Page 43 of Bales and Brawn

“Did you mean what you said back there? About falling in love?” He bites his bottom lip.

“I did, but it just came out in the moment. I’m sorry. Is it too much, too soon?”

“It’s perfect. I love you too,” he says, and this time I kiss him, long and hard until we both need to catch our breath.

“Let’s go home,” he says, and I start the truck.

“You called it home,” I say as I pull out into the traffic. I think my heart might burst from happiness. I glance at him and he breaks out into a wide grin, all white teeth and sparkling eyes.

“Yes, I did.”

EPILOGUE

DEVIN

One Month Later

“What have you done with Zane?” Sandy asks as we join him and Nova at their table in Pints and Pool. “He’s all smiley these days. It’s disturbing.” He gives a mock shudder.

Zane rolls his eyes but doesn’t lose his smile.

“You’re just jealous you don’t have a handsome muscly man looking after you,” Nova giggles.

“Oh, tell me about it.” Sandy sighs wistfully. “All the best guys are taken. How can I live in a town as gay as Foggy B and not be able to find someone for me?”

“You were the first person in this town I met.” I shrug. Sandy’s eyes slide past me to Zane.

“Clearly you prefer the rough around the edges, farm boy types, with dirt under their nails” he says scathingly, picking up his drink with his perfectly manicured and painted nails to show his point.

“Hey!” Zane exclaims. “I’m sitting right here.”

“Do you know our problem, Nova? We’re too pretty for this town. We should move to the city.”

“You are not moving to the city,” Zane growls, and Nova smirks. It took enough for Zane to agree to him going to college in Sacramento in the fall. I think he’d have a heart attack if he thought Nova wanted to stay there.

“C’mon, Nova, let’s go and choose our karaoke songs,” Sandy announces and rises, dragging Nova with him.

“Sometimes I think Sandy’s a bad influence on Nova,” Zane says and shifts a bit closer to me, even though there’s more room now we’re on our own. Not that I’m complaining. Some days I can’t get enough of Zane and want to touch him all the time. He’s plenty hands-on as well.

The last month has been amazing. I’ve moved into the farmhouse, which I’m glad of. Clive is doing alright, though I know things aren’t getting easier for him. Arlene likes to fuss over us all. At least once a week Zane asks me if I’m getting restless, but I’m not. It sometimes feels strange, but most of the time it feels perfectly natural that I feel so at home at the farm. The first cut of hay is nearly done, and I’ve planned a few days away. It’s a surprise for Zane. I know if I asked him, he’d say no. But I’ve talked to Arlene about it and she’ll be there for Clive. It’s only a few days, as many as we were at the cabin for. I decide this is the night to spring it on him.

“Have you seen the Golden Gate Bridge?” I ask.

“Of course not,” he replies, frowning. “I said I’d not been anywhere.”

“You said you’d not left the state, and San Francisco is still in Cali.”

“Still no,” he replies.

“That’s good, then. Neither have I, and I want to see it. I’ve booked us a trip there in two weeks.”

He stares at me with a range of emotions passing over his face. I don’t think he’ll be mad, but sometimes you can never tell.

“There’s no point in me protesting, is there?” he says eventually.

“Nope.” I take that as a triumph. “We’ll be away for four nights. We’re only a few hours away, and Arlene and Nova will be there for the feed store and your dad.”

“You’ve really planned this, haven’t you?”