Page 21 of Submit
Epilogue
Three months later
Bo fingered the key in his pocket. Larry had given it to him a month ago—one month ago, to the day.
“You look as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs,” Mrs. Eddison said. “Are you going to propose to Larry?”
Bo squawked, much to his embarrassment.
Mrs. Eddison cackled.
“No,” Bo rushed out. “I mean, not yet. We aren’t—he just gave me akey to his place last month and I gave him my key the day after.”
“So what you’re trying to say is, you two don’t know each other well enough, and you haven’t said those three little words.” Mrs. Eddison was nodding as she spoke. “I’ll have you know, however, that I married Tad after only knowing him for three weeks. We had fifty-one wonderful years together before he died. I’m glad I didn’twait months for Tad to ask me to marry him, especially since I knew he was the only man for me.”
“You proposed to him?” Bo asked.
“That’s right. I always was ahead of my time, and though he might have had a stuffy-sounding name, Tad was not uptight at all.” She smiled. “We had us some real fun times. Real fun. Just, cherish Larry if you love him. Losing the person who holds your heart and soul,there are no words for how hard that is.”
Bo didn’t know that he and Larry would ever get married. They’d talked a lot over the past few months, and Bo knew just what an exceptional man Larry was. But they hadn’t discussed marriage or their views on it.
Even so, he wouldn’t be rude to Mrs. E. “I will treasure him,” Bo vowed.
“You already do,” Mrs. E retorted. “And he thinks you hung the moon,stars, and tossed the planets into place.”
Bo laughed. He loved Mrs. E and was glad he’d met her. “Yeah, I think you’re exaggerating a little bit, there.”
“Watch him when he comes out, and see him. Don’t just ogle him for being handsome.Lookat him.”
“Yes, ma’am, I will.” Bo always looked at Larry, but when the door to the soup kitchen opened and Larry stepped outside, Bo tried toreallysee him.
Larry’s entire face lit up when he spotted Bo. There was a bounce in Larry’s step and a rush in it, too, as he hurried over to Bo and Mrs. E.
There was no mistaking the joy Larry was feeling upon realizing Bo was there. Larry’s huge smile and shining eyes told the tale of his happiness.
“I’ll see you boys later.” Mrs. Ed grunted as she moved to the edge of her seat.
Bo stopped gawkingat his boyfriend and leapt up. “Allow me to assist you.” He held out an arm to Mrs. E.
“Thank you,” Mrs. E said. “You’re a good boy. Man—I mean man. You and Larry both, though if I’d had any kids, they’d be close to your age.”
Larry gave Mrs. E a hug once she was standing, and Bo gave her one, too. “See you tomorrow.”
Bo and Larry watched her walk to the soup kitchen’s transport van—a van thatBo knew Larry was responsible for the kitchen having. Larry had told him about his anonymous donation, and his past.
“You’re the strongest person I know,” Bo said.
Larry turned to him. “Where’d that come from?”
Bo grinned. “Not out of the blue. I’ve been thinking about you all day. For a while now. I’m kind of crushing on you, hard.”
“Really?” Larry kissed his cheek. “Kinda like I think aboutyou all the time.”
“We traded keys to each other’s place,” Bo said. “But I didn’t tell you, and I wanted to. I love you, Larry.”
Larry’s eyes widened and glistened. His lips parted, but no words came out.
Bo took Larry’s hands in his. “I wanted to tell you when you gave me the key. I’ve loved you for a long time, maybe longer than you want to know.”
