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yeah. Micah?"
    He plucked at the stitching on the duvet. "I've watched that show a couple times, you know, that one on cable. I don't know if I can be like them. Just look at a guy and know I want him, or go home with strangers every night."
    Jamie leaned on his elbow, looking at him seriously. "You don't have to live that way if you don't want to. You could find yourself a boyfriend and settle down and be as boring as any married couple."
    "You think commitment's boring?"
    "I think it's overrated. But I've never had it end well, so it's probably just the bitterness talking."
    Micah's mouth quirked and he played with Jamie's nipple ring a moment. "So you don't want to do it again."
    "It depends on the bloke," Jamie said and took his hand, giving his fingers a quick kiss. "What are you driving at, Micah?"
    "I don't know. I've been thinking so long about--you know, 'am I, really?' and now I've actually--actually had sex and now I don't know what comes next."
    Jamie held his chin and kissed him. "It's okay," he soothed, "not always knowing what comes next."
    "I wanna be with you," Micah whispered, his lips a breath away from Jamie's. "I want to be with you. That's all I know."
    "I want to be with you too. I've wanted to since the first time I saw you."
    "Really?" He kissed Jamie's mouth and twined their legs together. "Since I showed up? That very first day?"
    "That would be the one." He cocked his head a little, trying not to look as ridiculous as he felt. "You were very cute that day."
    "I was a big scared dope that day."
    "That's probably why I found you so irresistible. I have a soft spot for the helpless." He grinned at Micah and rubbed their noses together.
    "Aw, Jamie..." Micah kissed him in that fierce, hungry way he had, and then laughed and threw his arms around Jamie's neck. "Do I look different?"
    "No. You look fabulous." He smoothed Micah's messy hair.
    Micah preened under his touch a moment, then said, "Jamie? Don't tell anybody? Please."
    "I wouldn't."
    "I haven't figured out how to tell my parents yet. I mean, it was bad enough convincing them I didn't need to go to college right away. This will be worse. I've always got to be the good son."
    "You can be the good son and be gay, Micah."
    "Not to them I can't." He sighed. "I will tell them. I'll figure it out. But until I do--please don't tell anybody."
    "I won't, Micah." Jamie pulled him close enough to kiss the top of his head. "Not until you're ready."
    "Thank you." He nuzzled against Jamie's chest, and Jamie could feel him relaxing in his arms. "Thank you for asking me to stay with you."
    "The pleasure was all mine," Jamie said and kissed his forehead.
    "I think we shared that," Micah said with a naughty expression. "I think we shared that a lot."
    "Oh, and do you want to share it more? Is that what you're saying?"
    "Yes," Micah said solemnly. "More sharing. Naked sharing." He looked like he was going to start laughing again, and Jamie kissed him for being so adorable.
    ***
    "Nothing's wrong my voice, Mom," Micah said into the phone. "I'm just a little hoarse. I'm not sick. I--Jamie and I went to the Boardwalk. We must've ridden the Giant Dipper six times." Pause. "Yes, on a Sunday. I'll go to church next week. I promise.
    "Anyway, that's why I called. I'm with Jamie--I'm at Jamie's. Jamie, Mom. Jamie Makepeace. The English guy from work. I've told you about him--the head of the art department. Yes, him."
    Jamie moved as silently as he could onto his side and flicked one of Micah's nipples with his tongue. Micah glared at him and pulled up the sheet to cover his chest.
    "Because I like him. He's nice." Another pause, and Micah rolled his eyes. "He's not letting me drink, Mother. For G--for crying out loud."
    Jamie pulled the sheet down with his teeth and moved on top of Micah so he could kiss Micah's chest.
    "He drove me home from the wedding last night and when I said I didn't want to be by myself all week he offered to let me stay with him." Micah covered the