Rye’smompulledhercar up into the driveway at Jake’s house and parked right behind Jake’s sedan. She didn’t shut off the engine, but as soon as she shifted the car into park, she turned and pulled Rye into an embrace.
He could feel her shaking a bit, but at the same time, he felt all of her love and all of her support, especially when she whispered in his ear, “I love you, sweetie.”
“I love you, too, mama,” he whispered back, and he kissed her cheek and hugged her as best he could in the small space of the car.
Her words from earlier, words full of understanding and support, still surrounded him as he straightened up, blinking back tears of his own. She was still crying. He bit his lip, then started to open his mouth to say something. Something like,Maybe it doesn’t have to be tonight, mama. But she shook her head.
“This is what’s right for you, Ryan. I believe that,” she said softly, echoing what she’d told him not more than an hour ago. “I’m crying, yes, but there’s joy in it too. I love to know you’re happy and loved and safe, and Jake gives you all of that. You’ll always have a home with me. You’ll always be my baby. I’ll always, always love you. But I believe... you have another home now, too. With Jake. And I’m so grateful for that.” She wiped a tear from her cheek and then offered him a tight but genuine smile. “Now go on, get outta here. I love you, sweetie.”
His chest felt so tight, full of love and gratitude for his mom, and he wiped his own tears off his cheeks, leaned over, and gave her one more hug before climbing out of the car. Then he grabbed his duffle bag from the back seat and headed up to the front porch, which was well lit by both Jake’s porch light and the headlights on his mom’s car.
With a slow exhale, Rye lifted his hand and rang the doorbell. Then he waited. It was a good minute or more before he heard sounds from inside the house, and he saw lights come on through the front windows.
Nervousness churned in his stomach, and it onlythenoccurred to him that maybe he should have texted Jake first to make sure this was okay. He almost turned around and headed back to his mom’s car, but then the door handle started to turn. He forced himself to take a slow, deep breath and lifted his eyes as the door inched open.
Jake stood on the other side, his sleepy eyes filled with confusion but also something else—hope, maybe?—and he blinked and shook his head. “Hi, Rye, um...”
Without a word of explanation, Rye dropped his duffle bag and stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Jake’s waist, pressing his cheek against Jake’s chest. And that weird feeling he’d been having all day—whatever it was—disappeared, replaced with love and a sense of wholeness.
Thiswas where he belonged. With Jake. This was...this was home.
“I missed you,” he mumbled, squeezing Jake to him or him to Jake, he wasn’t really sure which.
In response, Jake’s arms came around him slowly, the embrace surrounding him with warmth and love. “I missed you, too.” Jake kissed the top of Rye’s head, and his arms seemed to tighten around Rye, holding him even closer.
Rye let out a ragged breath and then said, “Can I... can I stay? Here, with you? I...” He trailed off, unsure of how exactly to explain all of the feelings he’d been struggling with over the last few hours. He pulled back and looked up, and his boyfriend’s kind eyes gazed back at him. He saw love, first and foremost. Love and concern, and yes, hope. So much hope. It filled his heart with joy. He took another breath and then tried to explain, speaking as clearly and slowly as he could so maybe his words wouldn’t fail him. “As soon as you left today, I just didn’t feel right, and it took me all afternoon and evening to figure out why. And it’s that I want to be here, with you. Wherever you are. Because that’s... that’s where I feel safest and the most comfortable. That’s where I’m happy and where I can really be myself. That’s where... that’s where home is now.”
Rye’s jaw was trembling, and he slid his hands around to Jake’s chest and then up to cup Jake’s cheeks as he stretched up. Jake didn’t hesitate; he bent down to meet Rye, and they kissed, out there on Jake’s front porch, in the light of his mom’s car’s headlights, in their pajamas, at just after midnight. A slow kiss full of love and acceptance and joy.
Jake pulled back first, though he kept his arms tight around Rye, and Rye’s heart pounded in his chest as he waited for Jake’s answer. It was clear, even before Jake said the words. Rye could see the answer in his eyes, and it was unmistakable.
Jake dipped back down and kissed Rye’s forehead. “I would love it if you stayed,” he murmured, his voice catching. “It didn’t feel the same without you here.”
It shouldn’t have surprised Rye that Jake felt the same way, but relief hit him anyway, and he nodded and slid his hands back down Jake’s chest and then around his waist. And he rested his head against Jake, letting his body relax into his boyfriend’s embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Jake shuddered, and then Rye felt a light kiss on the top of his head. “Ilovethat you’re here.”
And with those words, any lingering worry or unease vanished. Rye pulled back and looked up at Jake and just nodded, hoping—no,knowingthat Jake would understand everything he hadn’t said. Jake’s entire expression softened—his eyes and his smile warm and full of love. And Rye felt heat rising in his cheeks.
Jake looked away for a moment, up and over Rye’s shoulder toward the driveway, and he felt Jake stiffen a bit.
“Your mom... she’s okay with this?” Jake blinked as he looked back down at Rye, and Rye nodded, though his heart ached a little.
“She’s supportive,” he said, “and . . . and she’s thankful that I . . . have you.”
Jake glanced back up, and Rye watched as he gave a small nod and wave. Then Jake stepped back, bent down, and picked up Rye’s bag for him.
“Let’s go inside?” Jake asked, and with an eager nod, Rye slipped his hand into Jake’s.
Together, they headed inside, and as soon as Rye stepped across the threshold, he knew he’d made the right decision.
“Mmm,thisis.. . this is perfect,” Jake said, his breath warm against the top of Rye’s head, and Rye had to agree.
He ran his hand down Jake’s chest to his stomach, smiling to himself as he felt Jake shiver. Then he slid his leg up and over the top of Jake’s and tilted his head back. Jake hummed and bent down slightly, meeting Rye in a soft, sweet kiss.
It was also perfect.
He sat up just a little and then reached down and grabbed the comforter, pulling it up over them, up to his shoulders, and then he closed his eyes and snuggled up against Jake, in his spot. This perfect spot where he felt loved and comfortable and safe.
