adjective

       • nearest; immediately preceding or following; adjacent.

adverb

       • in the nearest time, place, rank, etc; on the first subsequent occasion. 

"Troye-"

"No," Troye cuts Connor off, moving towards the television to pop in the movie his boyfriend's demanded he watch. Connor sits six feet away on the couch, one leg propped up as the other curls its toes into the floorboards. He knows that Connor's expression will be concerned and desperate if he turns around, so instead he bends down to slide the disc into the drive.

"Don't you think-"

"No," he snaps, a little harsher than intended as he finishes setting up the DVD and powering on all the necessary electronics. He sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face, before turning to move back towards the couch with an apologetic expression. He doesn't want to lash out at Connor, he really doesn't, and he doesn't understand why he has. It's the first time since the meeting last week that they've even brought it up, tiptoeing around it like it's a black hole just waiting to suck them both in.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles, sinking down beside Connor and pulling his boyfriend's legs into his lap. He runs his hands across them, the fabric of his jeans catching as he goes, and closes his eyes for a moment before pursing his lips. "I don't want to talk about it."

Connor looks hesitantly reluctant to agree, but lets out a deep breath a moment later nonetheless. He leans forwards, swings one leg off Troye's lap until he's straddling him, and kisses him hard. By the time he's moved back off his lap, the movie has flickered to life across the room.

They don't talk about it.