Author's Note - Submitted for RaeKitano's 2015 Valentine Day challenge - how do your characters celebrate their love - or not?  This story was originally written for @rskovach 14 Days of Valentine Collection (2014) but I think it fits this criteria perfectly.  I would have written a new story but I hurt my arm earlier this week and I'm struggling to write even this short note!

Justin looked in the mirror and straightened his silk tie a fraction of an inch. Fastidiously he gave a quick brush to each shoulder, removing any stray hairs from his grey suit and checked that his teeth were clean and his breath fresh. Finally satisfied, he squared his shoulders and went out of the bathroom. It was his first day on the job and he wanted to look as smart and professional as he could. 

Abercrombie, Smith, and Unwin was an old established law firm, conservative and traditional. He was doing his best to fit in. If he looked suave, dressed conservatively and acted like his own father, no-one at the firm would ever need to know that he was gay. Not that he would lose his job if the firm found out, at least he was pretty sure he wouldn't, but he bet anything he would be stereo typed. Given the civil jobs, not the criminal cases he yearned for. 

Naturally enough, Jeremy disapproved. Strongly. "It's 2014 for heaven's sake, not 1914!" he protested. "You should be able to be yourself. How will we ever get equality if gays keep pretending to be straight?" 

"I'm not pretending to be straight," lied Justin, from the opposite side of their kitchen table. "Well, only until I get established there, prove myself to be a competent criminal lawyer." 

"Hmm," muttered Jeremy, drawing angry rectangles on the notepad beside him. He drew little handles on them.  

"I am not in the closet," Justin protested, getting angry himself. "You should know that better than anyone." 

"Well it sure seems like it." 

Justin had grabbed his shiny new leather briefcase and stalked out, he couldn't afford to get into a fight now and be late for work. He continued the argument in his head all the way to the train station and into the city. By the time he reached his office, 'Jeremy' had agreed, though reluctantly, that he was doing the right thing. 

XXX 

Jeremy felt miserable all day, wondering whether he should call Justin at work to apologise. He hated fighting with him. Not that he thought he had anything to apologise for, except for the fact that he had upset his lover. He still thought he was right to criticise his decision, but maybe he could have been a bit more diplomatic. 

He sighed and ran a hand through his shoulder length seal brown hair. He supposed he had it easy in his own job. Everyone expected an interior designer to be gay. Perhaps he should be more sympathetic, but ... He hated it when Justin pretended to be straight, it made him feel as if he, Jeremy, didn't count. 

He had almost talked himself into apologising over dinner when Justin sent him a text message at about four o'clock to say that he wouldn't be home until late. He was going out after work for a few drinks with his new colleagues. 

Well, two could play at that game. He didn't have to sit around moping at home. He had friends, he could go out too and have a few drinks.  

Jeremy looked critically in the mirror and applied a little more blue eye shadow. He smiled in approval, that was more like it. The cobalt blue was exactly the same colour as his silk shirt, it had arrived only that week from his favourite online shop. It had silver baroque embroidery in two strips down the front, very stylish. His silver hoop earrings had a matching cobalt stripe. Black satin trousers completed the ensemble. All in all, he thought he looked pretty sick! 

Justin couldn't believe it when he looked up and saw Jeremy walking into the front bar at the World's End. Only a blind man could have looked at him and not known instantly that he was totally gay. Was he deliberately trying to sabotage him? Then he saw that he was with Andy and Sam. His anger drained away to be replaced by anxiety. It was just sheer bad luck, that they were both here at one of their favourite pubs at the same time. He could only hope that Jeremy would see that he was with work mates and ignore him. 

Jeremy didn't notice him at first. He was at the bar, buying the first round of drinks when he turned and saw Jeremy in the corner, sitting with two other men in suits. Without thinking his face lit up and he waved. Then he started to come over. 

"Friend of yours?" asked Scott Evans curiously. He worked at the desk next to Justin. 

Justin's mind went blank. He honestly didn't know what he was going to say until the words came out. He stood up and gripped Jeremy's shoulder, giving it a slight warning shake. "Scott, Martin, this is Jeremy. My ... uh ... cousin." 

"Pleased to meet you," Jeremy said, his smile fixed like that on a store dummy. He nodded politely and pulled away from Justin's hand. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." 

He went back to Andy and Sam and sat down, trying to pretend that his whole world had not deflated like a burst balloon in front of his face. His two friends were staring at him in concern, evidently he wasn't fooling any one. He finished his drink in two gulps and stood up. "Sorry guys, I'm just not in the mood any more." 

The house was empty when Justin came home an hour later. Jeremy wasn't answering his phone either. Justin rubbed knuckles into his tired eyes. He had really blown it this time, how could he have been so insensitive? Jeremy would be upset. Naturally. But he'd understand why he'd had to say what he had, wouldn't he? He'd know he hadn't meant any thing personal. 

Who was he kidding? He'd be lucky if Jeremy spoke to him for a week.  

It was almost midnight and still no sign of Jeremy. Where could he be? Justin was getting really worried now. He dithered around for ages before calling Andy and Sam. He didn't like to disturb them at this time of night, but he needed to know if Jeremy was still with them. 

"Hullo?" a sleepy voice answered. 

"Andy, it's Justin. Do you know where Jeremy is? He hasn't come home." 

"Ah." Andy cleared his throat. "He's here, he's spending the night on the couch." 

"Can I speak to him?" 

"Sorry, he's asleep." Actually passed out would probably be more accurate.  

"Can you wake him up? I really need to speak to him, to explain." Justin gripped the phone tightly. 

"Sorry Justin, he doesn't want to talk to you. Maybe tomorrow." 

"But-" 

"Just leave it huh? Honestly, he's not in a state to talk to anyone right now." 

"Oh. Right. Tomorrow then. Er, thanks for looking after him." 

"Well, someone had to!" Andy answered sharply, before hanging up. 

Tomorrow stretched into Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and still Jeremy wouldn't speak to him. At first Justin was penitent, then he got angry and then he got frantic. Jeremy had to see him. He had to apologise, tell him that he'd been an idiot, that of course he loved him more than a stupid job.  

If he could only explain, Jeremy would forgive him. He was certain. They loved each other. He refused to believe he had shattered their relationship beyond repair. 

Saturday came around and he found himself alone at the kitchen table, the muesli untouched in his bowl, the newspaper taunting him with today's date. February the thirteenth, tomorrow was Valentine's Day. The box of chocolates he had bought for Jeremy was still in the cupboard, the card untouched in its blank envelope. 

He had never felt so empty before. This couldn't go on, he had to do something, something that would tell Jeremy how much he meant to him. 

Jeremy woke up the next morning to sounds of a commotion outside the apartment. Andy and Sam had a two storey unit in a block of eight, four each side of a private road allowing access for owners cars. 

It sounded as if someone was out there on the pavement with a radio. Damn noisy neighbours. He turned over and was just about to put the pillow over his head when he realised he recognised the song. What the-? It was "What a Beautiful Day" by Brett Every, a song about two guys getting married. Someone was outside playing gay love songs. 

His heart leapt into his mouth. It couldn't be? Could it? Not Mr Conservative I-wanna-be-straight himself? No, it was probably Andy or Sam trying to cheer him up. He inched reluctantly towards the window, already preparing himself for disappointment. 

And there was Justin, wearing his best suit, a portable CD player next to him, looking up, down on one knee on the pavement.