Petrichor

Breaking the Rules-2

Greg has had his makeup done, and he’s hanging around just off set wearing nothing but a robe next to Ian, who looks great. He always dresses well, and sure Greg has met better looking guys—he works with models all the time—but none of them have caught his attention like Ian has. Greg has been caught from the moment Ian found him throwing up before one meeting, commiserated about how the puking sucked, and helped him get cleaned up, and taught him tips to hide how crappy he felt. Ian had patted his back and asked Greg to sit with him, and a crush had started to form. It had been just a baby crush then, and he’d not really been thinking about dating at the time. But now he’s getting healthy again, he’s been free of cancer for a month. The axe hanging over his neck has lifted, and he’s no longer walking around with a clock ticking away inside.

And his crush is no longer a tiny crush; the more he’s got to know Ian, the more he’s wanted to be close to him. They’ve become friends, good friends, and this is the first they’ve spent time together just the two of them.

“Feeling okay?” Ian asks.

“Better than I expected. I feel ready to try this,” Greg replies, especially because of Ian. Having him here is comforting, like having a warm blanket, because Ian believes he can do this. But there’s also that being on a set again is comforting. He knows this routine, and he’s missed the comforting ritual of it: half-dressed, ready and waiting to have his picture taken.

“You look great,” Ian says with a smile.

“You really think so?” Greg grins.

“Yeah, I can’t wait to see you doing your thing. I’ve never seen a professional model in action,” Ian says, just as someone calls Greg for his shoot.

An assistant asks to take his robe, and Greg hesitates before he unwraps the robe from his waist, and hands it over. No one gasps, the room doesn’t go so silent you could hear a pin land, or any of the other things he’d imagined happening in this moment. He glances at Ian to see his reaction, but Ian isn’t even looking below his waist. He’s smiling. Greg takes a deep breath and gets ready to work.

Greg takes his place lying out on a red silk sheet, and he focuses on his job to start with, posing, listening to the photographer, and trying to give her what she wants. She seems more relaxed with him than she usually is, and it takes Greg a while to realize she’s not the one who’s changed. She wasn’t too bossy—he just wasn’t listening as well before. He’s changed a little over the course of his illness, and from meeting people like Ian. He revaluated his life a lot; he went to a therapist as well as group therapy. All of the hospital appointments, the tests, the fear of dying, that might not change some people, but it has Greg. He’s less confident of his body but determined to go after things he wants.

Like he wants to try with Ian, and he’s going to try, so after a while he looks over to where Ian is sitting, and he tries to let his face convey his attraction without ending up looking sleazy, and Mary the photographer seems to love it, and when Ian makes eye contact it feels even better. They maintain eye contact for a long moment, until Mary says he’s looking flushed and Greg realizes he’s blushing.

The session lasts a while longer, and Greg keeps sneaking glances at Ian, and Ian is always looking back at him. He finishes and goes to the small changing room, which is just a curtained off area. He’s only got his underwear on when Ian asks if he can come in. Worried, Greg says yes and Ian slips between the curtains.

“Tell me I’m crazy,” Ian says in a low voice. The space is small, so they’re close together, and even though Ian has already seen him naked, he’s glad for the underwear.

“Um, you’re crazy?” Greg replies. “Why am I telling you this?”

“I wasn’t finished. Tell me I’m crazy, because I swear there was a vibe between us back there. Am I imagining things? I’ve felt like we had moments before, and am I just being stupid, or do you like me? Because I like you. And I’d kind of been waiting till I knew I wasn’t dying to ask you out. I was so convinced I wouldn’t be here long term I didn’t want to make plans, but I can make plans now, and I want to start making plans with you,” Ian says rushing but keeping his voice down.

“You’re not crazy or stupid. I like you, and not just because you’ve helped me. You’re kind—even when you’re in a bad mood and have every right to be sad—smart, you work at soup kitchens even while getting treatment, you’re amazing. I invited you here today because I needed support, but also to spend time with you,” Greg admits.

“So can we go for dinner after this, or do you have plans?” Ian asks.

“I’d love to have dinner with you.” Greg hovers closer, not sure if it would be too forward to kiss Ian, but Greg doesn’t have to make the choice because Ian steps forward, puts his hand on Greg’s jaw, giving him long enough to pull away if he’s not into it, but Greg doesn’t pull away, and Ian kisses him softly.

The kiss starts sweet, and it’s been a while since Greg was kissed, and he can’t resist giving in to the hunger that has been building inside since he met Ian. He deepens the kiss, wrapping his arms around Ian, whose hands slide over and cup Greg’s ass. They’re making out, lost in the kiss when someone clears their throat and they spring apart.

“We need to clear the space soon, so you might want to get dressed and wait till you’re somewhere else to make out with your boyfriend.” The assistant who spoke rolls his eyes.

“s**t, we’ll get out of here.” Greg pulls his pants on, and Ian hands him his shirt.

They hurry out of the changing area and leave the building, both blushing bright red. And Greg doesn’t want embarrassment to ruin things, so he stops Ian before they go anywhere.

“I’m sorry if that was awkward. I’ve never done that kind of thing on set. But I’d love for you to come to another shoot; you gave me a boost.” Greg says, hoping things are still going well.

“I’d love to. Do you have time now? We can go for coffee.”

“Coffee sounds great.”

Ian offers his hand, and butterflies fill Greg’s stomach as he takes it. This feels like the crushes he had as a kid, but times a thousand. It’s exciting, and he feels like he’s starting over again. They’ve both gone through changes, physical and mental, and they’ve endured pain and fear and a million things Greg never knew about being sick. The storm has passed, and Greg fully intends to enjoy the calm.

* * * *

The photographer calls them into position, and Greg has never smiled so easily in a photo, but then, he has his new husband beside him. Ian leans in and kisses him on the cheek. They both look a little different from their first date. Greg has grown his hair long again, and Ian still teases him and calls him Fabio, but he knows Ian likes his hair. He’s always playing with it.

They have more photos taken, then, before long, they’re getting in the limo ready to go to the reception, with all their friends and family. Ian takes Greg’s hand once they’re seated, and it feels like yesterday, not five years since they first did that, but Greg wants Ian to be the man who takes his hand for the rest of his life.

“I don’t think our moms are ever going to stop crying,” Ian says as the driver pulls away.

“My mom told me today that she thought the worst when I got sick, and she thought she’d have buried me by now. She never thought she’d see me get married, and I thought the same once. Cancer didn’t end my life, but it changed it, and I know if it ever comes again, for either of us, we’ll face it together,” Greg says, and he kisses his new husband lightly on the lips.

“I’m so glad I broke the group rule about dating members, and glad they didn’t turn on us for it. I love the group, but I love you more,” Ian says with a soft smile.

“Do we have to go to the reception? Can’t we just skip to the honeymoon?” Greg asks, glancing at the driver, who smirks.

“Come on, you know you want to see everyone. But don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time alone.” Ian kisses him, and Greg’s heart still races when they kiss.

He wouldn’t choose how they met, he wouldn’t choose cancer, or all he went through, but he’s thankful he found Ian.