I squeezed his hand in answer. Yes. Yes, we are.
“Dinner sounds great,” I told Mom. “Just give us a minute?”
She nodded, understanding immediately. “I’ll wait in the car. Don’t take too long or we’ll lose our reservation,” Mom finished, disappearing through the doorway.
As soon as she was gone, Kent turned to me fully, both hands now holding mine.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” I said, still trying to process everything. “The townhouse, telling your dad, the support group...”
“I would’ve done more if I could,” Kent replied, his thumbs tracing circles on my wrists. “I was ready to stand outside your apartment with a boombox if I had to.”
I laughed, the sound coming easier than it had in weeks. “God, you’re such a cliché.”
“Only for you.” His expression turned serious. “I meant what I said, James. I love you. And I’m not running anymore.”
I looked around the room…our room, and tried to imagine waking up here with Kent every morning, building a life together in this space. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
“I’m still mad at you,” I warned him, though there wasn’t much heat behind it anymore. I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close. “You’re so fucking stupid, Kent.”
Then I kissed him.
But this kiss was different from the first. It was deeper, more certain. Kent’s arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I melted into him, my body remembering exactly how perfectly we fit together.
When we broke apart, I was breathless. “For the record,” I said against his lips, “You’re still on my shit list.”
Kent’s smile was brilliant enough to light up the room. “Is that so?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “So, you better do a good job fucking me tonight to make up for it.”
His cheeks flushed, but he just held me tighter. “I think I can do that.”
We stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms in what would soon be our bedroom, and for the first time in weeks, I felt whole again. The hurt wasn’t gone completely, it would take time to heal those wounds, but the love that had brought us together in the first place was stronger.
Mom honked the car horn outside, breaking the moment.
“We should go,” Kent said reluctantly, releasing me. “Before she comes back up here and drags us out.”
As we headed toward the car where my mom waited, I couldn’t help but think about how far we’d come. From the bullied kid and his tormentor to this. Two men building a life together and choosing each other against all odds.
It wouldn’t be perfect. We’d have fights and misunderstandings. We’d have to face people who wouldn’t understand or accept us. But looking at Kent beside me, his hand warm in mine and his face lit with a joy I’d never seen before, I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
It would be worth it.
Epilogue: James
One Month Later
“You… You got a tree!” I gasped the moment I stepped into the living room, my arms laden with grocery bags. “Is it real?!”
Kent furrowed his brow. “Of course it’s real. You think I’d buy a fake tree for our first Christmas?”
I abandoned the grocery bags on the floor and rushed over to the tree, inhaling the rich pine scent that now filled our living room. It was perfect. Tall and full and vibrant green. Only white lights adorned it so far, twinkling like stars against the deep emerald needles.
“When did you even have time to do this?” I asked, running my fingers over the soft branches. “I was only gone for an hour.”
Kent moved behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. “I may have planned it while you were at that client meeting this morning. Derek helped me get it up here.”
I turned in his arms, facing him. His eyes were bright with excitement, a smile playing at his lips. In the glow of theChristmas lights, he looked younger somehow, almost boyish in his enthusiasm.
