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“See Cass soon?” she asked sweetly when Ash took her back, settling her on his hip.

“Yes, very soon!” Cass smiled, though his heart hurt a little. “Only a few weeks, and I’ll be back.”

“Okay, yes!” Bri agreed. Then she very deliberately turned to Ash and set her hands on his cheeks. “Un-ca Ash, Cass be back soon. Don’t be sad,” she said. And she hugged him too.

Ash closed his eyes and rested his head against hers. “Thank you, sweet girl. I’m very happy right now, actually.”

“Good!” she declared. She gave him a kiss, and then Ash took her inside and dropped her off.

When he came back out, Ash slipped his hand into Cass’s.

“It’s not quite a mile to the elementary school. You want to walk with me?” Ash asked, leading them back toward Pacific Street.

Cass squeezed his hand. “Of course.”

The morning was partly overcast but warm, and they walked unhurriedly along the route, mostly in silence. When they reached the very edge of the school grounds, Ash stopped them in the shade of a small tree and stepped in front of Cass, taking both of his hands.

“Thank you for coming up here,” Ash said quietly. “I . . . I really needed that after, um, the last week.” He laughed, almost to himself, and then added, “Actually, on the walk home yesterday, I’d nearly convinced myself that I needed to fly back down to California and knock on your door so we could talk. I would have, too,” he said, “if that’s what it took.”

Cass shook his head ever so slightly, any lingering guilt and shame he had overpowered by all the love and conviction he heard in his boyfriend’s voice. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

Ash’s cheeks flushed, and he smiled and dropped his chin. “I just love you. And I need you to know that’s not going to change. Ever. And . . . and no matter what challenges we face, we’ll figure them out, together. I love you, Cass. Always.”

With a soft exhale, Cass slipped his arms around Ash’s waist and pulled him in tight. The embrace was comforting and warm, filled with hope. He closed his eyes and let the feeling wash over him. Then he squeezed Ash gently and kissed his cheek.

“I love you, too,” he whispered, holding on for another long second before letting go.

“Call me tonight?” Ash stepped back, but his smile brightened, and his eyes shone with eagerness and love.

Cass nodded. “I will.”

Ash’s grin turned silly. “And tomorrow,” he said with mock-seriousness.

“And tomorrow, too.”

“And the day after.”

With a laugh, Cass pulled Ash back in closer to him and brushed another soft kiss on his lips. “And the day after. And the day after that. And the day after that. Every day.”

“Forever.”

Cass nodded, and he kissed Ash again and then one more time. Then he tipped their foreheads together as a wonderful, calm contentment spread through him. It felt good. Right. Perfect.

And with another smile, he whispered, “Every day. Forever. Always.”

Epilogue

Cass

One year later . . .

Cass closed the front door behind him with a sigh and set his keys on the table just inside the entryway. The apartment was quiet and dark, the only illumination coming from the oven light above the stove in the kitchen.

His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and with a frown, he slipped off his shoes, kicking them over to the mat next to the door, and padded slowly through the small apartment to the kitchen.

A note on the whiteboard on the fridge read “Dinner’s in the microwave <3,” and that brought a small, tired smile to Cass’s face. He took a moment to reheat his dinner—a good-sized portion of what looked to be a black bean and rice casserole—and then settled at the table to eat.

His phone buzzed as he sat down, and he pulled it out of his pocket.