Jacob eagerly awaited his husband Joey Brokaw's return from work, even though Joey had mentioned he would be late that night. Exhausted from a day of house shopping, Jacob fell asleep before Joey arrived home.
Around 1 in the morning, Jacob stirred to the sounds of shuffling and hushed voices. Joey was on the phone, discussing work with his best friend, Aaron Swills. Attempting to maintain the illusion of sleep, Jacob heard snippets of their conversation.
''Yes, I'll cover your meeting for tomorrow morning,'' Joey mumbled, assuring Aaron. Recognizing his husband's best friend's voice, Jacob remained still.
''Hey, I've got to go,'' Joey said quietly. ''Jacob's asleep right now, and I don't want to wake him up.''
As the call ended, Joey changed into his pajamas and made his way to their bed. Sitting down, he leaned over and lightly kissed Jacob's forehead, assuming his husband was sound asleep.
''I missed you, my love,'' Joey whispered, a sentiment that filled Jacob's heart with warmth.
Joey continued to shower Jacob's face with gentle kisses. ''God, I wished I came home earlier so I could have at least heard your voice before you fell asleep. You always know how to make a long day so much better.''
About to retreat to his side of the bed, Joey was surprised as Jacob turned and embraced him tightly. They drifted into sleep, finding comfort in each other's arms, sharing a night filled with whispers of love and the solace that only the presence of a cherished partner can bring.
