I was already moving before he finished the sentence.
He caught up somewhere toward the bottom of the hill, and we arrived at the trailhead together, breathing hard and smiling like idiots.
Being in love was kinda fun. Especially being in love with Matthew.
I was home.
Not almost there.
Just…home.
EPILOGUE
JOSHUA
(Six Months Later)
It was cold enough out on the deck that I brought out the thick blanket Matthew kept at the foot of the bed. I had it pulled around both of us where we were wedged together on the sectional, watching the last of the light disappear off the end of the horizon.
Matthew sipped a beer while I finished off my hot chocolate. "You remember the first morning we sat out here?" His voice was nostalgic as he squeezed my hand.
"When you handed me coffee before I was even fully awake."
"You looked so cute with your hair all crazy, wearing my clothes."
I laughed. "Yeah, I wanted to bolt, but I was so damn tired. And I didn’t want to be rude."
He took a drink of his beer and scoffed. "Thank god you have such misplaced manners."
"Also, I think I already had a crush." I pulled the blanket tighter and put my head on his shoulder. “Obviously.”
He looked back at the water as the last hint of orange evaporated. “That was definitely not obvious.”
"Well, at that point, I just didn’t want you to regret what you did." I sighed, still embarrassed and guilty for the choices I made that night, even if they did lead me to Matthew.
He was quiet for a second. "I would never regret helping someone, but helping you was the best decision I’ve ever made."
“I think so too.” I wrapped my hands around his arm and squeezed him. "Oh, I forgot to tell you Sal put me on the Burlingame job starting next week." It was a longer commute but proof that he trusted me to work on a job that he wasn’t physically at. "Trey is managing the project and said he’d only do it if I could go with him."
Matthew kissed the side of my head. "Trey’s a smart guy. He knows you’re reliable and smart…and sexy."
I laughed. "You think Trey thinks I’m sexy?"
"If he has eyeballs, he does." Matthew chuckled and pretended to bite my neck. “But you’re all mine.
"I definitely am." I ran my hand across his stomach and up to his chest. “Because you have something no one else has.”
He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, I’m proud of you. Sal is too. He says you’re one of his best employees.”
I looked back at the water and nodded. There wasn't a response that didn't make me embarrassingly emotional. Even now,months into therapy and a loving, healthy relationship, I still got choked up at the idea of someone being proud of me.
We sat out there until it was fully dark, and then we went inside. Matthew heated up the leftover soup from the night before. I sat at the counter and watched him move around the kitchen.
“Can I help?” I still asked every day even though he rarely let me.
“Nope.” He sliced up the fresh bread he’d baked earlier and handed me a slice with a big pat of butter on it. “You know this is my love language.”
“Making me fat?” I bit into the bread and moaned. It was so good.
