He saw himself as he was, years ago, dashing from room to room, bent over under the weight of an overstuffed backpack, praying his study group would finish in time for him to get home and have dinner with Joshua.
I was in such a rush then.
Always afraid there wouldn’t be enough hours in the day to do everything I needed to do in order to succeed, be in the top percentage, score above the curve.
He huffed out a soft, self-deprecating laugh.
Now? All I care about is that he’s happy.
And I’ve finally figured it out: I don’t have to do anything to make that happen except be there and love him.
And, man—that’s the easiest job on earth.
He openedthe door to the crisp Virginia afternoon, the sun low in the sky and casting long shadows across the campus green. The breeze smelled faintly of cut grass and coffee.
He strolled to his car and drove home with the windows down, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gear shift, easy and unhurried. For once, there was no rush. No case to prep. No ghost to chase.
When he pulled into the driveway, the house—theirhouse—looked almost exactly as it had before the fire. But not quite. Everything wasbigger. The porch had been rebuilt, and the siding was new. But Joshua’s wind chimes, bought in Killarney, still hung beside the door, their music soft and familiar.
He stepped inside.
Joshua was in the kitchen, still wearing his dress slacks and white shirt from work, sleeves rolled up, shoes tossed casually to the corner. He was stirring something that smelled like heaven.
He looked up, eyes lighting when he saw Colin. “Hey, Professor.”
Colin dropped his bag by the door. “Hey, husband.”
Joshua crossed the space and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in without hesitation, without words. Just breath and heartbeat and home. They stood like that for a long moment, the kind you don’t measure in seconds.
“I love the photo,” Colin murmured against his shoulder. “Thank you.”
Joshua smiled, his voice soft. “It’s waiting for us. Whenever we need it.”
Colin kissed his temple. “Not tonight.”
“No?”
“No. Tonight, I’m right where I want to be. I’m right where I need to be.”
“Weird being back at Slaughter Hall?”
“Familiar. Like I never left.”
“You think you’ll take on a student mentee this semester?” Joshua asked.
Colin shrugged. “If they ask.” He paused. “I wouldn’t mind it. I had people who helped me along the way. Feels right to pass it on.” He drew Joshua closer, inhaling deeply, face buried against his neck. “How long ’til we can retire?”
“You bored already?” Joshua leaned back and ruffled Colin’s hair—but his eyes had narrowed, a sure sign of worry.
“Nope, darling boy. Not even a little. It’d be hard to be bored standing at that podium. I remember myself sitting where they sit now. How much I wanted that knowledge. How hungry I was just to…learn. To take it all in. All of it.”
He nuzzled Joshua’s cheek. “But… the thought of us, retired in Ireland…” He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “That’sthe pot of gold.” He wandered to the dining room.
Joshua turned back to the stove, calling over his shoulder, “Alex stopped by after his therapy session today, so I invited him over on Saturday. Thought we might have a ‘movie night’ if Trent, Jeff, and Sophie are up for it.”
“That sounds like heaven, my love. Let’s ask David and Nate too. Make a big shebang out of it!”
“I’ll set it up.”
