“Even if who I am changes?” Jared asked around Kyrone’s finger. “Even if I get worse?”
“Yes.”
Jared flopped forward against Kyrone. He was sure he should be done with crying, but even though he was utterly exhausted and wrung out, the tears kept coming.
“Through good times and bad,” Kyrone whispered in his ear. “I love you.”
Jared stopped fighting the tears. As he huddled against Kyrone, he let them all flood out along with grief and joy, pain and hope. Kyrone held him through it, kissing him and whispering sweet nothings to him. Faye stayed too, stroking his back. When the tears finally stopped, she got him a drink, which he dutifully sipped. He was exhausted, but he felt better for having let go of everything.
“I’d better go shut the shop,” Faye said. “Stay here as long as you need. I’ll be downstairs.”
“Thanks, Faye,” Kyrone said.
Jared listened to her footsteps going down the steps. When he could no longer hear her, he sighed, the remaining tension in his body drifting away.
“What about children?” he asked. His voice was croaky and weak, and his eyes were too heavy to keep open.
“You’re all I need,” Kyrone promised. “Kids would be a wonderful bonus, but I don’t need them to be happy.” He brushed his lips over Jared’s ear. “Can I come with you to the next appointment with your neurologist?”
Jared nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Do you feel up to going home?” Kyrone asked. “We can cuddle up together, and you can get some sleep. You must be exhausted.”
“I am.”
“I’ll call a taxi,” Kyrone suggested.
“Don’t you have to work tonight?”
“I’ll call in sick. You need me more.”
The day before, Jared would have objected, but he knew he needed Kyrone to stay with him. He wasn’t alone, and he was allowed to have bad days.
“Move in with me,” Kyrone whispered sincerely.
Jared blinked fiercely. Had he imagined Kyrone’s question?
“Move in with me,” Kyrone repeated, a chuckle in his voice. “Or at least think about it, and give me an answer when you’re more with it.”
“That’s a big step up from offering me a drawer.”
“I know, but I’m serious.”
“I’m about to lose half my wage, Ky.”
“And? You spend most of your time at my place anyway. I could move in with you, but your bed isn’t very comfortable, and your neighbours aren’t exactly tolerant of noisy sex.”
Jared laughed, which weirdly returned a shred of his energy.
“Moving into my place is the better plan,” Kyrone said. “You can marry me too.”
The air rushed out of Jared’s lungs. “I’m asleep,” he whispered. “I’m dreaming.”
Kyrone kissed him, gently biting his lower lip as their mouths parted. It was hard enough to prove that Jared was, in fact, awake.
“We’ve not been together long enough,” he protested. “And I definitely don’t want you asking me these things because you pity me.”
Kyrone snorted. “I don’t pity you, babe. I’m in awe of you. I love you, Jared. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
