Page 83 of Bound in Blood
Logan, still clutching his other prizes, offered a lazy shrug. “No pressure, Teo.”
Mateo throws…
POP!
He threw up his arms like he just scored the winning goal in the World Cup.
“Let’s go!” Mateo grabbed Logan like he weighed nothing and twirled him dramatically in the air. “The champion has returned!”
Logan laughed so hard he nearly dropped his other prizes. The booth lady just sighed at them, gesturing to the prizes Mateo could pick from. Of course, he went for the biggest stuffed animal they had. It might almost have been as tall as Logan. The lady handed it to Mateo, who turned and dramatically offered it to Logan.
“For you.”
Logan almost toppled over at the sheer size of it. Mateo just winked at him. It was dramatic and over the top for sure, but Logan couldn’t help but blush, turning his face into the stuffed animal so Mateo wouldn’t see it and brag more.
“Ready for the Ferris wheel?” Marco asked, tilting his head toward the ride.
“Don’t you want to pick a game?” Logan asked, looking up at him.
Marco just shook his head. “You’ve got no more room in your arms, and we need to think of the poor driver on the way home.” He started toward the Ferris wheel.
Logan swallowed hard, heart picking up speed.
The Ferris Wheel.
He’d always wanted to ride to the top, have a soft romantic moment with a boy, looking out over the city. They probably couldn’t quite see Boston from here, but this was more than good enough.
Logan tightened his grip on his stuffed animals as they got closer to the Ferris wheel, nerves and excitement twisting together in his chest. It wasn’t a big deal. Heknewit wasn’t a big deal. But it was so perfect and human and something he’d dreamed of since he had his first kiss at age eleven.
Mateo nudged him playfully with his elbow. “Nervous?”
Logan scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Why would I be nervous?” he asked, but his voice squeaked a little.
Mateo grinned. “You know, this is kinda like our first proper date.”
Marco tilted his head slightly. “He’s right, but I’m not sure I like that he’s right.”
Logan felt his face heat instantly. “Me neither.”
They reached the front of the line pretty quickly, and the attendant barely blinked as he let them into a cart that looked like it might have been blue at one point thirty years ago. Logan settled between the twins, setting his stuffed animals on the empty side across from them as the wheel started to lift them higher. Logan glanced out over the carnival, watching all the people below, the sea of neon blurring as they got closer to the top.
God, it wasbeautiful.
Marco shifted closer, his scent familiar and grounding. “Is it everything you were hoping for?”
Logan nodded, unable to stop the soft smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. It’s almost perfect.”
Mateo hummed, sliding an arm around Logan’s shoulders. “How do we make it perfect,tesoro?”
Logan opened his mouth to answer ‘you already know’but before he could, Mateo leaned in, catching his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. It was… soft. Gentle in a way Logan isn’t used to from Mateo. No teasing or playfulness or intent to lead somewhere more. Just a warmth and tenderness that madeLogan’s chest ache. Marco leaned in after him, pressing a kiss to Logan’s jaw as he gently pulled him away from his brother, then kissed the corner of Logan’s mouth before settling on his lips.
It’s softer than Mateo’s, reverent, like he’s savoring every second. Marco kissed him slow and unhurried, like they had all the time in the world. And they did, Logan thought, technically.
When they finally pulled back, Logan felt a bit dazed, his heart racing. He looked between them, feeling the moment so intensely, he might’ve died right there if he didn’t say what was on his mind.
“I love you,” he said to both of them. No fear, no hesitation. The words hung in the air between them, and Logan silently wondered if he’d ever felt three words as much as he’d felt those just now. Mateo grinned, but there was something softer in his eyes. Marco’s expression was one of deep, unwavering fondness. Neither of them said anything for just a beat too long, and for a moment, Logan wondered if he’d spoken too soon.
No, actually. Fuck that. He said it, and he meant it. “Youheardme. I love you.” He glared at them both, challenging. “Do I need to say it a different way?” Fuck, how did you say it in Italian? “Ti amo? J’taime? Ich liebe dich? I’m running out of languages, feel free to?—”
