A Prompt Response - 3. Prompt 276

Affection

By RL Hunter

Mark sat alone in the sunroom looking out at his back yard and feeling sorry for himself. If he were not at work, he would prefer to be out having fun in the city somewhere with his boyfriend. Instead, on a beautiful sunny day he was sitting on his wicker couch with his leg propped up with several pillows on the coffee table. His friend David had left to pick up some ibuprofen at the drugstore a minute or so earlier after helping him prop up his leg and opening some windows to let in a breeze.

“Knock, knock.” Mark looked to the arch leading into the room to see Sean standing there holding a coffee carrier and a takeout bag from Spandauer, his favorite pastry shop. “You look like you can use some company. I ran into David on his way out and he let me in. I hope that’s okay?”

"Hell yes I can use the company and it’s definitely okay. Thank you for coming over.” Mark raised his head as if he was trying to peak at the contents of the bag. “Is that what I think it is?” Sean smiled and walked over to sit on the couch with Mark and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

“One cup of coffee, black with three sugars.” Sean handed Mark his coffee, reached into the bag, and pulled out a pastry. “And one Danish with marzipan filling.”

“Oh, my God. I love you,” Mark blurted out without thinking and he blushed when he realized what he said. He and Sean had not spoken those words to each other yet. He thought that it was still too early, too new in the relationship for that and he was sure that Sean felt the same.

Sean gave him a lop-sided grin and a wink before asking, “So, how did you end up with a broken leg? When David called me he didn't say how it happened.”

“Technically it’s a broken ankle and the cast stops half way up my shin, see.” Mark reached down and pulled his jogging pant leg up for Sean to look. “As to how it happened; well, that’s kind of funny. You see, the elevator at work is old just like the building that I work in. It has a good sized gap between the hall and the elevator floor.” He shrugged and handed Sean his coffee. “Would you put that on the table for me? Thanks. Anyway, I have stepped over that gap I don’t know how many times but today I was on my cell phone responding to a text. I wasn't paying attention and my shoe caught in it. I twisted my ankle and fractured the fibula when I fell.” Sean looked at Marks leg and grimaced.

“I don’t understand how that is funny?”

Mark gave Sean a very sheepish look before answering, “It was your text I was replying to.”

“Oh no, I’m so sorry.” Sean leaned over quickly and gave Mark a hug, almost squishing Mark’s half-eaten Danish into his chest before moving back. Mark started to tell Sean not to worry, that shit happens but Sean spoke first. “Don’t go anywhere,” he said and got up. Mark rolled his eyes and laughed. Sean gave him a big grin. “It’s a good thing that coffee and Danish are not the only things I brought with me.” Sean held up a finger using it to say one minute before turning and walking out of the room.

A short moment later, Sean returned with his hands behind his back and clearly, he was holding something. The look he held for Mark was full of affection and Mark returned it. Sean walked up to him and slowly revealed what he was hiding. At first Mark could only see flowers but then he saw all of it and his chest suddenly felt heavier.

“Awww, you got me a teddy bear.” Mark was a surprised that a silly teddy bear bearing flowers would bring up such a well of affection. Right then, he felt that he just might love Sean after all.