Jake found a spot on the shoulder, a little pull-off near a creek. He put the car in park and turned to Wes. “You okay?”
“I’m going to tell him.”
Jake went very still.
“Henry. About me. About us.” Wes’s voice wavered slightly. “I don’t know when exactly. Maybe after Christmas, when things calm down a bit. Or maybe before. Whenever itfeelsright. But I’m going to tell him.”
“Wes—”
“I can’t be Alvin. I can’t wake up at seventy wondering what would have happened if I’d been brave enough to let people in. Letyouin.” He turned in his seat to face Jake fully. “And I can’t keep pretending that the most important thing in my life right now doesn’t exist.”
Jake’s eyes filled. “You don’t?—”
“Yes, I do. For me, not just for you. I need to stop hiding.” Wes reached for Jake’s hand. “I need to stop being afraid.”
“What if Henry?—”
“Then we’ll deal with it. Together.” The word felt foreign in his mouth, but right. “If you want. I mean, if you’re still?—”
Jake leaned across the console and kissed him, soft and sure. “I want. Yes, Wes. Iwant.”
When they broke apart, Wes rested his forehead against Jake’s. “I can’t promise it’ll be tomorrow, or the next day. Or that it’ll go smoothly. But I can promise it’ll happen. Soon.”
“That’s all I need to hear.” Jake cupped his face, thumb brushing over Wes’s cheekbone. “Whenever you’re ready. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Your job?—”
“I’ll figure it out. Maybe I can get a regional position, or remote work,something. But I’m not leaving Spoon.” His voice was firm, certain. “I’m not leaving you.”
Wes pulled him in for another kiss, deeper this time, trying to pour everything he couldn’t yet say into the contact. When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, the sky had darkened to deep purple.
“We should get back,” Jake said quietly. “The guys are probably wondering if I kidnapped you.”
“Let ‘em wonder a little longer.”
But Jake started the car anyway, pulling back onto the road. The temperature had dropped while they’d been parked, and the first stars were appearing overhead. On the radio, the mention of a winter weather system still developing, possible ice by early next week.
Wes listened more carefully this time. Ice storms were nothing to take lightly. Not after 2019.
“You worried?” Jake asked, noticing his attention.
“I always worry about ice. Comes with the territory.”
“We’ll keep an eye on it.”
We, Wes thought. Notyou.
We.
It was a small word, but it meant everything.
As they pulled into the farm drive, Wes could see lights on in the barn—the guys were still there, probably waiting to give him grief. Through the farmhouse window, he could make out Henry’s silhouette in his recliner.
“You want to come in?” Wes asked.
“Better not. If Tucker starts teasing, I might say something we’re not ready to announce yet.”
“Soon,” Wes promised. “When the time’s right.”
