foolishness

“Well?” He looked expectantly at his partner.
Jerry started slightly as Van’s words signaled his presence at the top of the stairs. As Van descended the stairs to stand by his partners side he was amused to note that Jerry had the grace to blush as he realized Van had witnessed his slightly less than appropriate show of affection for the woman who had just left his side.
“Did you enjoy that? I know you enjoy when others find you attractive.”
The elder man said nothing, choosing instead to stand stiffly and await Vance’s anger. If not anger it was obvious that he was, at the very least, expecting to see disappointment.
Vance on the other hand, despite the scene he had just witnessed, felt no tension. There was no overwhelming need, no desire, to rush the situation. Instead, there was merely patience and a calm certainty. It was a good feeling, to be this certain of something. He felt as though he had forgotten what that was like in recent weeks.
Vance extended his hand. “Come on.” A slow smile gently lit his face. “Dance with me.”
The soft words flowed out, past Jerry, onto the dance floor, calling him to join them. There was only the briefest of hesitation before the elder man followed them, allowing himself to be enveloped in Van’s embrace.
A word, muffled by Van’s suit and sounding suspiciously like “why…?”, escaped Jerry’s dry lips, eliciting a small laugh from Vance.
“Did you know,” he started, by way of explanation, “that when I’m with you, even when we argue, you make me happy. Not with what you do, or how you look, but because of who you are.”
He felt Jerry’s head nestle into a more comfortable position on his shoulder.
“It’s not the same for everyone but I would call it love. You’d think after 15 years you’d be used to it.”
This time it was Jerry’s turn to laugh and Vance felt the tension drain out of his body. “If I ever got used to being loved by you, then I would be a fool.”