Page 31 of After Hours

My yard didn’t have enough space for the type of workshop Oscar deserved, so I had to make do with a simple six-by-eight shed with double doors and a retractable awning so he could sit out front in the shade if he wanted to. Inside, a cushioned stool tucked under a wide workbench on one wall while the other filled with shelves that held clear plastic totes.

“It’s all wired for electricity. There’s an overhead light and an LED spot set-up for the bench. A plug for your rotary tool, too.” I led him forward. “See? You can position it however you need to.” I bent down to pull out a lipped tray. “I asked on this rock-carving page online, and they said you might need a tray when you used water. They recommended this one.” It fit on the worktable perfectly.

The second I turned around, I got an armful of happy boyfriend. Oscar grabbed my face and kissed me so hard it felt like it imprinted on my soul. “I can’t believe you built this for me! This is…” He looked away to scan the tiny workshop. “This is the best thing anyone’s every done for me.”

“Your place doesn’t have a yard, and you can’t do everything you want in your bedroom.” I handed him a small carabiner keychain with two keys on it. “One to the shed, and one to myapartment. You can come here any time you want, baby. It’s yours.”

Oscar’s pretty gray-blue eyes gleamed as he kissed me again and snuggled into the circle of my arms. “You’re mine, Zane, and I’m yours. When I packed everything in my car and took a chance driving all the way across the country, all I wanted was a chance to be myself. To live a life where real happiness was more than a dream. You not only accept me – want me – for exactly who I am, but you showed me dreams can come true.” He laughed and swiped at his eyes. “That’s super cheesy, I know.”

“Yeah, it kinda is,” I said as I shifted him in my arms so our eyes met. “But it’s true. You’re my rock, my support, my best friend, and my lover. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and I’m not letting go, Oscar. We can do this whole forever thing together.”

Epilogue

Six Months Later

The rideshare driver looked a bit shell-shocked, but he still smiled at the group of us waiting outside Wyatt’s door for Declan to arrive. The big man rounded the car to drag two giant suitcases and a stuffed carryon out of the back of the SUV. He set them on the curb and turned back to the car just as my brother stepped out.

Chunky black ankle boots covered the cuffs of hot pink, skin-tight jeans. His fluffy cardigan had rainbow hearts all over it, and he had a bow in his wavy, tussled dark hair. “Thank you for the ride, Christopher.” He waggled his fingers at the driver, who tried to hide his grin while he ducked back into the car and vroomed off.

Our eyes met across the sidewalk, and his started to shimmer as he hopped up the curb and ran at me. “Oscar! I missed you. I can’t believe…” He pulled back to look at me with such gratitude and meaning that I almost burst into tears myself. “I can’t ruin my makeup. I fixed it up so I’d make a good impression on my new roomie.”

I led him over to where the twins stood side by side. “Dec, this is Zane, my boyfriend, and his brother, Wyatt.”

He hugged Zane first and whispered something in his ear. Then, he turned to Wyatt. “I just want you to know that I really appreciate you taking a chance on me. Also, I don’t always look this fabulous, so you’re going to have to get used to seeing the boring, everyday Dec, too.”

I’d told Wy about Dec and even showed him some pictures. I knew he wasn’t judgmental – he’d embraced with bisexuality quite easily after a few growing pains in the beginning and had even dated a mix of genders casually – but the way he looked at my brother now made me wonder if this was a good idea.

I opened my mouth to say something to break the tension when Zane looped his arm around my back and pulled me away. “Why don’t we let these two get to know each other. They don’t need us to carry Dec’s stuff inside.” He waved a hand at where the two stood staring at each other across the tiny porch. “Stop by later at our place for dinner.”

Dec and I texted and called so much in the past couple of months that I had to upgrade my phone plan. I could afford it. Paying for half of the one-bedroom with Zane cost less than sharing with Wyatt, and Rafael had given me a raise a month earlier. I was, according to him, indispensable and totally worth it. I told Holly at the camp that she had to find someone else for trail cleanup and customer service calls. She said she knew I wasn’t meant for the job there but made me promise to stay in touch. Zane and I showed up for every public event and hikedthe trails a couple times every month with Sugar trotting ahead of us.

What was I made for? Zane. Living with Zane, carving jewelry and figurines in the cute workshop out back, hiking in the woods, weekly take-out and movie night with Wyatt, and spoiling Sugar rotten. Now, I got to introduce Dec to this wonderful world and help him live his best life out, proud, and free.

Halfway back to the car, I glanced over my shoulder to see Wyatt picking up both large suitcases and following Dec into the apartment. “Do you think I should stay and help? I mean, my brother just got here and—”

Zane chuckled. “I think they’ll be fine. Did you see the way Wyatt was looking at him?”

“I don’t want Dec to feel unwelcome or anything.”

“Baby, I really don’t think Wy’s going to make him feel unwelcome. Maybetoowelcome.” He glanced at me as he turned toward our place. “You didn’t see his jaw drop open when your brother turned around to pick up his carryon.”

“Oh. Oohh!” My cheeks heated up, and I smacked my palms against them. “Well, I mean… that’s good, right?”

“We’ll see.” He parked the Subaru and caught my hand on the short walk to the door. It was the same one-room place he’d had when I met him, and it suited us just fine. What did we need more space for? The memory of him finally asking me to move in crept into my mind. I’d asked if there was enough room, and he simply said that all the spaces he wasn’t in were ones he wanted me in instead. What could be sweeter than that?

That was how our lives went. Sometimes simple, sometimes hectic. His shifts stayed on days unless something horrible happened at the laundry. I loved my work with Rafael, and OO Stone Designs grew more popular. All the money from my rockcarvings either went back into the company or directly into our savings.

We had a future to plan for, after all. Zane would probably make some metaphor about new summits and new climbs or always looking forward to choose the best path. I knew what the best path was: whichever one kept him right by my side.

***

I might never get Oscar to climb up the side of a cliff, but that’s okay. Our life together was exciting enough. Better still, it was safe. That might sound boring to some people who crave adrenaline above all else. It wouldn’t sound great to many climbers who were always on the lookout for the next challenge.

As much as I always enjoyed the climb, finding the right toe and handholds meant more to me. Oscar shook his head and laughed at my metaphors, but you could explain a lot of things through rock climbing. The view from the top after I reached my goal was always the best. Knowing I got to see Oscar’s adorable face every morning after I woke up and to hear his voice after every shift, welcoming me home was my summit, the apex of everything I always wanted.

I pulled my Subie into the spot next to Oscar’s lemon-yellow compact. The turquoise teardrop gave up months ago, but he wanted another brightly colored car. He said it made him happy, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure he stayed that way.

Wyatt and Dec would come over in an hour or so, and we’d eat, laugh, and get to know each other. Some of us for the first time, and others for the first time as their true selves.

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