One Monday afternoon a few weeks and several dates later, Caleb’s cell phone rang. He was puzzled when he saw that it was Jaxon calling. Jaxon never called Caleb’s cell—only texted. Caleb was getting better about speaking around Jaxon, but he hadn’t been ready for phone conversation yet.

Unsure of what to expect, he answered. “H-h-hello?”

“Caleb? Caleb, hi, I’m so sorry, but listen, I have to cancel tonight.” Jaxon sounded frazzled, and Caleb could just make out sirens in the background.

“W-wh-wha-w-what’s w-wrong?”

“Went into a ditch,” Jaxon said. “Car’s okay, thank god, but I’ve gotta take her in to get her checked out, make sure she’s safe for the roads. With the weather the way it is right now, I probably won’t be home until late. Places are stalled all over the city.”

Caleb hadn’t really looked outside much, but he glanced out the window now to see sheets of snow and ice coming down. He could barely see the next building over. He had a sudden burst of panic, even though Jaxon sounded fine. “O-o-ok-k-kay! A-a-are y-yo—”

“I’m fine,” Jaxon cut in. “My head bounced a bit in the crash, but no harm, no foul, right? I mean,” he added, “I got checked out, and I’m fine. It’s just the car I’ve gotta take care of. And I know I never call you at work or anything, but I guess I just . . . wanted to hear a friendly voice.”

“I’m gl-g-glad you-you-you’re ok-k-kay.”

“Me too,” Jaxon said earnestly. “So rain check?”

Caleb looked out the window again. “T-t-take tom-m-m-mo-r-rrow o-off,” he said, pushing to get the words out through the adrenaline rush. “P-p-please? L-looks b-bad.”

“I . . . Maybe I should.” Jaxon’s voice was hesitant. “Weather’s supposed to keep on like this. It’s just gonna get worse.”

Caleb leaped at that, going for full convince. “I-i-it’s T-Tuesday right? S-s-slow an-n-any-w-way. Please.”

“Okay,” Jaxon said in rush. “Okay. I’ll take off.”

“And J-J-Ja-Ja-Jax-xo-Jaxon,” Caleb said, through gritted teeth, willing himself to calm down. “J-Ja-Jaxon,” he said again. Good, better. “A-after your c-c-car is r-r-r-ready. C-call me. W-when yo-yo-you’re home. P-please. D-don’t c-c-are how l-late.”

“I will,” and the warmth of Jaxon’s words were palpable. “Promise. You take care at work, okay? And be careful driving home, you got me? People are being crazy.”

“Got i-it. B-b-bye.”

“Talk soon.”

Jaxon got a text from Caleb that evening, letting him know Caleb had gotten home safe and sound.

I even made myself hot chocolate, the follow-up message said. Thinking of you. I hope you’re okay.

Jaxon smiled down at his phone. He’d had to go outside the shop so that he could play Caleb’s messages and not feel too self-conscious about it—still practicing avoiding the word stupid—but it’d been worth it.

“Glad to hear it,” he dictated into his phone, cupping his hands to try to avoid the worst of the wind garbling the message. “I like picturing you curled up with something warm. I’m not doing too bad. Should be out in another hour, maybe. Here’s hoping.”

The reply was almost immediate, as if Caleb had been waiting for Jaxon to text back. The thought made him feel warm all over, even outside in the middle of a blizzard.

It’s been hours! Is your car okay?

Jaxon switched his phone to his left hand, tucking his right into his pocket to warm it up.

Yeah it’s fine. I’m just wait for the go ahead to leave. At least I’m not waiting on the side of the road

Just at the side of the mechanic’s, but Caleb didn’t need to know that.

Please stay warm and safe. And if you want . . . depending on how bad the roads are tomorrow night, would you like to come over then?

Jaxon smiled down at his phone.

I’d love to

“I st-still thinks it’s w-weird that you like to p-pick me up when we go to yo-your place.” Caleb said, lips quirked, as he followed Jaxon inside his apartment.

“It’s on my way home,” Jaxon said, as they shed their coats. “And I like driving. Anyway, this way I have you at my mercy.” He grinned, leading Caleb to the couch. “No escape. If you wanted to get home, you’d have to call a cab.”

“I c-can only im-im-imagine how that wo-would go.”

Jaxon laughed. “I’ll give you the number of an excellent cabbie. Really knows his routes.”

“S-sounds like I’d li-like him.”

“I think you would,” Jaxon said, leaning in.

They made out lazily on the couch for a while before Caleb pulled back.

“No, wait,” he said, signing like he always did immediately after kissing. He’d said before that making the switch helped him get his voice back. It still made Jaxon feel warm all over, the idea Caleb was willing to let himself fall apart a little, for this. “We still need to watch the movie. That’s the whole point.”

“I sort of thought the whole point was spending time together,” Jaxon teased, running a hand down the side of Caleb’s neck. Caleb shivered, but he shook his head seriously, visibly pulling himself together.

“N-n-no,” he said, before taking another breath and signing, “I brought a movie and we are going to watch it. It’s important.”

“Okay,” Jaxon said, sitting up and paying a little more attention. “Movie sounds great. What’d you bring?”

“Another terrible kung fu movie,” Caleb signed. “Your favorite.”

“Okay . . . I’m sensing a ‘but’ in there somehow.” He watched Caleb swallow, looking actually nervous. “Caleb?”

“S-some of it has s-s-subtitles,” Caleb said after a moment. “I-I thought I c-could read them t-to you. Or sign, if I c-ca-can’t t-t-talk. I’d l-like t-to.”

Jaxon hoped his expression got across what he was feeling. Because this was big. Caleb, who still struggled to talk even though they’d been going out for weeks now, actively seeking out something where he had to? For Jaxon’s benefit? He licked his lips, chest tight with how much love he felt both from and for Caleb.

“Yeah,” he said. “That . . . that sounds really good.”

“Okay,” Jaxon said, grinning at Caleb. “You ready for this?”

Caleb buckled his seat belt and nodded, smiling back.

The now-tradition of subtitled movie nights had been going on for a few weeks, and Jaxon had wanted to do something special of his own for Caleb. After some thought, Jaxon had suggested a driving tour of the city. After nearly six years on the road, he knew some pretty interesting locations. Caleb had said he was really looking forward to it. He didn’t get out to see the city much, and Jaxon was kind of excited to be in his element, showing Caleb around.

“Yo-you b-better show me a-all the best sights o-or I want m-m-my m-money back,” Caleb said.

“Dork,” Jaxon said affectionately, leaning in for a quick kiss before starting his car and turning on the heat. “Now we’re headed for some local scenery first. I’m taking you down Franklin so we can start off right. Wait’ll you see the mansion.”

“M-mansion?”

“Oh yeah. These guys have a huge house, and never got the memo that Christmas decorations are Christmastime-only. They’ve got a zillion blow-up decorations that stay up all year long. I’m amazed no one’s complained. Think they might be too rich to care. Just you wait.”

Caleb made the expected astonished exclamations at seeing the house, and Jaxon actually had to park for a minute or two so they could get the full experience. It was even better with the wind and snow blowing.

“That one over there I call the demon reindeer,” Jaxon said, pointing to a specific blow-up decoration. It was a monstrosity of a sleigh filled with three reindeer, and it was flopping back and forth in the wind. It was lit with a red light from below and looked pretty demonic, in a hilarious sort of way.

“How in the world are you going to top this house?” Caleb wondered.

“Oh don’t worry, I’ve got plenty up my sleeves. This was just the opener to the show. I’m taking you down the garden street next.”

“Garden st-st-street?”

“Yup! The whole block has front yard gardens. Even covered in snow it’s pretty amazing. I’ll take you out to see it again in the summer. That’s when it’s incredible.”

“I-I-I’ll hold you t-to that,” Caleb said, settling back into his seat. “Onward!”

Jaxon was happy to oblige.

Unfortunately, they ended up having to cut the drive short. It started snowing really badly, and Jaxon was worried about visibility and getting Caleb home safe.

“I’m really sorry,” he said, as they headed back to the Towers. “But the roads are on their way to being total ice, and drivers get crazy at night.”

“It’s fine,” Caleb signed. “I understand. I’d rather us both be safe.”

When they got to the Towers and Jaxon was dropping Caleb off at his door, Caleb was insistent.

“You can’t drive in this,” he signed. “You crashed the last time you drove in weather like this!” They’d passed two accidents on the short drive back to Caleb’s apartment. Caleb tugged on the collar of Jaxon’s coat. “You’re staying here tonight.”

“I didn’t crash, I spun out,” Jaxon said. “But yeah, I guess it’s a good idea to stay put.”

“Thank you!” Caleb signed emphatically, as he motioned Jaxon inside the elevator.

They had just arrived at Caleb’s door when Jaxon’s phone rang, Tatyana’s ringtone loud in the quiet hallway.

“Sorry,” he apologized, digging it out. He always answered Tatyana if he could. “Hold on a sec—” He fumbled to accept the call. “Tati? Hey, can this wait? I’m—”

“You better not be driving is what you are!” Tati said, voice shrill. “Jaxon, I just checked the news, and you need to stay off the roads! There’s a crazy ice storm going on. Please take off work.”

“Tati—”

“And if you say any nonsense about being able to handle it, I swear, I will fly up there to give you a piece of my mind, don’t you doubt it—”

“How are you supposed to fly if I can’t even drive?” Jaxon asked glancing at Caleb, who was covering his mouth to hide a smile.

“Jaxon, so help me, if you don’t promise that you’re taking off until the roads won’t eat you alive—”

“Tati, calm down, it’s fine. I’m actually with Caleb right now.”

A pause. “You are?”

“You’re interrupting our date.”

“I am?” she squeaked.

“And if you let me off the hook, I promise I’ll take off tomorrow, since apparently both you and Caleb are against me.”

“Deal!” she said. And then, loud enough that Jaxon had to pull the phone away from his ear, “Hi, Caleb! Treat him right! Have a nice night in, okay?”

Caleb grinned.

“He says, ‘Okay,’” Jaxon grumbled into the phone.

“Love you both!”

“Good-bye, Tati.”

Jaxon hung up, and Caleb’s grin got bigger.

“Okay, okay,” Jaxon said. “I was beat even before she called. Let’s go inside, okay?”

Caleb unlocked the door, and they both removed their snow-soggy shoes and coats before making their way into the living room on socked feet. Caleb had actually dressed down for the outing, going more for warm and comfortable than sleek and serious. While Jaxon loved the suits, he was really enjoying watching Caleb in his jeans and oversized sweater.

“Sit with me?” Caleb asked. “Easier to get warm.”

Jaxon chuckled. “That sounds like such a cliché,” he said, getting right next to Caleb and putting an arm around him. “You sure you don’t want me to make something hot first?”

“I’ve got all the hot I need right here,” Caleb said, smirking.

Jaxon snorted. “Have you been reading up on cheesy lines or something?” he asked, grabbing hold of Caleb’s hands before he could sign another one. Caleb took the opportunity to lean in and nuzzle at Jaxon’s neck, an easy weakness. In retaliation, Jaxon fell backward on the couch, pulling Caleb down on top of him.

“I c-c-can still t-talk y-you know,” Caleb said. He pushed himself up, and Jaxon couldn’t help smiling at him.

“Smart-ass,” Jaxon murmured affectionately when Caleb pulled back enough to kiss him on the nose before moving lower. Then he yelped, Caleb having wormed his still-chilly fingertips underneath Jaxon’s shirt.

Caleb grinned at Jaxon’s hiss.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it,” Jaxon chuckled. “You’re not warm enough yet.” Then he hesitated, reaching to grab Caleb’s hand and drawing it back out before sitting up. “Do you want to— Do you—”

Caleb made the sign, then nodded an enthusiastic yes. “Please,” he added, punctuating it with another kiss. “I want you.”

“Here, or—”

“Bedroom,” Caleb decided, pulling Jaxon up with him as he stood.

When they got to the bedroom, Caleb walked inside, but Jaxon paused to turn on the light. At Caleb’s quizzical look, he said, “I need to see you. It— I need to make sure I know what you’re saying. Just in case.”

“J-J-Jaxon,” Caleb said, voice quiet. He was getting better at Jaxon’s name. “Y-you d-don’t h-h-ave to—”

“I want to. I want all of you, even the parts that need to be quiet sometimes. Besides,” Jaxon added, lips quirking up, “your talking gets worse the more flustered you get. And I plan to make you all sorts of flustered.”

Caleb snorted, but his answering smile was so damn sappy—Jaxon loved it. “N-now who sounds ch-ch-cheesy?”

“How about you just get over here, instead of making fun?” Jaxon said, starting to shuck his shirt.

“No thanks,” Caleb signed appreciatively, “I’m good with watching the show.”

Jaxon tackled him down to the bed in retaliation.