“I should finish the cleanup,” Diamond sighs as he steps back.
“You go lock up and finish the floors. I’ll deal with the kitchen. When we’re done, I’d like to take you home. With me.”
Diamond nods, and as he pushes the mop through the door to the seating area, he glances back at me. An uncharacteristic blush flushes his neck pink, and he quickly lets the door close behind him.
Diamond shuffles into my kitchen. His face still has a sleep line on one cheek, and for the first time since we’ve had mornings together, I notice how smooth his face still is.
“Mornin’, cowboy. You making coffee?”
Soft sleep pants hang on his hips, and they’re too long. They puddle over the top of his feet as he wraps his arms around my waist. After a sweet kiss, I brush my thumb over his cheek.
“You mentioned once about losing hair since your treatment. Did some just stop growing permanently? I just noticed you barely have morning scruff, and what you have is so fine.”
He leans on the kitchen island, bare chest and too-long pants, making my heart yearn for this forever.
“Yeah. It’s odd. I mean, I was lucky and still got some hair growing back. I keep it short on my head since it grows so slowly. My body hair lost its coarseness. My facial hair is the slowest, and honestly, I don’t miss shaving. I looked terrible with any kind of facial hair.” He laughs and rubs a hand over his head. “I’ll always have a baby face, and while it sucked going through all that…I like this version of me.”
“So do I,” I add before turning to take the percolator off the stovetop. “I probably would’ve liked you before too, if I’m honest.”
After pouring us each a cup, I turn to find Diamond still at the kitchen island. His chest heaves, and his fingers grip the counter so hard I almost drop the cups in my hurry to reach for him and make sure he’s okay.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Are you sick? What do you need?”
He sucks in a deep breath, filling his lungs, and shakes his head. “I’m okay. More than okay. It’s just…you mean that, don’t you? That you’d have liked me before? You would have stayed through it too, wouldn’t you?”
Tears flow down his cheeks, and my heart fucking shatters into pieces so small I’ll never find all of them as my thumbs brush away his tears.
“I mean it with all my soul, Diamond. Meeting you changed my life, and sometimes I wish I’d found you sooner. I definitely wish I had been there to make your life easier and make you feel loved like you deserved to be.”
Never in my life would I wish my partner to go through what Diamond did, but I wish I could’ve been there. Even knowing that it means I’d see him in pain. But I would have carried it for him. Eased his journey even a little, and maybe he wouldn’t be so bruised.
“Because of you, I dream more. I let myself hope that this is it. That I’ve found my person. Then you say stuff like that, and I’m a fucking weeping mess.” He barks a short laugh. “I don’t know how to love small, Rhett. I can be a lot. This is…your final warning, I suppose.”
“Final warning, huh?” Pulling him into my arms, I kiss the top of his head. “You’re not a lot because I can’t get enough of you, beautiful. Maybe it’s too fast to ask you this, but I feel like it’s the right time.” Easing back from him, he swipes at his reddened eyes and sniffles.
“If you’re asking me if you can come work at The Thirsty Cow, it’s not too fast, and it’s always yes.” He grins, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Good to know I have something to fall back on if the current job doesn’t work out, but that’s not what I was going to ask.” The box the former owner left behind still sits on the edge of thecounter. Walking over, I grab the note from the box and read aloud.
Dear Rhett,
I had many years with my wife and family in this house. It was never quiet and always filled with love. Even after she died and the kids were gone, I could still feel it in these walls. As a man with an Italian heritage like me, I’m leaving you the coffee pot. Many important conversations happen over coffee and maybe a bit of sambuca.
I hope you fill this house with love and laughter over the coffee from this pot.
You never said if you have a family, but if you do, tell them you love them every chance you get. Because one day you’ll want to, and they won’t be there to hear it.
You don’t need to stay in touch, but if you want to, I’ll leave my address and number here.
All the best, Rhett.
Kindest regards,
Josephi Spadina
My hand shakes as I lower the sheet and place it back in the box. Diamond watches silently as I exhale.
“I love you, and I want you to move in with me. I want to see this beautiful face every morning, and I want this to be our home. Together. You climbed my walls, Diamond. Even when I didn’t want anyone in, you kept coming.”
