From the Storm

Tonight was supposed to be his and Ian’s third official date, though Bailey doubted there’d be anywhere to go even if he finished his work. Dating was kind of weird for Bailey: most of the time, he met guys on nights out and either didn’t see them again, or else they ended up in fuckfest relationships that always ended badly. In undergrad, he’d been solely focused on getting through school without massive amounts of debt, and since his parents refused to pay for a “gay” education once he came out Sophomore year, most of his free time had gone toward doing whatever it took to pay the bills.

Even now, with a steady job and just enough money to afford somewhere to live—even though it was only a shitty studio apartment, not even big enough for a full-size fridge—guys were not a high priority. The last guy he’d dated had been back in grad school. Greg had refused to move to the city with him when he’d suggested it. He’d said it was career differences, but Bailey suspected it was whoever had owned the strange jacket he’d found in Greg’s closet the day he moved out. Since then, there had been no one serious. Work came first anyway.

“You knew what you were getting into, dating a lawyer,” Bailey said, shaking his head. Ian was still hogging his tiny fan, not that it did him any good anyway. Maybe he could just take the work home. His air-conditioner was a tiny box in his window, but at least it was cool.

“You really care about this kid, don’t you?”

“I know what it feels like when people give up on you. Money shouldn’t prevent people from having a good lawyer and protecting their basic rights.”

Ian smiled. “I thought most lawyers were cutthroat and vicious, you know, the kind I want to be.” He leaned in towards Bailey, eyes softening. “But I think what you do is awesome, even if public defenders make shit money.”

“I didn’t become a lawyer to get rich off other people.” Bailey wouldn’t exactly say he’d always made the right choices—he had definitely made some terrible ones in the past—but becoming a public defender hadn’t been a bad choice. Being a lawyer had always been in the cards, even after his parents had refused to help. “You’ve got to do what you think is right.”

“I completely agree,” Ian replied sincerely. He leaned forward, fingers brushing against Bailey’s neck. “I think you’re amazing, and also that it’s way too hot in here.”

Bailey agreed, and Ian touching him wasn’t making him any less hot, but he still had work to do. Ian’s fingers sliding down his collarbone was almost enough to give him pause. If they could get out of there, they could somehow get to Ian’s apartment….

“I just have to finish—”

The lights flickered, and with a rumble of thunder, everything went dark.