Page 69 of Homecoming for Beginners

“Hi,” Ty repeated, a little breathlessly this time. He was flushing—he flushed so easily and looked so good doing it, it suddenly made Ollie crazy. How pink would he get if Ollie kissed him again? If he—no. He needed to focus. Talk first.

“Hi, Ty.” Ollie didn’t bother trying to play it cool. That was a game for kids. Instead, he smiled and lifted the flowers. “These are nice.”

“Um,” Ty said again. The flush deepened. Was Ollie imagining that he could feel the heat radiating from his face? “They’re for your sister. Hostess present. Since I’m crashing the party and—yeah.”

Ollie looked at the bouquet. He didn’t consider himself an expert in flower-buying, but he’d certainly bought flowers for hosts before. Never anything this elaborate, though. What was that, a hundred dollars’ worth? More?

In his entire life, Ollie had been completely, perfectly sure where he belonged only twice. Once when he cradled his infant son in his hands. The second time at the controls of a helicopter on his first solo flight.

He was sure of it now too. He belonged between Ty and the rest of the world, protecting him from anyone who couldn’t see his worth.

Finally he remembered it was his turn to speak. He cleared his throat. “Wow. Are you planning to eat all the cake yourself?”

“Shut up.” Ty ducked his head, but he was grinning. Ollie stepped back to let him in.

“And you brought a birthday present too?”

“Ollie, you can’t show up at a kids’ birthday party without a gift. It doesn’t matter if you’re not invited. Even evil fairies know that.”

Ollie led the way into the dining room, where he rummaged around Cassie’s hutch to find a vase big enough to contain the entire greenhouse Ty had carted over. “And you’re this town’s version of the evil fairy?”

Ty laughed too. “Uh, I guess. If the shoe fits.”

“I think that’s a different story.” He set the flowers and vase on the table. He could get water for them later, after they’d—just, after.

Before he could say anything, Ty added, “I brought something for Theo too. Apology gift, since I sort of—well, for yesterday.”

Ollie was going to veto that one. Theo didn’t need to get the idea that adults could buy his forgiveness, especially when the adult in question had acted in his best interest. But that was okay; there were plenty of other reasons to give Theo presents. They could think of one later. Right now, though—“What?” he teased. “You didn’t bringmeanything?”

But Ty wasn’t laughing anymore. He’d gone serious, cheeks still pink, bright eyes shining. “Me,” he said simply. “I—Ollie, I brought youme, I—”

Ollie’s fingers went numb. “It’s enough.” He stepped forward and took Ty’s perfect face in nerveless hands. “It’s more than enough, Ty, it’s everything—”

Talking, something in Ollie’s upper brain reminded him. They were supposed to be talking.

But talking could wait until after Ollie had his fill of Ty’s mouth. He tasted like strawberries and smelled like summer, and when their lips touched, sensation roared back—the heat of Ty’s skin and the soft prickle of his stubble and the strange, not unpleasant way his body fit against Ollie’s. Solid. Reliable.

Ollie had never felt so grounded in himself, so sure. How could he feel like that when having Ty so close made his heart race, made him… probably unsafe for a kids’ birthday party, now that he thought about it. He was going to need a minute to cool off.

Kissing Ty was a paradox, apparently.

Finally Ty made an embarrassed sound against Ollie’s mouth and pulled away. He’d flushed again, but this time it left his eyes and lips dark too. That… hmm. Ollie might needtwominutes, actually. “Okay,” Ty said, breathless again. He ran a hand through his hair and Ollie’s hands itched to follow it. “Good—good talk?”

“I really need to stop kissing you in public. Semipublic.” Heh. Semi.

Ty caught his eye and snickered.

Damn it. Ollie poked him, but he was grinning too. “Stop, come on.”

“Well, which one is it? Stop or—”

Ollie put a hand over his mouth.

Ty’s gaze went, if possible, even darker. The heat of his breath against Ollie’s palm was… something Ollie was not going to think about at his niece’s birthday party. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away. “We still have a lot to talk about.Actualtalk,” he clarified.

“Yeah.” Ty was still smiling. “We’re already doing everything backwards, though. What’s a few kisses between guys who live together?”

God. “Well, when you put it like that,” Ollie said, and then he put his hand on Ty’s belt and reeled him in for another one.

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