Page 59 of Crushes and Confections

“What is it?” Adrien asked as he nudged me to continue.

“I don’t want to be apart anymore. This whole courting process is about testing out the waters of being a pack, right? But we keep breaking apart and I know that happens sometimes, but I don’t want to spend evenings like that too. Even if it’s here, or our place, I want us to stay together now.”

Adrien let out a breath of relief. “That would make us feel so much better. I don’t like you two across town. How could I protect you like that?”

“If it means all the cozy fires and snuggles, count me in,” Riley agreed.

“Oh, didn’t you have something you wanted to tell us?” I prompted Adrien right back. “Don’t act like your cute little tone out there wasn’t you hiding something from us just to rile me up.”

He grinned at my assessment. “But you’re adorable when you’re fired up.”

“And we weren’t hiding anything, we were just talking about how we’d come back early in hopes you guys would already be back and you pulled in right after,” Riley clarified.

“But it works out,” Adrien said. “I want to talk about something. But… let’s grab some snacks.”

“Subtle,” Vance teased his husband but Adrien didn’t look back as he scurried off to the kitchen. The smell of popcorn filled the air as we waited. It felt like whatever he was about to drop on us was monumental. I wondered if it was about his parents… but the way he seemed anxious didn’t fit the same frustration he’d shown during that conversation.

“Well, while we wait on him I’ve been thinking about what you’ve said,” Vance said as he rubbed a hand over his chin. “Our house is much bigger than yours. I’m not asking you to give yours up, but why don’t you start bringing some things here as well so it’s not stressful and feels a bit more like home to you.”

My eyes widened as I turned to Riley, who was trying to not laugh. Both of us had enough belongings to fill both houses.

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” I said in an attempt at a joke, but it ended up sounding more uncertain.

“What I want to ask is for you to move in every single thing you both own immediately, but I don’t want to push you too hard. Look around. We’ve never settled anywhere long enough to make it a home,” Vance admitted as Adrien came in with snacks and sat them down at the coffee table.

Taking in the room I could easily see what he meant. The walls weren’t plain, there was some generic artwork, but it lacked… personality. Even the throw blankets and decorative pillows were a neutral color.

“He’s right. We’ve never wanted to invest time or effort into something when we may have to pick up and leave. Like we’ve said before, not everyone is accepting like Holiday Hollow is,” Adrien agreed. “Your own touches will just make it feel like home. I don’t know that I’ve ever really had one.” He said the last part almost absently, getting lost in his own thoughts.

Vance reached out and pulled his husband closer so he was sitting on the arm of the chair and he could offer comfort. They were so in-tune with each other, and I couldn't wait until our whole pack was the same.

“My foster parents didn’t like that I was bisexual. I came out and lost my entire support system fairly quickly. So I went as far away as I could manage, and it eventually led me to this one,” he chuckled, bumping into Adrien. “France was amazing, but I was afraid to tell anyone about myself. Then I found myself in the shop Adrien worked at, and he won me over and enticed me out of my shell, one treat at a time.”

“I told you a bit about my parents earlier, how truly vile they were towards us, they completely refused to acknowledge Vance at all. Combined with his experience, you see why we were hesitant and used blockers,” Adrien said before taking a few deep breaths. “The towns we were in before weren’t much better, but I’m beginning to see that Holiday Hollow is different in a lot of ways. I’m different in a lot of ways now too, thanks to all of you.”

Vance looked at him with total adoration. “Love you Ady.”

“Je t’aime, mon cheri,” Adrien said softly, running his hand through his goatee. We waited for him to continue since it was obvious he had more to add. “I want to stop taking blockers.”

My breath caught at the prospect, hope dangling in his words. Talk about a courting gift.

“Really?” Riley asked. “What changed?”

“You two,” he said simply. “I don’t want to hide a single side of myself from you. But, I haven’t gone on and off them like Vance. I have taken strong doses for a very long time. It may be a while before my scent comes back.”

“And we’ll be patient,” I promised him.

“Well, I’d say this conversation definitely has shown vulnerability,” Riley said with a flourish as he stood up.

“Uh, what are you doing?” I questioned when he didn't bother to give a single explanation as to where he was going with this conversation.

“Did you find our next clue?” Vance asked curiously. “You didn’t mention it.”

Riley moved out from his spot and went to his jacket, pulling out what looked like bubble wrap. As he came over he unwrapped a perfectly cut rectangle of glass.

“Janet pulled me aside this afternoon, actually cornered me would be a more apt description. She explained that it can’t be up to random people in the Hollow to know when we’ve reached this point. She handed it to me and swore me to secrecy until I thought we had found a way to be vulnerable with each other. If ever a moment counted, this was it,” he explained with a chuckle.

“Glass?” I said as I studied it and replayed our clue in my head. “Oh my gosh how dense. Here I was thinking nursery rhymes and open books.”

---