Page 47 of Celebrating the Season

My heart hammered as I waited for his response, terrified I’d come all this way only to have my heart broken again. But this time, it would be my own damn fault.

Boaz’s eyes widened, his lips parting in shock. For a moment, he stood frozen, his hand trembling in mine. Then, like a dam bursting, tears began streaming down his face. “Ellery,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I… I don’t…”

He pulled me to my feet and into his arms, burying his face in my chest. I held him tight, feeling his body shake with sobs. My own tears fell freely, soaking into his curls. “I thought you didn’t want me,” Boaz cried. “I thought it was nothing more than a fling for you. That I wasn’t enough, or maybe too much.”

I cupped his face, tilting it up to meet my gaze. “You’re everything, Boaz. Everything I never knew I needed.”

His brown eyes searched mine, filled with a mix of hope and lingering doubt. “But what about the age difference? And you living so off the grid? All those things you said…”

“Fuck all of that,” I growled. “None of it matters. I was scared, trying to protect myself. But being without you, it’s like missing a limb. I can’t do it anymore.”

Boaz’s lips quirked into a small smile. “You know, for a guy who doesn’t talk much, you sure know how to make a speech.”

I chuckled, relief washing over me. “Only for you. Only for you.”

His hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer. “I love you too, Ellery. God, I love you so much it hurts. I’ve been miserable here, thinking about you every second. I even tried to draw the mountains around Forestville, but I couldn’t get them right.”

My heart soared at his words. I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his. “Then come back with me. To Forestville. To our home.”

Boaz’s eyes lit up, that familiar spark of excitement I’d missed so much returning. “Really? You want me to move in with you?”

I nodded, a grin spreading across my face. “More than anything. I want to wake up next to you every morning, watch you bounce around the cabin, driving me crazy, and make love to you every night.”

He laughed, the sound music to my ears. “Even when I leave my socks everywhere and forget to do the dishes?”

“Even then,” I promised, sealing it with a kiss.

“When?” I could see him hold his breath.

“Right now. I’m not leaving without you.”

Boaz pulled away, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Okay, let’s do this! We need to pack. Oh god, I need to pack. Where do I even start?” He spun around, taking in the cluttered apartment.

I chuckled, placing my hands on his shoulders to steady him. “Breathe, boy. We’ll do it together. Where are your suitcases?”

“Suitcases? Uh…closet, I think?” Boaz darted to the small closet, flinging open the door. A cascade of clothes and art supplies tumbled out. “Oops.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. This was the chaos I’d been missing, the whirlwind that was Boaz. “Alright, let’s start with clothes. You grab what you need. I’ll fold and pack.”

We fell into a rhythm, Boaz zipping around the room, tossing clothes my way while I methodically folded and packed them. His energy was contagious, and my heart grew lighter with every minute.

When the suitcases were full, we started packing things into shopping bags, whatever we could find. It took a few runs to get everything into my truck. Luckily, I had a cover for the bed, so all his things would be protected from the elements.

As midnight approached, we loaded the last of his belongings. The city lights of LA glittered around us, but all I could think of was taking him home, back to my cabin.

Boaz leaned against the truck, his eyes roaming over the cityscape. “You know, I thought LA was my dream. But it turns out my dream was a woodcarver in a tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere.”

I wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him close. “You sure about this, kid? It’s a big change.”

He turned to me, his eyes serious for once. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Ellery. You’re my home now.”

As I looked at him, backlit by the city he was leaving behind, I felt a surge of love so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet. This was it. The start of our life together.

As we pulled away from the city, the clock on the dashboard flipped to twelve. Boaz let out a whoop, practically vibrating in his seat.

“Happy New Year, old man!” He leaned over, planting a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “First kiss of the year. Hope that’s not too cheesy for you.”

I chuckled, keeping my eyes on the road. “Nah, it’s just the right amount of cheese. Happy New Year, sweetheart.”

---