Something warned Somers to leave the lights off, so he picked his way through the darkness. They’d lived here almost a year, and even after a year, Somers couldn’t find his way through the room without a light. He bumped into the dresser. He hit the bed. He stubbed his toe on something—he had no idea what; maybe Hazard had been ordering enormous bronze urns for their bedroom, because it sure fucking felt like it—and when he swore and hopped up and down, the ragged breathing inside the bathroom cut off. When Somers finally reached the door, he knocked.

“Go away,” Hazard said, his voice thick. “Please, John.”

Somers settled down, bracing himself in the doorway, his back against one jamb while he planted his feet against the other. He rested his head against the door. Through the thin paneling, he could feel the vibrations of Hazard’s body where the big man slumped against the other side of the door.

“I’m sorry,” Hazard said. “I’m really sorry for how I acted. I’ll be down in a few minutes, and I’ll clean everything up.”

It wasn’t exactly a comfortable spot, but Somers settled in to wait as best he could. He leaned his head back. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could make out the shape of the walls, the ceiling, their bed. The dust ruffle was snagged from the last time they’d changed the sheets, and Somers tugged it free. He wondered when the last time was that they’d washed that dust ruffle.

“John, I’m trying to be really clear about what I need right now. I need you to go back downstairs and let me have a few minutes to myself.”

“When was the last time we washed the dust ruffle?”

“Five minutes, John. That’s what I’m asking for.”

“We change the sheets every week, sometimes more if you’re feeling frisky, but I don’t know if we’ve ever washed the dust ruffle.”

“This isn’t helpful. Madeleine says I’m supposed to communicate what I’m feeling, communicate with words, I mean, and I’m really trying to communicate that right now, and you’re not listening to me.”

“Is that a thing? Are you even supposed to wash a dust ruffle?” Somers raised his head and let it thunk back against the jamb. “I’ll ask Cora.”

The door shifted in its frame as Hazard moved away from it, and Somers heard heavy steps and then running water. For what felt like a long time, but was probably just a minute, splashes interrupted the water’s flow. And then the water shut off. Steps came back. The door opened.

Arching his back, Somers twisted so he could look up at his boyfriend. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Hazard tried to step over him, but Somers caught him at the ankle. A very big ankle. A very well-developed ankle. A thick fucker of an ankle. Hazard almost dragged him out of the doorway before Somers could stop him.

“Will you let go?” Hazard kicked once, nothing serious, trying to shake Somers loose. “This is ridiculous.”