“I’ll be waiting,” he said. “I’ll leave the door unlocked foryou.”
He would have waited for Max forever. A few hours was nothing.
Max leaned in and kissed his cheek, squeezing his hand again.
“I love you,” he murmured softly. “And I’ll see you soon.”
Connor nodded, waving goodbye to Zoe before backing out of theroom. His heart was so full he was half-afraid again that it’d burst out of hischest.
He had Max. That was all that mattered.
This was the best day of his life.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Max pushed on the door of Connor’s apartment, finding it unlockedas promised. He smiled, slipping inside and locking it behind him, for peace ofmind while they both slept.
He was expecting to sleep for a couple of days, maybe. Declan hadgiven him as much time as he needed off, and he’d quit his job at the bowlingalley. He’d been grateful for it, but he didn’tlikeit the way he likedworking in the bookstore.
Thanks to Connor, he only needed the one job, now. Not even that,for a while at least, but he would have missed his customers if he stayed awaymore than a few days.
Max looked around the apartment, peeking into the kitchen tosearch for Connor. When he didn’t find him, he headed for the bedroom instead,figuring he had to be in there.
As predicted, Connor was curled up under the blankets, fastasleep.
Max stared at him for a few moments, his heart swelling at thethought of how lucky he was to have Connor in his life. He’d almost lost him,but Connor had come back.
Max never intended to risk losing him again.
He kicked his shoes off, and then stripped down to his underwearas quietly as he could. He didn’t want to assume anything, and a nap was morethan enough for him right now.
Besides, he could always take his underwear off later, if heneeded to.
Max climbed into the bed, being careful not to disturb Connor toomuch. If he was completely asleep, Max didn’t want to wake him. They could talklater. They had all the time in the world.
As soon as Max had settled next to him, curled up to face him,Connor’s eyes fluttered open. He smiled a small, warm smile that spread overhis features slowly as he woke, and then yawned widely.
“You’re here,” Connor said, awe in his voice.
“I promised,” Max responded, reaching out to tuck a strand of hairbehind his ear. Connor’s hair was getting long, but Max kind of liked the lookon him.
“I would have waited,” Connor murmured. “However long it took.”
Max’s heart clenched hard in his chest. Connor would have waitedfor him.
“I missed you.” Max traced the shell of Connor’s ear, wanting asmuch contact as he could get right now. He wanted to be close to Connor morethan anything. “What about your clients?”
“I’ve decided to decline their offer,” Connor said.
Max’s stomach sank. “Don’t give up your career for me. I don’tneed you to do that.”
Connor shook his head. “I’m not. Or at least… it’smostlynot for you. It’s for me. And I’m not quitting. I just… don’t want to do big,fancy weddings anymore. I got into this to share people’s joy, to make theirwedding a day they didn’t have to worry over, and I lost sight of that. Butpeople here have already been asking me about planning their weddings, and thisplace is a wedding destination for queer couples, and… I want more of that. Iwas gonna talk to Riley about leasing the barn from him, doing sweet littlebespoke weddings with a ton of handmade touches.”
A smile spread over Max’s face as Connor explained what he wantedto do, a bubble of excitement swelling up in his chest. “Tell me how I canhelp,” he said, his mind already swirling with possibilities.
Connor laughed. “Haven’t you worked hard enough for a lifetime?”he asked.
Max shrugged. “I’m starting to get into this wedding thing. I canlift heavy stuff and I’m an expert at getting glitter all over myself. If itencourages you to stay, I wanna help.”
