Archie frowned. “I don’t know what’s worse—you coming in here alone, or with him.”
Brogan smirked, unable to resist poking at him. “Archie, are you jealous?” he asked, leaning back like he had all the time in the world.
Archie hesitated, then muttered, “Not really—maybe a little.”
Brogan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. He liked that Archie cared enough to be jealous, even if he’d neveradmit it outright. “This wouldn’t have happened if you’d told me you were off,” he said, leaning forward on his elbows. “Let’s do something together today before we go decorate Blue Star Diner.”
Archie’s shoulders eased, and he gave a small smile. “Sounds good.” He was clearly trying to push down the jealousy, but Brogan could still see it flickering in his eyes.
Brogan reached for his coffee, warming his hands around the mug. He glanced out the window at the slick pavement, cars sliding a little too easily.
“Don’t race in this weather. The roads are bad,” he said, softer now. He didn’t want to nag, but he couldn’t help it—Archie’s safety mattered more than his pride. And maybe that was the problem: Archie’s jealousy made Brogan grin, but his worry for him ran deeper than he liked to admit.
Chapter Four
Archie
Archie beat Brogan homeby a good fifteen minutes, the wind still clinging to his jacket like it didn’t want to let go. He parked the motorcycle, boots crunching on the frosty porch steps, and stepped into the quiet warmth of the house. The pine wreath they’d hung last night still smelled fresh, and the soft hum of the heater made everything feel cozy. He grinned, tugged off his gloves, and scribbled a quick note—Find Me—before slapping it onto the fridge with their snowflake magnet. Then he darted into the hallway closet, squeezing himself between coats and the vacuum, heart thudding with anticipation.
A few minutes later, the front door creaked open.
“Archie?” Brogan’s voice echoed through the house.
Archie held his breath, listening to the rhythm of Brogan’s footsteps, the creak of cabinet doors, the fridge opening. Then the closet knob turned.
“Boo!” Archie shouted, bursting out like a kid on Halloween.
Brogan jumped, then laughed, that warm, familiar sound that made Archie’s chest ache in the best way. “You’re ridiculous,” Brogan said, and Archie pulled him into a hug, burying his face in the crook of Brogan’s neck for a second longer than usual.
After feeding Molly and Pasha, who were more interested in kibble than chaos, they curled up on the couch, side by side, and flicked on the lights of the tree. The soft glow wrapped around them like a blanket.
“So,” Brogan said, nudging Archie’s knee, “what do you want to do?”
Archie didn’t even think. “Ice skating. On the pond.”
Brogan raised an eyebrow. “You sure? It’s freezing.”
“That’s the point,” Archie said with a grin. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
They bundled up, grabbed their skates, and walked down the snowy path, boots crunching in rhythm. The pond lay ahead, untouched and glistening under the pale afternoon light. Archie loved how quiet it was—just the two of them, no cars, no voices, just the soft hush of winter.
They sat on the old bench and laced up their skates. Archie stepped out first, a little wobbly, but he found his rhythm quickly. Brogan followed, smooth and confident, and Archie couldn’t help but admire the way he moved, like he belonged to the ice.
They skated in wide loops, chased each other in lazy circles, laughing and teasing. Eventually, they slowed down enough to hold hands, their fingers warm inside thick gloves.
“No one else is here,” Brogan said.
“Good,” Archie replied, pulling him closer. “Means I get you all to myself.”
They stopped near the center of the pond, breath fogging in the cold air. Archie leaned in and kissed him, slow and soft, the kind of kiss that made the cold vanish. Just them, wrapped in silence and snow.
“I love this,” Brogan whispered. “Just us. No noise. No judgment.”
Archie smiled, resting his forehead against Brogan’s. “Me too. You make everything feel like home.”
They skated until their toes went numb, until the sky turned dusky and the world felt like it was holding its breath. Archie didn’t want it to end.
Back home, Archie warmed up chili and melted cheese, the scent filling the kitchen. Brogan kept complaining about how cold he was, so Archie brewed hot tea and set the bowls on the table just in time.
