40. Keep Being Happy

Foxx yawned as he got into the car. He was so tired.

They'd made it back to Harlow's Jeep just before the sun rose yesterday. And they'd only managed that because they had run anytime they could. The boat ride, with its set speed of slow, had been fucking stressful.

At least they'd found their missing guns before they left that house, along with some clothes to wear. Foxx couldn't say he was super happy about only being able to salvage his pink boots from that entire outfit, but he supposed, at this point, he shouldn't expect anything less than total destruction of his clothing on each and every case. Harlow's leather jacket had been annoyingly okay.

If the long ass drive there, and long distance on foot and by boat over the last two days hadn't been enough, they then had to convince the police to stay the fuck away from the fucking house so they wouldn't be poisoned by the wolfsbane.

Luckily, they'd been able to pass that problem off to Tony. Hope he had fun talking to the werewolf council, because based on what Daydric had said over the years, they were a bitch and a half when it came to getting them to cooperate with people outside of their species.

Whatever, it was not his problem.

Foxx's eyes watered when the next yawn forced its way out.

His problem was, despite the long ass mess of a hunt, he'd struggled to fall asleep in the hotel the night before. Mostly because of the doubts that had started to come out about his decision to jump head first into dating Harlow.

A decision…Alastair was going to scream at him about once he found out. Maybe he should text him and then turn off his phone. That way he could avoid his wrath...

At least until they made it back home. But like, twelve hours was a good amount of buffering, time wise.

Yawning again, he unzipped the face shield on his sunsuit, and pulled out his phone from the belly pocket.

FOXX

Alastair, I"ve made the decision, after some thought, to date Harlow. Do not bother trying to call or text as my phone shall be off due to lack of signal. And do not come over as I am many, many hours away with no idea when I'll be home. Love you, kisses.

He hit send and shut the fucking thing down as fast as he could. Another yawn hit again, just as the driver's side opened.

"Returned the key cards?" he asked sleepily.

"Yep, all checked out," Harlow drawled, while getting in and closing his door. "Tired?"

"Mm," Foxx grunted.

Harlow buckled in and started the car. "Buckle up, Foxx."

"Mm," he repeated, and quickly did his seatbelt.

They set off on the road, and Foxx for the life of him couldn't hold back a single yawn.

"Sleep if you are tired," Harlow rumbled.

"Don't feel like it," he said, staring blankly out of the side window at the passing road.

Really, his mind was just too full to do it.

Foxx flinched slightly at a soft brush against this hand, his eyes widening when a firm hand wound with his. His gaze snapped towards Harlow, and then down at their entwined fingers.

"What?" Harlow asked, his brow raised. "What's with that look? Can't I hold your hand?"

"If you start trying to be overly sweet to me, I may gag."

"Don't worry, brat, I'd never." Harlow chuckled. "So…that was pretty hot, having sex in that house."

Foxx snorted. More like twisted, he thought. Though…well…it had been hot. Foxx had been very turned on, there was no denying that. It probably should concern him that he'd been so turned on by having sex surrounded by dead, mutilated bodies and non-sexual body fluids. Though, he supposed, as a vampire, blood could be very sexual…

Harlow cleared his throat. "Anyway, I'm…new at this… Ugh, so…well, just…"

His brow rose upon seeing the slight flush on the man's cheeks… The human, honestly, looked…uncomfortable. But then, being uncomfortable with any sort of emotion did generally describe Harlow, so… What the fuck was he getting himself into?

Well…the human did seem to be trying, right? Thus, the awkwardness.

"New to this, as in, you have never dated anyone before, right?"

"Pretty much. So, I may fuck up…a lot, with my words. But I won't sleep around, and you won"t, and well…" Harlow trailed off before sighing. "You're not still going on that date with Iggy, are you?"

Foxx chuckled. "No, I'm not going on a date with Iggy. I was never going on a date with Iggy. Alastair was pushing it, and I lied to get him to leave me alone. But when I tried to tell you that, you jumped in with the dating thing."

Harlow frowned. "Ahh…"

"What? Regret asking now?"

"No. You're mine, so us dating makes sense."

Yep, that sentence wasn't psychotic at all, he thought with an eye roll.

"Okay…well then, just keep doing what you are doing, but add in dates, remembering my birthday and anniversaries, and we'll be good."

Harlow smirked. "I can do that." The smirk fell. "Wait…what time was it when you said yes? Was it yesterday, or was it the day before yesterday?"

"Does it matter?"

"It does if you want me to remember our anniversary."

Foxx giggled. "Based on us racing the sun on our way back, I'm pretty sure it was past midnight. So yesterday."

"Okay, yesterday it is. March 20th is our official anniversary." The man turned to him, and with his face as serious as can be, he asked, "What do you want for our first anniversary?"

For some reason, the question both baffled him, yet also made his heart flutter, which was stupid. "Harlow, our relationship is barely twenty-four hours old."

"Yes, but I think… I could, potentially, suck at picking out gifts."

Foxx bit his lip and held back his laugh. "Potentially, huh?"

"Maybe…"

"Just buy me something cute."

"I may find you cute, but what you find cute, and what I find cute is most likely vastly different."

"Just buy something as cute as me then," Foxx drawled, before huffing. "Also, I believe I've already said that you aren't allowed to call me cute."

"I feel that as your boyfriend now, I should be allowed to call you cute, amongst other things."

Foxx went total deer in headlights at the word ‘boyfriend', his cheeks heating as his heart once again fluttered. Oh fuck, he had really done it. He was dating Harlow.

"W-well, I veto that."

Harlow grumbled, "Feels unfair that you can veto that."

"Feel less, old man."

The human chuckled.

Oh, he was in deep now. Dating a psycho…yet, he felt elated. And why shouldn't he be? He liked Harlow—it was probably more than like at this point. Him getting to fully be with him should be something that he was allowed to be happy about.

Harlow likely would never ask for more than what they had right now. No declarations of love, no greater emotions, but that would be fine. Foxx didn't need his emotions returned to feel what he felt. And as long as he kept what he felt to himself, Harlow would never feel like he needed to lie to him.

Foxx wasn't entirely sure what Harlow wanted from him. He possibly just didn't want to have to share him with anyone… It would make the most sense. The human was feeling possessive, and it was likely that was all the confirmation Foxx would get. But it would be enough. Because…he was happy. Harlow made him feel…happy. And he was sure if things stayed as they were, he'd keep being happy.