The flush crept higher on his cheeks, now a pale rose.
Ollie could not fucking shut up. “And I also feel like an asshole,” he went on, “because I hate that for you, but it means I get you all to myself.”
Ty pressed his lips together as though to hold in a sound. Ollie hoped it was a good one. He didn’t know what would run out first, Ty’s silence or his own words.
“And I hate that I still want more.”
That was it, apparently—his throat had swollen tight. Nothing more would come.
His hands were shaking.
“Ollie….”
Fuck. Ollie blinked. The tightness in his belly had returned. “Please say something.”
Ty’s hands covered his. The shaking did not abate, but Ollie felt more grounded. More sure. “You should want more.”
That—wasn’t what Ollie had expected. Was Ty going to let him down easy? He’d never thought—
“You deservemore,” Ty said. But his voice held the same earnest urgency Ollie had felt, pouring his heart out, so maybe Ollie should just hold his breath and hold Ty’s hands and hold on. “I want you to have everything—a home and a family and a, apartnerand—and something you do that’s just for you, because it’s satisfying. Because Iloveyou.”
The tension dissolved again. This time it almost took Ollie’s knees out with it. “Okay.” He felt lightheaded. “So just—so we’re clear. The partner is you?”
Ty’s laugh matched the flush on his cheeks. “Yeah, Ollie, the partner is me.”
“Okay,” Ollie repeated. His face hurt now, instead of his stomach; he was smiling too widely. He probably looked like an idiot. He sounded like one too. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry I, um, worded that badly the first time around.”
Ollie laughed too, and it sounded as insane as he felt. “I mean. I’m kind of glad you did. I was… not in a good place. What if my mood ruined a perfectly good love confession?”
“Oh, well.” Ty nodded. Ollie had moved his hands to Ty’s face. He didn’t remember doing it. It was like he was possessed and the demon in charge of his body just wanted to touch Ty everywhere. “In that case I’m so glad I fucked it up.”
Ollie kissed him. Objectively it was not a good kiss; they were both grinning like idiots. Subjectively, it was the best kiss of Ollie’s life. He felt like a helium balloon. He might float away at any moment, except Ty’s hands on his waist and his on Ty’s face kept him happily tethered.
He probably could’ve spent the remainder of the afternoon there, kissing his boyfriend—hispartner—and forgetting the rest of the world existed, except a small voice came from the doorway to the dining room.
“Dad, do you know what this word means?”
Ollie blinked and the world returned to focus. Ty was definitely blotchy red now, his skin hot under Ollie’s hands. His grin had not disappeared, although it had taken on a definite tinge of embarrassment.
“Uh,” Ollie said as he turned around.
Theo handed him the book. “That one.” He pointed. “Mem…?”
“Membrane.” Ollie handed the book back. “It’s like a kind of skin.”
“Membrane,” Theo repeated. “Cool. Thanks, Dad.”
Ollie became aware, suddenly, that Ty still had his hands on his waist. That Ollie had only turned his torso to take the book from Theo and the rest of him was still oriented toward Ty like a flower toward the sun.
He was afraid to move more, now, in case he called attention to it. Was Theo going to say something? Or…?
He clearedhis throat. “You’re welcome.”
“Hey, Dad?”
Not even two inches away, Ty’s stomach started jiggling. That fucker was laughing. He was holding it in, sure, but Ollie could fuckingfeel it. “Mm-hmmm?” Ollie asked, dying inside.
