Page 91 of Open Water

“He’s growing up,” he says out loud.

“Who? Max?” Lukas says quietly, placing a kiss on Tom’s cheek. “I can do that? Kiss you? In public?” he says almost in awe. Like it’s unbelievable.

“Always,” Tom says back. “You can always kiss me. Hold me. Hug me. Hold my hand. I want to do everything with you, and I am incredibly proud of you too, Lukas. You. Being with me. It makes me insanely happy. “

And Lukas just smiles. The smile he can’t seem to stop smiling as Matteo introduces the two of them to his director, as his “Dads” making Max curl into a ball of embarrassment.

“You are, though.” Matteo laughs. “Max said we should share everything, so I assumed that meant his Dads too? You’re now my Dads. I didn’t make the rules.” He shrugs his shoulders and earns a punch on the arm from Max, swiftly followed by Tom’s son jumping up in his boyfriend’s arms. Planting one on him right there on the stage.

“We should go and celebrate,” Lukas says tugging at Tom’s arms. “Let’s go and have a drink somewhere. Toast to our sons, and the best actor on stage tonight, because let’s face it, I didn’t even look at the others. He was kind of mesmerising. “

“He was fantastic,” Tom says slowly. “And yeah. Let’s go celebrate. Good call.”

“Champagne?” Lukas says softly, nuzzling quietly into a hug.

“Nah. Beer. Good beer somewhere we can sit and talk.”

“Beer. Sounds good.”

“Very good.”

“Dads, eh?” Lukas laughs quietly, pulling his hand through his hair.

“Max is right, though.” Tom tries to keep his voice quiet, letting his lips press against Lukas’s. “We share everything. From now on, what is mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.”

“Well, you can have my flat, because I’m not going back there,” Lukas says, and wraps his arms around Tom’s waist.

“Good.” Tom can’t stop smiling again. “Then, let’s get some beers, and then go home. All of us.”

“Home,” Lukas whispers into his neck. “Maybe... let’s just go home. Snuggle on the sofa and order pizza and just be us. Can we do that?”

“Is that what you want?” Tom nuzzles into his hair.

“Get a room.” Matteo grins as he drags Max towards them. “The guys are going out to celebrate, so Max and I will see you later tonight. Thanks for coming, it was really cool that you did.”

He looks a little bit choked up. Emotional. Tired. Happy.

“Have a good time. We will see you at home then?”

Home. It’s always been home, but now? It’shome. Arealhome. Full of people and love and… Tom can’t even find the words. He hugs Matteo. Ruffles his hair and plants a kiss on the boy’s head. Grabs his son, who huffs a little as he pulls him in.

“I love you, kid.” He says it out of habit, but he means it. Fuck, he loves this kid so damn much.

It’s almost inaudible, but he hears it. The voice soft against his chest.

“Love you too, Dad.”

He stands there watching them leave, too choked up to move. It’s too much. Too much emotion. Too many words swirling around in his head. Too many feelings trying to find a home in his mess of a heart.

Home. It’s wherever Lukas is. And right now, it’s right here, on the dusty floor beneath a small stage, where Lukas is resting his head against his shoulder.

“Let’s go home,” Lukas whispers.

So, they do.

A few months later..

MAX

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