Mark leaned back, crossing his arms. “You don’t do that for someone you’re unsure about.”
Noah stared at them. “I’m not gonna ask how you know that, because I don’t think I want to know the answer. But yeah, he did.”
Mark and Liam exchanged a look that was half exasperation, half affection.
“You’re allowed to be scared,” Mark said softly. “It means it matters.”
“And you’re allowed to hope,” Liam added. “That means you’re healing.”
Noah pressed the heel of his hand to his eyes. “I like him so much it hurts.”
“Good,” Mark said brightly. “That means you’re alive.”
“Mark,” Liam muttered.
“What? It’s true.”
“It may be, but unless you want Noah to suffer death by platitudes, learn when to call it a day.”
Despite his churning stomach, Noah laughed.
Liam nudged him. “Go home. Text your guy. Tell him you’re thinking about him. That’s all you need to do.”
“Yeah. I… yeah.”
Mark pointed at him. “And don’t sabotage this.”
“I won’t.”
“You’d better not,” Mark fired back. “We’ve got bets riding on you two.”
“Mark.”
“What? I’m supporting local romance.”
Noah groaned, but the ache in his chest had transformed into something warmer, steadier.
He stayed a while longer, drinking his cocoa and listening as Mark and Liam spoke of their plans to adopt, how far they’d gotten through the process, how long it would take until they could finally bring a child home, and how they didn’t plan on stopping at one.
Noah was happy for them. They were going to be wonderful fathers.
When he stepped back out into the snow, he felt lighter, more certain…
And ready to try.
Eli found himself wandering the frozen river path, hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, his breath curling like smoke in the cold.
He needed air, time…
Whatever else he needed, he wasn’t sure. He only knew his heart felt too big for his ribs.
When the cold grew too much to bear, he headed back into town, past the elementary school where parents were picking up their kids. Elsie Moran waved at him from the gate.
“Eli Winters! Get over here.”
He approached with trepidation. “Hi, Elsie.”
She squinted at him. “Trouble in paradise?”
