Page 23 of Love in Mission City
Henry couldn’t stop grinning.
As I tucked myself around him, I ordered Zeus to the foot of the bed.
Damn dog actually complied.
I pulled Henry into my arms. “Is this okay?”
He snuggled against me. “I think this might just be the best part.”
I chuckled. “Oh, I have so much more to show you.”
He stilled.
“Henry?”
“Does that mean I can keep coming back?”
I kissed his cheek. “I’d be happy if you never left.”
Too soon? Well, goddamnit, life’s too short to not say what I mean.
He sighed. “I’d like that too.”
Epilogue
Henry
Istayed. I mean, I went home to get extra clothes, but I stayed. Well, I went home each day to work, but otherwise, I stayed.
Winter turned to spring, and then, one day, Johnson pointed out all the gas I was wasting going back and forth between our homes. He was very environmentally conscious, so that didn’t surprise me. Then he suggested he build a workshop for me on his property.
Thatsurprised me.
As I put the finishing touches on my latest piece, my stomach flipped. What if he didn’t like this? What if I’d overestimated his affection for me?
Not likely. He tells you every day how much he loves you.
Right. But people might say that just to get sex. Except he said it even on the nights when we didn’t make love. Which, admittedly, wasn’t often. To my surprise, I’d discovered I really liked sex.
Like, a lot.
And although being on top was fun, I much preferred having Johnson inside me. That intimacy…that connection… Each time, it blew my mind. All the things I never thought I’d have. All wrapped up in the most amazing man.
Oh, and his super-special dog. Who sat at my feet for at least part of each day.
Zeus loved running up and down the rows of trees, but he also enjoyed napping at my feet.
I reached over to pet his head.
He snuffled, gazed at me trustingly, and went back to sleep.
Again, I eyed the figurine. Then I added the most important part, hanging the circles on a branch. To calm my nerves, I tucked it away and went to work on the LGBTQ fairies Johnson convinced me to make. I mostly sold those in an online store he set up for me, and I couldn’t keep them in stock. Apparently gay fairies were a thing. And I’d added trans and nonbinary fairies as well. Representation was important. Something I’d sort of known, but hadn’t crystalized in my mind until I started to go out in public with Johnson. To be seen together. To meet other queer couples and spend time with them.
A knock brought me out of my reverie.
Johnson poked his head in the door. He was adamant I have my privacy, so he always knocked. “Hey, you about ready to quit for the day? I’ve got ribs in the slow cooker.”
I smiled. For all his environmentalism, he liked having meat twice a week. I remembered going hunting with Grandad. Wonderful memories. But ones I was ready to move past. Even bright lights and loud noises didn’t bother me nearly as much. “Yeah, I’m done. But first, come inside and close your eyes.”
