“I thought you were selling those,” Connor said, nodding to them.
He didn’t want to tell himself it meant anything, maybe Max stillhad them because he hadn’t gotten around to that yet, but… he waswearingthem. That felt as though it meant something.
Connor was still wearing his own ring, too, but he’d told himselfa thousand times by now that it was stupid.
He’d just never felt stupidenoughto take it off.
“They’re worth more to me than the money would be,” Max said.“Even if I was still broke. Because… becauseyou’reworth more to me.”
Connor swallowed, finally meeting Max’s eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before,” Max said. “I wasconfused, and you were getting your career back, and I didn’t want to stand inthe way of that. Not when I wasn’t sure what I wanted, or what you wanted, or…anything, really, but the whole time you were gone I just… wished you werehere.”
“I’ve only been gone five days,” Connor said softly.
“I didn’t know if you were ever coming back,” Max responded,looking down at the floor. “And you’re still wearing yours.”
Connor risked another two steps toward him, desperate to reach outand touch him.
“I didn’t know if I was coming back, either. It broke my heartwhen you didn’t ask me to stay.”
Max looked up again, guilt written all over his face. “Then whyareyou back?”
Connor smiled a tiny smile at him, his heart clenching at what hewas about to say. “Because you have the power to break my heart. So when youcall… I’ll answer.”
“I was expecting a text,” Max said, his voice rough. The air inthe room was thick with tension between them, as though they were both waitingfor something.
One of them was going to have to say it first. Connor could dothat for Max.
“Well, the thing is, I love you,” Connor said.
Max swallowed visibly, his eyes shining as he searched Connor’sface.
“And I wasn’t happy,” Connor continued, unable to stop himself nowthat he’d started to open up. “I thought I wanted my career back, and I had it,but… it was hollow, because I found something here that I wanted more, and Ididn’t have it. And that’s you. I want… you. You promised me forever, and Iknow the wedding was fake, but… Iwantit. With you.”
Max stood, closing the gap between them. Now it was Connor’s turnto look up.
“I meant it,” Max said. “I love you, too.”
Connor’s face split into a smile so broad it made his cheeks hurt.He could feel tears welling up in his eyes, but he would have cried in front ofthe whole world right now, just to hear that again.
He reached up, framing Max’s face with his hands, and pressedtheir lips together. Max made a soft, needy noise, wrapping his arms aroundConnor’s waist.
Connor’s heart swelled, making his chest feel so full it mightburst. Max meant it.
Max loved him.
They didn’t have to lose each other.
Connor could have stayed like this forever. Safe in Max’s arms,secure in the knowledge that he wasn’t alone in his feelings, excited to seewhere they were going next.
“I love you,” he repeated, moving his hands to Max’s neck andrubbing their noses together.
“I love you, too,” Max said, Connor’s heart flipping over as heheard it. He wasn’t going to get tired of that anytime soon.
Max leaned in, parting his lips as he kissed Connor this time, onehand moving to the back of his head to hold him in place. Max’s tongue dartedout, barely wetting Connor’s lips, just enough to make the pit of his stomachlight up with arousal.
“Gross,” came a voice from the bed.
