My sadness at his departure morphed into joy. “It would be my honor.”
“I shouldn’t spring that kind of thing on you, but I didn’t know he was in town since he wanted to surprise me.”
Waving away his concerns, I did my best to reassure him. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m excited to meet your family and friends.”
“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
His gratitude was sweet. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“When we’re done, could I maybe come back here with you?” His hopeful expression was so precious. “I’m not quite ready to return to reality full-time yet.”
I smiled at him with all my love. “Of course. You may stay here whenever and for as long as you wish.”
The way he beamed at me with radiant joy filled me with light. It took so little for him to be happy, which was a far cry from the demanding people who used to warm my bed. I’d never stop being grateful that those days were behind me, thanks to him.
* * *
The first thingI noticed when I entered Zio’s apartment was how they decorated the small space with hiskintsugiartwork. There were beautiful bowls and vases that I wanted to inspect later. But my attention focused on the three men waiting in the living room.
The oldest looked closer to me in age, with a trimmed beard and striking gray eyes. He was stylish in white jeans with a navy blazer and a striped shirt underneath. When he smiled, it was easy to tell he was Luca.
He got out of the chair to gather his younger brother in a tight hug. Zio hugged him with a fierceness that made me wonder how long it had been since they had seen each other. Knowing what I did about their family dynamic, it wasn’t surprising to see Zio clinging to Luca for comfort.
Zio beamed up at him with joy. “I can’t believe you’re here! I assumed I wouldn’t see you before you left for Wintervale.”
“I didn’t want to go that long without seeing you. Plus, I have to vet your partner as part of my older-brother duties.” Luca came over and gave me a firm handshake. “It’s nice to meet you, Armand.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
“Oh my god, he really is that pretty in person,” said one of the men on the couch. He wore a pale blue T-shirt with a cute white kitten sitting inside an open banana peel. “I’ve gotta say, I’m impressed, Zio.”
The guy beside him had on a gray V-neck sweater and jeans, wearing adorable purple glasses. “Sorry, my boyfriend doesn’t have a filter sometimes. I’m Rigby, and this is Jude. Nice to meet you.”
I shook both of their hands. “No apology is necessary. Many of my friends are the same. I find it quite delightful.” If I didn’t, being around Felix, Wren, North, West, and Linda would make my life very painful.
“Well, now you have to marry him,” Jude said with another laugh, causing Zio to blush like a beautiful rose.
“Um, we haven’t talked about that,” Zio nervously replied.
We all took our seats, with Zio and me on the small love seat. I draped my arm around the back of it to give him a comforting brush on the shoulder with my thumb. “There would be no greater joy than being your husband after you graduate.”
It was sweet how hard he tried to smother his happiness. “Really?”
“Oh, he’sdefinitelyserious,” Jude insisted. “I’m so happy for you, Zio. You deserve a partner who thinks you’re the sun, the moon, and all the stars.”
“I’m still getting used to it,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “I keep expecting to wake up in a hospital after bashing my head on a cliff I fell off of during my vacation.”
“Your fear of heights would never let you go anywhere near one that you could fall off of,” Luca pointed out. “That alone should reassure you that this is real.”
“You can’t blame me for being in disbelief. Look at him!” Zio gestured at me, making everyone laugh. “But somehow I’m lucky enough that he loves me.”
“That’s because you deserve the best, which is why I’m having so much fun spoiling you.”
Zio sought relief from his embarrassment by shifting the conversation focus to Luca. “How long are you here?”
“I can stay for dinner, but after that, I’ll have to drive to Palomina. I’m so excited to leave that place behind and go to Wintervale next.”
He frowned at his older brother. “You were supposed to take a vacation between jobs.”
