Joel huffs out a soft laugh at that and while there is cake waiting for them inside, a fluffy angel food cake ready to be layered with whipped cream Joel has made from scratch and fresh fruit he'd picked up that very moment, there's something about the way Spencer asks for a song that he can't really deny. And while he loves music as much as he loves books, Joel has never been much of a singer, but he doesn't care. The only person in the world who isn't going to tease him because his voice is rough or uneven is the one lying beside him. The only person in the world he's ever been this comfortable this, this complete is the one he's married and there's nothing Spencer could ask of him that would truly embarrass him enough to not go through with. He thinks he'd more than proven that point when he'd worn the absurd Halloween costume Spencer had brought home for him.
But he clears his throat and tilts his head so he's resting his cheek against Spencer's hair and starts to sing, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." And as he's singing he realizes he can't remember the last time he's done this. It had likely been for Charlotte, he thinks, at one of her parties they'd had years ago. While he's called or e-mailed his sister every year they've lived apart, the last time he had been at one of her birthdays had been her tenth and if he thinks back, that's probably the last time he's sung to anyone. It doesn't surprise him that Spencer is the one who's changing everything. He's actually changed every last part of Joel's life and this is just one more example of how his presence here has given Joel a chance to do things again. It's such a small thing, but it's meaningful at the same time.
When he finishes singing, he laughs again, still resting his cheek against the top of Spencer's head. "There is cake inside. Dinner and gifts, too." But he doesn't want to move. The sun has begun to set, dropping behind the house and the light is changing inside the castle, thrown into deeper reds and oranges, shadows stretching across the material. They have a few hours yet before full dark, but he finds himself wondering what it might be like out here once the sun has gone down completely. How quiet and peaceful and secluded it might be. Maybe he can call and have the company come back for it tomorrow. Maybe they can keep it for just a little while longer.
They're going to have to make a run for it at some point, though. He's far too sticky to put his clothes back on and he thinks about the two of them bolting naked across the yard and finds himself laughing harder still. Living alone with Spencer has proven to be as incredible as he'd hoped it would and he does miss Raleigh now and then, but he thinks it's better for all of them this way. She has her own space, privacy for herself, and they have the same. Running naked across the yard isn't the end of the world, but he knows it would be next to impossible with Raleigh still living with them.
"We're going to have to get back to the house, you know," he says to explain why he's laughing. "And I don't think I'm going to want to put my jeans back on like this. I desperately need a shower before I get dressed again."
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But he clears his throat and tilts his head so he's resting his cheek against Spencer's hair and starts to sing, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." And as he's singing he realizes he can't remember the last time he's done this. It had likely been for Charlotte, he thinks, at one of her parties they'd had years ago. While he's called or e-mailed his sister every year they've lived apart, the last time he had been at one of her birthdays had been her tenth and if he thinks back, that's probably the last time he's sung to anyone. It doesn't surprise him that Spencer is the one who's changing everything. He's actually changed every last part of Joel's life and this is just one more example of how his presence here has given Joel a chance to do things again. It's such a small thing, but it's meaningful at the same time.
When he finishes singing, he laughs again, still resting his cheek against the top of Spencer's head. "There is cake inside. Dinner and gifts, too." But he doesn't want to move. The sun has begun to set, dropping behind the house and the light is changing inside the castle, thrown into deeper reds and oranges, shadows stretching across the material. They have a few hours yet before full dark, but he finds himself wondering what it might be like out here once the sun has gone down completely. How quiet and peaceful and secluded it might be. Maybe he can call and have the company come back for it tomorrow. Maybe they can keep it for just a little while longer.
They're going to have to make a run for it at some point, though. He's far too sticky to put his clothes back on and he thinks about the two of them bolting naked across the yard and finds himself laughing harder still. Living alone with Spencer has proven to be as incredible as he'd hoped it would and he does miss Raleigh now and then, but he thinks it's better for all of them this way. She has her own space, privacy for herself, and they have the same. Running naked across the yard isn't the end of the world, but he knows it would be next to impossible with Raleigh still living with them.
"We're going to have to get back to the house, you know," he says to explain why he's laughing. "And I don't think I'm going to want to put my jeans back on like this. I desperately need a shower before I get dressed again."