Epilogue
“Bacon sandwich, as promised,” Isaac said, coming to rest beside Julian on the edge of the bridge they’d found themselves on, looking out over the new and exciting city Isaac had whisked him away to.
They only had a few days to themselves in London, but Julian planned on making the most of them.
He accepted the bacon sandwich eagerly, having gone without breakfast and trailed behind Isaac through the city until they found somewhere they could get their hands on one.
It was completely different to the one Isaac had made him two years ago, when there’d been nothing else in his fridge for breakfast, but just as good.
“This is good,” Julian said around his third bite. “Worth the jet lag.”
They both leaned over the bridge railing, watching the locals go by in silence, shoulders brushing together. Quiet and comfortable with each other, so close now that it felt strangenotto be touching, sometimes.
“Think you’ll keep coming along with me, then?” Isaac asked. He was desperately trying to sound casual, which Julian knew meant he was up to something.
The last time he’d sounded like this, though, it’d ended in him awkwardly presenting Julian with a cock ring they’d both gotten a lot of fun out of, so Julian was inclined to just let Isaac work through whatever he was nervous about.
“I could be persuaded,” Julian said, smiling. “Always dreamed of seeing the world with you.”
“Me too. With you, I mean,” Isaac said. “Which is why… I was thinking…”
Julian turned to look at him, watching Isaac’s face as a hundred different emotions played out over it.
He reached out, taking Isaac’s hand and clasping their fingers together. “I’ll say yes,” Julian murmured, knowing exactly what was coming.
His heart swelled with excitement, eager to hear the words even though he really didn’tneedto, even though he’d already given his answer.
Isaac’s mouth fell open, obviously shocked that he was so easy to read, but he recovered quickly enough.
“I was thinking we should get married,” he said hurriedly. “That’s, uh… that’s what you’re saying yes to, right?”
Julian grinned. He felt a little as though his heart had burst, an overwhelming rush of warmth and feeling in his chest, but he didn’t care.
He’d been fantasizing about this since he was thirteen.
“Yeah, that was it,” Julian confirmed, unable to stop himself laughing.
He was so damnedhappy. Happier than he could ever remember being.
“Well… good,” Isaac said, his whole face red as he looked out over the bridge again.
Julian shuffled a little closer, letting his head rest against Isaac’s shoulder. He sighed a deep, happy sigh, letting the surest sense of peace and contentment he’d ever felt wash over him.
This was right. This was exactly what he wanted, for the rest of his life.
“I’ve been wanting to ask that for months,” he admitted. “Couldn’t find the right time to do it.”
“And this is the right time?” Julian asked, chuckling again.
“No, but… I got impatient. I don’t wanna wait anymore. I know what I want, and it’s you.”
“I already said yes,” Julian pointed out. “You don’t need to sell it.”
Isaac let out a shuddering breath, the nervous tension he’d been holding onto finally easing up. “Still sinking in,” Isaac said. “Really?”
Julian laughed, joy blooming in his chest. “Really. Definitely. I’d love to marry you.”
Isaac reached out to him, pulling him into a desperate kiss. Laughter bubbled up in Julian’s throat, his heart soaring as Isaac kissed him, in front of everyone, so easily.
