That’s met with another quiet laugh, and Ian rests his head on the window, staring out.
Right on time, I swing off the main road onto the fire lane that leads to the lake house. He pumps his fist when I park, letting out a quiet cheer, and unbuckles himself, turning to face me.
“Are you excited?” he asks. “We’ve got four months of fishing, frolicking, and fu?—”
I chuckle and clap my right hand over his mouth. “Enough. Don’t make me throw you into the lake.”
He wriggles out of my grip. “Okay, okay. Let’s unpack.”
Huh, funny—he thinks I’m not gonna give that energy back to him. “Awesome. Let’s unpack your package first.” I dart my hand down to the waist of his jeans, and he smacks my hand away.
“You,” he says, smirking at me, “are never allowed to change.”
“Wasn’t planning on it, unless you were talking about my clothes.”
“Feel free to change out of those.”
I don’t, since I’m already dressed appropriately—old T-shirt, new shorts, and a pair of boat shoes Ian bought for me “just because.” We unload the car and put the groceries away before dumping our bags in our room, and I get the deck furniture set up while Ian preps dinner. He comes out carrying a tray of meat and two beers, handing me one as I fire the grill up.
This right here is the definition of peace. The sun isstill low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow across the lake. Ian’s eyes catch in the light, and it’s almost as if they shimmer at me. My heart clenches, the way it always does when he looks at me, and I put my beer down to give him a hug. His body molds to mine, natural, practiced, and so right. I tighten my arms around him—he isn’t going anywhere, but I can’t possibly get close enough to him.
“You good, Cal?” he asks, tilting his head up.
“Uh-huh. I’m feeling cuddly.”
He snickers, checking the temperature on the grill before refocusing on me. “What else is new?”
My response is to tighten around him even more. Not leaving my embrace, he rotates his body to put the food on the grill, swaying us both from side to side. We’re silent, and it’s comfortable—waves crash against the shore, the deck creaks, and wind rustles in the trees.
Ian’s body relaxes under my arms. “I don’t know if I say this enough, but…” He lets his head roll back onto my chest. “I love you, Callum.”
Warmth spreads to every distant corner of my body. “You can never say that enough. I love you so, so much.”
I couldn’t ask for any more than what I have right now. We’ll spend summer at the lake house, and as for what comes after? College, jobs, traveling, and the rest of our lives.
A lot can change in a matter of months. I went from hoping, to running, to finally breathing. Everything I wanted for myself lies within reach, and now, I get to share that journey with Ian.
I plant a gentle kiss on the back of his neck, gazing out at the sun setting over the lake. A warm, comfortable feeling floods my body, making me smile into Ian’s hair and tighten around his shoulders, savoring every second of his presence. Wherever we go together, I belong. That much is clear to me.
I really traded in one home for another—darkness for the dream I’m living.
EPILOGUE
IAN
TWO YEARS LATER
APRIL
I slide the roll of tape across the final box, sealing the seams shut.
Graduation was a week ago, but this was months in the making. I smile, tossing the tape dispenser into our tote bag for random supplies, and I step back to survey the scene.
The furniture is padded and wrapped, boxes are stacked, and it’s time to head out.
Three years of life at this trusty apartment are all packed up and ready to go.
Two and a half of those years have been spent with Callum, and that number is only going to go up.
