"We can stay here," Joel says and he knows the conversation isn't entirely serious, but he does mean it all the same. There's something about New York he's fallen in love with and he doesn't think it's just due to the fact that they've come here at just the right time in their lives. They had both needed to get away from Siren Cove after what had happened to Spencer and somehow this trip had been scheduled at just the right time, but he doesn't think it's only that. It's a comfort, yes, and it's been a distraction and he truly believes it's been everything they need in ways they hadn't even known, but he thinks even if they hadn't been through such a traumatic experience only days ago, New York would have proven to be special somehow anyway. It would have captured his attention and his heart without even trying and there's nothing about this city he doesn't love.
He can see them here. The two of them. Their baby, whoever he or she turns out to be. He can see them finding a place to open another location of Crossroads and he can see the three of them in Central Park on warm summer days, a toddler running through the grass, chasing after Huxley while Joel and Spencer watch. He can see them dodging pedestrians on the street as they take their child to school, playfully rolling their eyes and shaking their heads at all the tourists, said with that tone of voice as if they hadn't been tourists in this city once upon a time. For someone who's only ever lived in small towns, Joel can see himself disappearing into the crush of people in New York with ease, without anxiety, with the sense of comfort anonymity brings, and he can see them both flourishing here in ways he never would have imagined.
"Aoife won't mind if we just refuse to leave the apartment," he says, returning the smile before he begins to lead Spencer back inside. The breeze is cool, drying the sweat on his skin and he heaves out a satisfied sigh before he closes the door behind them and closes out the sounds of the city below. It's strange to think he could get used to that, too, that constant sound, the blare of horns and the murmuring of traffic. It's not the sort of thing they hear much of back home, but it hasn't bothered Joel once since they've been here, it's dropped into background noise almost immediately and in a way he actually finds rather comforting. There's just so much about this city he loves.
"Here," he says, leading Spencer into the bathroom and sitting him down on a small wooden bench that lines one wall. As with the rest of the apartment, the bathroom is incredible, far more decadent than anything Joel would ever imagine for themselves, but it's a nice treat. There are places to sit, a huge counter with more space than either of them would ever need, and the shower and tub itself are enormous. Outside he had thought a shower might be most appealing, but now that he's faced with the gigantic tub, all the jets, the vast array of bubble options and the fact that there's more than enough room for both of them to lie comfortably, he has a different idea.
Leaning over the tub, he turns on the taps until the water is the right temperature, then puts in the plug and goes through the bottles sitting on the edge until he finds out with a scent that won't be overpowering. Carefully, he dumps some of the product in and watches as the bubbles start to pile up, then he turns and holds his hand out toward Spencer. "Come on," he says. "This will help." He knows his husband has said he's sore in a good way, but Joel wants nothing more than to just make him feel good and he thinks a warm, soothing bath will help.
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He can see them here. The two of them. Their baby, whoever he or she turns out to be. He can see them finding a place to open another location of Crossroads and he can see the three of them in Central Park on warm summer days, a toddler running through the grass, chasing after Huxley while Joel and Spencer watch. He can see them dodging pedestrians on the street as they take their child to school, playfully rolling their eyes and shaking their heads at all the tourists, said with that tone of voice as if they hadn't been tourists in this city once upon a time. For someone who's only ever lived in small towns, Joel can see himself disappearing into the crush of people in New York with ease, without anxiety, with the sense of comfort anonymity brings, and he can see them both flourishing here in ways he never would have imagined.
"Aoife won't mind if we just refuse to leave the apartment," he says, returning the smile before he begins to lead Spencer back inside. The breeze is cool, drying the sweat on his skin and he heaves out a satisfied sigh before he closes the door behind them and closes out the sounds of the city below. It's strange to think he could get used to that, too, that constant sound, the blare of horns and the murmuring of traffic. It's not the sort of thing they hear much of back home, but it hasn't bothered Joel once since they've been here, it's dropped into background noise almost immediately and in a way he actually finds rather comforting. There's just so much about this city he loves.
"Here," he says, leading Spencer into the bathroom and sitting him down on a small wooden bench that lines one wall. As with the rest of the apartment, the bathroom is incredible, far more decadent than anything Joel would ever imagine for themselves, but it's a nice treat. There are places to sit, a huge counter with more space than either of them would ever need, and the shower and tub itself are enormous. Outside he had thought a shower might be most appealing, but now that he's faced with the gigantic tub, all the jets, the vast array of bubble options and the fact that there's more than enough room for both of them to lie comfortably, he has a different idea.
Leaning over the tub, he turns on the taps until the water is the right temperature, then puts in the plug and goes through the bottles sitting on the edge until he finds out with a scent that won't be overpowering. Carefully, he dumps some of the product in and watches as the bubbles start to pile up, then he turns and holds his hand out toward Spencer. "Come on," he says. "This will help." He knows his husband has said he's sore in a good way, but Joel wants nothing more than to just make him feel good and he thinks a warm, soothing bath will help.