Noah: [thumbs up emoji][ [heart emoji][car emoji]
Diego opened a Spotify playlist he used when he traveled, then set his phone down. He’d be back for a proper goodbye with his friends soon. But today was about him, and as selfish as it sounded, Diego didn’t want to ruin this day with sadness or memories that he’d made during the last ten years in Houston.
Today was about the future.
Chapter Thirty-one
Brodysteppedbackinsidehis warm house, stamping the dirt off his boots. “All locked up for the night.” He took off his coat and dropped it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. The sight in front of him—Diego seated at the kitchen table helping Jonah with his homework—warmed parts of his heart that he didn’t know he had.
But why did they have a chocolate bar on the table? “What do we have here?” Brody stepped around them and headed for the fridge.
“Fractions.” Jonah looked up, a miserable expression on his face. “I don’t get how they’re the same if they have different bottom numbers.”
“It’s like how one-half is the same as two-fourths.” Diego caught Brody’s eye and winked. “I called Diana, and she said the best way to teach equivalent fractions is with a Hershey bar because you can break them into pieces.” Diego made a guilty face. “I found some in the cupboard. I hope it was okay to use them.”
“It’s for math,” Jonah added, hoping to bolster Diego’s claim.
Brody couldn’t love them more. “Okay, I get that. In the spirit of education and all that.” Then he pointed at Jace, sitting on the sofa, chocolate all over his mouth and fingers. “But what about that monkey over there?”
Diego and Jonah looked at each other. Diego shrugged. “Um, well, he just asked if he could have one too. I couldn’t say no.”
“We’ll have to work on that.” Brody dropped a kiss on Diego’s head, then Jonah’s head as he stepped out of the kitchen with his bottle of beer. “I’m gonna take a shower before bed.” He took a sip from his beer and looked over, catching Diego’s eye.
Diego nodded, his face flushing pink. Yes, they were going to celebrate tonight.
Because it was his first night at the farm, Diego tucked the boys into bed while Brody closed up the house and did a last check on the puppies. “Those pups are about ready to head out to their kennels in the barn. They’ll have more space to run around than that little room they’re living in right now.” Brody closed the bedroom door behind him.
Diego nodded. “I want you to show me all those things you do at night, your list of chores when you lock up.”
“I will, I promise. Between the increase in dogs and the boys, having you here is going to really help—other than the other benefits.” Brody glanced down at Diego’s crotch.
“Benefits?” Diego pulled off his jeans but kept a pair of pajama pants close by—just in case. “Is that how you’ll describe me to your friends?” He held a hand to his chest. “I’m appalled.”
“I’m sure you’ll find some way to punish me later.” Brody leaned in for a tender kiss. “Did you see the space in the closet that I left for you?” Brody also emptied two dresser drawers. “Is it enough room?”
“Not quite, but I put everything else in the guest bedroom for now. We can figure it out later.”
A contemplative look crossed Diego’s face, enough to worry Brody. “What are you thinking?” he asked, sitting down on the bed.
Diego shrugged as he pulled off his shirt and tossed it into the hamper. “What do I think? Eight weeks ago, I didn’t even know you were here… and today, I’m moving in.”
Brody understood that concern. “Worried?”
“Worried’s not the word. Excited. Scared, but in a good way. Like when you’re at the top of the rollercoaster and you know you’re going to love what’s next, but you still got that feeling in your stomach.” Diego laughed at the comical expression on Brody’s face as he sat down next to him on the bed. “Did that make sense?”
“Perfectly,mi amor. That’s why you’re the songwriter.” Brody kissed him again, deeper this time, and Diego leaned into it. “I’m just the guy that adores you from afar.”
“You’re much more than that,mi amor.” Diego slid his hands down Brody’s side and rested them on the top of his muscular ass. “This is also impressive.”
Brody chuckled and wrapped his arms around Diego. “I’m glad you like it, ‘cause it’s all yours.” Brody caught Diego’s gaze and held it, seeing all that heart and emotion and love, so much love, staring back at him. “I love you, Diego. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Diego lifted his face to find Brody’s mouth for another kiss, each one sweeter than the last. “I love you, Brody.” Diego smiled at him, and in his beautiful eyes, Brody saw that sweet boy he fell in love with smiling back at him, too.
He wished he could tell their younger selves that despite all the heartache and pain, they found each other in the end. They made it. “And you always will,” Brody added, his heart beating loud in his chest.
Diego took Brody’s face in his hands. “And I always will.”
Chapter Thirty-two
