "Yeah. Come on." Scotty grinned.
    "You want to go away together? Like a...a couple?"
    The incredulous, nearly panicked tone of Preston's voice threw ice water all over Scotty's enthusiasm. What had he been thinking? They weren't a couple. He was an idiot.
    "Never mind," Scotty said quickly. He glanced down at his own naked body and his vulnerable state hit him hard. He yanked a corner of the crisp white sheet over his lap and tried to make his voice casual. "Bad idea. I'll go shower and get ready for work."
    He stood up when Preston's hand closed over his wrist and tugged him back down.
    "Wait," Preston said, his mouth twisted in a grimace. "I didn't say I wouldn't."
    "It's okay, Preston. It was a stupid thought. It's just a beautiful day and I got carried away. No need to freak out." He spoke lightly, hoping to make Preston smile. It didn't work.
    Preston shook his head. "I'm not freaking out, Scott."
    Scotty sighed. Somewhere between last night when Preston was pounding him into the mattress and this morning he'd gone back to being Scott instead of Scotty. Distancing himself.
    "Look, it's no big deal," Scotty said.
    "Where would we go?"
    "Well, I thought Morro Bay."
    Preston exhaled deeply. "Um, okay."
    "Okay?"
    "Yeah." Preston nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
    Scotty threw himself at Preston. "Oh, cool. You won't regret it. We'll have the best time. I swear."
    Preston gave him just a hint of a smile. "Then I guess I better call work."

    * * * *
    The drive up the coast had been pleasant. They'd purposely not discussed anything too personal, though. The conversation kept to sports, politics, the business, his time in New York, and Preston's kids.
    Now Scotty pulled his sedan into the parking lot of a cute little seaside motel and parked not too far from the office. The early afternoon sun shined warm with a light breeze coming off the ocean. Overhead gulls flew by, trying to spy if any person had food for them.
    "Hey, wait," Preston said when Scotty went to open the car door.
    "What?"
    "We should get separate rooms." Preston tried to smile, like what he was saying was no big deal, but it didn't fool Scotty. It was forced.
    "Why should we get separate rooms, Pres?"
    Preston shifted in the passenger seat. "Well, you know."
    His fingers tightened around the steering wheel while he told himself to be patient. "We're not going to see these people again, Pres. What does it matter if they think we're a couple?"
    Preston looked away, out the window, refusing to meet Scotty's gaze. His cheeks were red. "I just...just think it would be easier."
    "So you want your own room? To stay in there by yourself?" Scotty pushed. He knew he shouldn't, but, damn it, if Preston insisted on paying for separate rooms then they would have separate rooms.
    "No."
    Scotty scrubbed his hand over his face. "Look, it doesn't make sense from a purely monetary sense to pay for an extra room if we aren't going to use it. If it will make you feel better you can stay in the car and I'll get the room and they never even have to see you."
    For just a second, Scotty hoped Preston wouldn't take him up on it. Would insist