Page 45 of Found

“Oh my God. I can’t believe I spent all those years thinking you were…” I shook my head. “And it was all just a misunderstanding.”

“I thought you were gone too,” Isaac said, taking my hands in his. “If I’d only stayed and checked on you one more time.”

“You couldn’t though, or he would’ve killed you,” I told him firmly. “The only one to blame is our father, but he didn’t win, because we both survived and we’re here now, together.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Isaac said, grinning at me through his tears.

“So where did you go after you ran that night?” I asked. “You said you ended up in the city?” My stomach coiled with tension as I pictured my brother, still just a kid then, wandering the streets of Chicago. All the ways he could’ve been hurt or taken advantage of, it made me shudder just to think of them.

“I had no idea where I was. I was exhausted and heartbroken because I thought I’d lost you. Then I turned a corner and saw this building all lit up. It was a center…for LGBTQ youth.” Isaac looked up at me, probably waiting for a reaction. I was surprised, but only because we’d never discussed anything like that before. We’d been too busy trying to survive each day and it seemed that neither of us had been able to explore who we really were until we left home.

“I went inside, and this sweet man came up to me. He didn’t pepper me with questions, just offered me some food and a safe place to stay. I stayed there until I graduated from high school, then I began working there. I still work there, as a matter of fact,” Isaac told me.

“That place sounds amazing. I’d love to see it sometime and meet your boss; thank him for taking care of you and keeping you safe,” I said.

Isaac chuckled. “Well, you can thank him right now. Although, he’s not my boss so much as my partner at the center as well as other things. Zane, that’s Matt over there with Hudson and the two of them are my husbands.”

My mouth dropped open as I looked over at the two men and then back at my brother. I could tell there was something special going on between them, but I had no idea they were all married. Hudson’s words from before about being married came back to me and I found myself grinning. I grabbed Isaac in a huge bear hug. He laughed as I squeezed him tightly.

“I’m so happy for you. I used to get so sad, thinking about all the things our father had taken from you, like the chance to fall in love or get married. And now, look at you. Finding love not just once, but with two people.” I pulled away from him with a smile and then ran my hand over the top of his head, mussing his hair playfully. Isaac swatted my hand away with a laugh.

It was getting late, but Isaac and I still had so much to talk about, so many things we’d missed and needed to catch up on. So, I decided to stay at his house that night, instead of going to Jeremy’s place. I could tell he was disappointed, but that he understood too. I ran out to Jeremy’s Jeep to get my bag. As I came back in, I heard Jeremy and Micah talking quietly in the hallway. I stopped when I heard my name.

“I’m sorry I lied to you, Micah. You know I respect you more than just about anyone, but I needed more time with Zane. I was pretty sure it was him from the very start, as soon as I saw his eyes, I knew. I just felt something with him and I needed time to see what it was before I brought him back. It wasn’t easy, feeling like I was betraying you or not knowing why you wanted him brought back,” Jeremy said.

“I know. I promise you I told you everything I knew, which was just enough to help you figure out who he was. Hudson didn’t want to tell me too much of their history because he felt like that was Isaac’s private story to tell,” Micah explain.

“Yeah, I get that,” Jeremy said.

“So, did you figure it out?” Micah asked in a teasing voice.

“What?” Jeremy asked.

“Did you figure out what was going on between you two?” Micah asked, sounding more serious that time.

“As a matter of fact, I did. I’m in love with him,” Jeremy answered right away. He sounded so sure that I felt my throat start to clog with emotion.

“Yeah, I kind of figured when you tore into my office acting like a lion protecting its mate,” Micah joked, and I heard Jeremy chuckle. I smiled and then quickly opened the door and shut it with a loud thud to alert them of my presence. They both came around the corner and I looked at each of them, keeping my face neutral so they wouldn’t know I’d heard their conversation. I told Micah goodnight and then turned to Jeremy.

“Wow! What a night, huh?” Jeremy said.

I chuckled. “Yeah. I feel like I’ve aged ten years today, but it had the best ending to it.”

“I’m so happy for you and Isaac,” he told me sincerely.

“Thank you, Jeremy. Not just for coming to find me, but for standing by my side today. You never faltered, not once, not even when you had to face your boss head-on. That meant a lot to me,” I said quietly.

“I’ll be here as long as you want me,” he whispered. The longing in his eyes was clear and it called to me. I stepped forward, wanting to go to him, to kiss him and tell him that I forgave him, and I understood why he’d done it, but Isaac called for me just then.

“I guess I better go. You have a good night, Zane.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips against my cheek and then he was gone. My fingers went up, touching the spot that still tingled from his touch. I smiled and then went back into the living room, where I planned on spending the rest of the night talking to my brother.

---