Page 68 of Bear and Book

He wasn’t exactly relaxed. Elias never fully relaxed, but he wasn’t wound like a spring anymore either.

When Rafael started herding everyone toward dessert, Elias touched my wrist and murmured, “Can we step outside for a bit? Somewhere quieter.”

“Yeah,” I said immediately, not even caring if it looked suspicious. “Come on.”

We slipped away from the others and ducked around the side of the house. Rafael and Julian’s porch wrapped wide and generous, white railing gleaming under the soft glow of string lights.

It was quieter here, the sounds of the party muffled, the night alive with crickets and the occasional pop of a distant firework.

Elias exhaled like he’d been holding his breath all night. He leaned against the railing, staring out at the shadowy stretch of lawn beyond the fence.

I gave him space, standing a few feet away until he glanced at me. Then I moved closer, leaning on the rail so our arms brushed.

“They’re good people,” Elias said finally, voice low, almost like he didn’t want to admit it.

“They are,” I agreed.

“I didn’t think…” Elias trailed off, swallowing, his throat working. “I didn’t think I’d ever belong anywhere again. Not after Jason. Not after the way things ended. I thought maybe I wasn’t meant to.”

His words gutted me, sharp and raw. I wanted to pull him into my arms right then, shield him from every ghost that still haunted him. But I didn’t interrupt. I let him speak.

Elias went on, voice breaking around the edges. “Jason took more from me than I realized. Not just time, not just trust. He made me believe the idea of home was something I couldn’t have anymore. That maybe I wasn’t someone people would want.”

“Elias,” I said softly.

He shook his head, his hair falling loose around his face.

“But tonight being here, with them, with you, it felt different. Your life…” His gaze flicked to mine, brief but searing. “It feels safe. Like something I didn’t even know I was still allowed to want.”

My chest ached. “You are. You’re more than allowed. You’re wanted. Elias, don’t you see? You don’t have to fight for it anymore. You don’t have to earn it. You’re already enough.”

Elias blinked at me, stunned, like the words hit somewhere he didn’t expect. Then, slowly, carefully, he reached for my hand.

My heart stuttered. He didn’t usually like public displays.

Elias preferred privacy, but now, standing on Julian’s porch, where anyone could step out and spot us, he laced his fingers through mine. It wasn’t tentative, but firm and steady.

“I’m yours,” Elias whispered, like it was both a confession and a vow. “And I’m done hiding it.”

Something in me broke wide open. I turned my hand, gripping his tight, and before I could think better of it, I tugged him into me.

Elias didn’t resist. He came willingly, pressing against my chest, his breath hot against my throat.

I kissed his temple first, soft and reverent, then tilted his face up to mine. His eyes were shining in the porchlight, shadows of fear still there but burned away by something braver.

When our mouths met, it wasn’t desperate the way it had been before. It was steady, grounding. A promise. His lips moved against mine, slow and certain, like he was finally letting himself believe.

I cupped the back of his neck, savoring the way he leaned into me, the way he didn’t pull back or glance over his shoulder to see who might be watching.

For once, Elias wasn’t running. He was choosing me. Us.

We stayed like that for a long time, the quiet of the night wrapping around us, the party noises fading to a distant hum.

When we finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against mine.

“I don’t know what comes next,” Elias admitted. “I’m still terrified. Of all of it.”

I smiled, brushing my thumb across his cheek. “That’s okay. We’ll figure it out together. One step at a time.”