Tantrum

Ch. 15 But Most Importantly

*** Gwen's POV ***

Spencer and I have been seeing each other now for a couple weeks, that night at Mason's school solidifying our connection to one another. Sadly though, most of our connecting has been through the phone. Apparently with closing our case, he was cleared for a normal workload again and that meant sixty plus hour weeks.

He pops in for dinner tonight, looking drained but manages to keep his attention on the boys as they bombard him. Mason wants to fill him in on every thing he has missed, including finishing a new Lego set and Tim pulls Spencer down to his room to speak "in private." I am cleaning up from dinner when I feel him close in behind me.

We told the kids about wanting to date each other when we went for ice cream the night of the school event so we didn't have to hide from them. They were both excited in their own way. Mason even asked if Spencer was going to move in. We just laughed at his innocent question.

"Is this okay?" He murmurs, his lips brushing the side of my neck as he presses against me from behind.

I delight in the feel of his arms around me and let myself melt into him. "Mmmhmm."

"I'm sorry that I've been working so much. We're a little behind from my hiatus and then some folks leaving." He explains.

"It's okay. It's not like it's unexpected. And I know you're helping people like you helped us." I reply. While it would be great to have him around more, I know his job can be demanding.

"It should lighten up next week. They're splitting our overloads between two new hires. Hopefully they stick around." He mutters.

"Turnover is high. Have you ever thought about leaving? Besides when..." I trail off.

He told me about his former client in greater detail. The blame he still feels for what happened. He told me he questioned everything when it happened, but especially his ability to do his job.

"I actually have a...uh, colleague from graduate school who wants to get me a job at the hospital doing child life. She loves it." He seems uncomfortable for some reason.

"It doesn't fulfill you the same way, does it?" I guess.

"No." He doesn't elaborate and changes the subject. "I took a couple of days off next week for my birthday."

"Oh really? Big plans?" I ask naively.

"I was hoping I could convince you to get away with me." He retorts.

My jaw drops. I haven't traveled anywhere in well over five years and I honestly didn't think it was something I could do with my current guardian role, but Spencer has thought this through.

"I already asked your mom if she'd watch the boys. She's all for it. Well mostly." He smirks.

"Mostly?"

"She gave me the safe sex talk." He shares.

I am instantly mortified. "No! She did not!"

"Yeah, she did."

"Argh!" I grumble as I try to hide into myself.

Spencer chuckles and invades my space, pulling me into him. He coaxes me to look up at him. "So what do you say?"

"I don't know." I start. "No unsafe sex?"

He blushes instantly with my teasing, clearing his throat and trying to find words. "Um, uh, I mean..."