Parker grinned. He was trying to look suave about it, but Taylor could see the pleased flush rising in his cheeks, the way his eyes crinkled with affection when he smiled. It made his own chest fill with butterflies.
“Hey, that’s what I’m here for,” Parker replied, then added more softly, “And I love you, too, baby.”
He leaned a little closer, and Taylor met him halfway. He could feel Parker’s smile against his lips.
When they pulled away, all he could think about was how glad he was that they were alone up here, so no one else could see the sappy, blissed-out expression that must have been on his face as he held Parker’s gaze. He was so incredibly lucky to have had a second chance with Parker; every day, the impossibility of it all struck him anew. But here they were: this was their life together, against all odds.
“God, don’t look at me like that when we’re at work,” Parker whispered, and Taylor laughed, finally pulling away.
“What, you don’t like looking at me?” he fake-pouted, settling back into his seat beside Parker. Their shoulders brushed up against each other, then Parker put his arm around Taylor’s waist, tugging him a little closer.
“You know that’s not true,” Parker murmured, pressing another kiss to the side of his neck, this one full of heat. But then he pulled away all at once, his hands reaching for the laptop on the table in front of them again, a bemused expression falling over his face. “But I really need to finish this article today, baby.”
“I guess I should get back to work, too,” Taylor sighed, but he still had the same sappy smile on his face.
His thoughts lingered on what Parker had said as they each returned to their tasks.
He was right—they would figure it out. They would make it work, just like they always had.
THE END