Page 29 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: August

He gently tugged it from between Auggie’s lips. “And you deserve it, Auggie. You deserve all this. You deserve me. You are enough, just as you are. I promise you.”

He wiped the tear off Auggie’s cheek. “I want these to be happy tears.”

Auggie nodded and took a hiccupping breath. “They are.”

“Good.” He pulled Auggie close and hugged him tightly. “I have you. I want to always have you, if you’ll let me. Now open your gift.”

Auggie carefully undid the paper, then opened the box, his breath catching when he did. “This is the key to…”

“The house. I want you to live here with me so we can be together. So that when I’m busy, I can still come home to you. And when you have to work, you can come home to me.”

“You didn’t have this made in the last two days,” Auggie said slowly, wheels clearly turning in his brain.

“Nope. I had it made the day after you stayed overnight.”

“So you want me to move in. Already? Are you sure?”

“I do, and I am. But if you’re not, you can just use it to come over whenever you want. I have faith that you’ll eventually believe what I say and that we’ll be together forever. My forever boy.”

“Oh. Oh. Oh.” Auggie flew into his arms, holding on tightly to him. Thor hugged his boy, holding him just as hard.

“I love you, boy,” he murmured softly.

Auggie drew back enough to look up at him, eyes shining. “I love you too.” Then Auggie took a deep breath and added, “Daddy.”