Fynn pushed free and rolled over to face Nolan. “You don’t give yourself credit. Anyhow, I don’t want you in my life to help me do science. I want you to laugh with me and remind me about my phone and share our awesome hugs and watch sci-fi movies and eat my guacamole.”
“I love your guacamole.”
“See? You’re fulfilling your destiny.”
Nolan caught up Fynn’s sticky hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed over his knuckles. “I love you.”
Fynn leaned past their hands to kiss Nolan’s mouth. “I love you, too, and I’ll prove it by bringing you back a wet washcloth after I clean up.”
“Greater love hath no man.” Nolan grinned.
“You bet. Keep my spot safe for me.” He forced his wet-noodle legs to move and sat on the side of the bed.
“Your spot, here in my arms.” Nolan patted the bed in front of his chest. “Always safe for you.”
“Mushy,” Fynn muttered, pushing to his feet. “Six-foot-six, built like Paul Bunyan, carries a gun, and underneath, he’s mushy.”
Nolan’s warm laugh followed Fynn out the bedroom door.
Epilogue
Ten months later
Nolan walked the perimeter of the yard, evaluating preparedness. Amelia waved from behind the boulder that hid her. Sheridan, over by the back gate, cocked his head, then gave Nolan a thumbs up. Nolan drifted to his left into the cover of a tall bush. Lilac, if he remembered correctly. Sheridan slipped around the corner of the house. For a moment, silence prevailed.
Then the back gate opened and Fynn stepped through. “Hey, Nolan? What—”
“Surprise!” Every member of Stone Security jumped out of hiding, blowing noise-makers and wearing party hats.
Fynn shrieked and leaped three feet sideways, staggering as he landed, his arms windmilling.
Nolan sprang forward to grab him in a hug. “Careful. No breaking the birthday boy.”
“Me?” Fynn pounded at Nolan’s arms with his fists, although his anger wasn’t convincing. “What did you just do?”
“A surprise birthday party?” Nolan gestured around the yard. “You said you’d never had one.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean…” Fynn scanned the grinning audience of Nolan’s employees in paper hats.
Nolan glared at them over Fynn’s head.Not one word about how sappy this is.Although everyone working for Stone Security knew he was a fool for his boyfriend.
Sheridan pointed at a long, dish-laden table. “The boss cleaned out all the ripe avocados in your lab and made your guacamole recipe. So you’ll start the week with an empty fridge.”
“Out of the generosity of his heart,” Fynn drawled. Nolan didn’t have to see his face to know he was grinning. “Not because he likes it.”
“I even peeled the tomatoes,” Nolan said against Fynn’s hair, not letting go.
“I should hope so,” Fynn huffed.
“And I bought the organic corn chips you like.”
“We didn’t let him bake the cake, though,” Amelia said. “Bakery all the way.”
“I can bake,” Nolan complained.
“As long as it’s from a mix.” Fynn compounded his slander by elbowing Nolan in the ribs.
Nolan let go and pouted theatrically. Fynn laughed, then stretched upward to deliver a kiss on Nolan’s cheek. “All right, you can bake, but you’re too busy right now.”
