“So?” Wade said.
“So I’m glad he’ll be around.” Her words came with a gentle smile to take the sting out of them. They all knew Wade would outlive them, and while that fact was one he never liked to dwell on, it wasn’t something they fully shied away from.
Wade knew he’d always be there for their pack and the generations that followed. But it was nice to know he’d get to share that with someone.
“Yeah,” Wade said. “Me too.”
He hadn’t ever been in a relationship before, and while he didn’t know what to expect, he knew what he wanted—a devotion like what was shared between Patrick and Jono, as well as Sage and Marek. He’d had a front-row seat over the past several years to what love looked like, and Wade thought he’d felt it in the way Riordan had touched him, had held him.
Wade stayed over that night, reinserting himself into the flow of the pack and the bustle of New York City. Lying in the bed in his room that had been his for years, Wade video called Riordan, who answered with an easy smile. “Did you make it home,mo chroí?”
“Yeah. I told everyone about you.”
“Yeah?”
“Sage did a deep dive on you.” Riordan winced, and Wade laughed. “Nah, it’ll be fine. She’s happy for us.”
“I’m glad.”
Wade settled down in bed and smiled at Riordan. “How’s everyone in Boston?”
They talked until midnight before reluctantly ending the call, and Wade went to sleep missing Riordan breathing beside him. He woke the next morning to a text from Riordan that put a smile on his face.
Morning, mo chroí. Hope you have a great day with your pack. I know you missed them. Call me later whenever you want.
Wade didn’t stop thinking of Riordan over the next few days. The texts they exchanged and the video calls weren’t a replacement for having the other man by his side like in Boston, but it was good enough for now.
Three days later, Wade left his condo, ready to head to the bar, and rocked to a halt on the sidewalk, eyes going wide at the sight of Riordan getting out of a taxi in Manhattan with a suitcase and a box of what smelled like cannoli. “What are you doing here?”
“What?” Riordan replied teasingly. “You’re not happy to see me?”
Wade scoffed and then couldn’t help but drag Riordan into a kiss once he made it onto the sidewalk. The carry-on nearly rolled away, and the box of cannoli was held to the side so they weren’t crushed as Wade did his absolute best to map out the shape of Riordan’s mouth with his tongue.
“Hi,” he got out when they finally broke apart. “I missed you. Are those for me?”
“Freshly made today from Modern Pastry, the superior cannoli shop.” Riordan kissed the corner of his mouth, his arms tightening around Wade. “And I missed you too,mo chroí.”
“I was about to head to the bar. I’m meeting the others there. You can meet them too.”
Riordan winced slightly but gamely agreed to a date night in pack territory. “Sure. Sounds fun.”
Wade laughed. “Don’t worry. They like you because I like you.” Wade stepped around him to grab the escaped carry-on and then took Riordan by the hand, tugging him toward the front door. “Let’s put your stuff away.”
He happily led Riordan back inside his home, showing off his condo that no one but the core of his pack had ever been inside. It was his home, the place where he hid his hoard, and Riordan didn’t say anything about all the things Wade couldn’t bring himself to part with.
“How are Saoirse and Donal doing?” Wade asked.
“Good. They’re good. We’re working on finding a new place to live in Boston.” Riordan dragged his gaze away from Wade’s shot glass collection and all the funny sayings on them, a hesitant look in his warm brown eyes as he set down the box of cannoli. “We’re also looking for a home in Manhattan. Well, I am.”
Wade stared at him, heart beating fast as those words sank in, no translation needed. “You are?”
“Figured if we’re going to make this long-distance relationship work, I should have a place to stay. I have an appointment with a real estate agent tomorrow.”
They’d talked about it over the past few days, how they each had their responsibilities to their pack and clan that they couldn’t and wouldn’t give up. But spending time in each other’s cities every other week or so was possible so long as there weren’t any emergencies to deal with. Marek had already promised Wade he’d buy him a private jet for both of them to use.
Wade knew he and Riordan had the support of their pack and clan, and they could make this work, because he wasn’t giving Riordan up, not for anything.
“You don’t need to buy a place in Manhattan. You can share with me.” The idea of Riordan living in Manhattan but not living here with him made Wade want to lock the door and keep Riordan right where he was.
