EPILOGUE
CLAY
Two years later...
It’s Monday morning, and the gayborhood is slowly waking up as I cruise back into town, my truck full of flowers.
I usually take an overnight trip to visit Allen and his husbands. This time, though, I tacked an extra day on to fix some stuff around the house, repairs they couldn’t get to themselves. And I wanted a little more time away from Buffalo before what I’m about to do, just to get my head clear.
It was a good visit, but I’m glad to be home, and eager to see Nicholas.
First, though, I have a special delivery. Allen was showing me his bouquet skills, and he did me a favor, pulling together a mini-masterpiece, which I’m dropping off for Nicholas’s mom.
I’m going to propose soon. Nicholas doesn’t expect any big romantic gestures from me, but I still intend to get it right, and that means getting it right with his family, too.
I already have a great relationship with Luana and Reymond. They treat me like a part of the family and welcome me withopen hearts. I’ve done my best to accept it and show them the same back, although I know I’m awkward sometimes still.
These days, I don’t let the awkwardness hold me back. With Nicholas, I’ve learned to let my guard down a little. Trust other people, at least sometimes.
Wish I would have tried that in Missouri, too. Might have saved myself a lot of pain.
But I think I needed a fresh start to do it. Someone as special as Nicholas to help me see the way.
I park on the street outside his parents’ place. After running a hand through my hair, I grab the bouquet and head to the house. Halfway up the walk, though, the front door swings open, and Nicholas steps out.
“Oh, hi!” he says, surprised.
Fuck, it’s nice to see him when I’m not expecting to. “Nicholas.” I lift the vase. “Bringing your mom a bouquet, a creation of Allen. What are you doing here?” In a stylish blue blazer and daisy T-shirt, he’s clearly on the way to work.
“Breakfast with my parents,” he says quickly. “Nothing special.”
He never has breakfast with his parents. That’s strange. But I shake it off, heft the vase to the side, and pull him into a proper kiss.
“Glad you’re back,” he says.
“Me, too.”
“I know you have a busy day with the crew. Remember we have dinner plans tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Clay!” Reymond hollers from the door. “It is Clay!”
Nicholas’s parents come out into the yard. All three of them talk over each other while I grunt and nod along. Luana gives me a big hug when I hand off the flowers, and Reymond seemsto almost get teary-eyed when he rubs my shoulder and tells me I’m a good man. Which is really an overreaction, I think.
They’re constantly receiving flowers.
But I’m glad the gesture lands, anyway, and that I can show them a little of what they mean to me.
Eventually, we all go our separate ways. Nicholas catches a ride home with me and the floral delivery and, once there, immediately dips into Blossom to handle something small.
I stand on the street, taking in our home.
Sue helped us smooth things over with Jacob. Knowing why he was drawn to the neighborhood in the first place, she found him an even more desirable option for his retirement. Jacob now happily lives above the bear bar, in the condo we renovated with Sue a couple years ago. He’s become something of a wise elder to the cubs.
The second I realized I was keeping the building, I threw myself into renovations with new determination. The results paid off, and people even stop on the street to admire my work.
Putting in the hours was easy because this is our home. It’s our dream come true, and I’m going to make it a good life for my man.
