“I do want to try. But only if you’re okay with it.”
“I’ll be right there, cheering for you. I’ll keep the coffee hot on the ground, and then we can all watch the video after.”
All Garrick could do was nod at that because the idea of getting one more jump with Linc and Jacob...that was really something. Best present he could imagine from friends he wasn’t sure he deserved and the person who already had his whole damn heart.
“Good. Can’t wait. I’m getting more food. Jacob?” Linc ushered Jacob back into the house, leaving Garrick and Rain alone in front of the fire. A stray flake landed on Rain’s sweater arm, and Garrick brushed it away.
“It’s snowing. Hope it sticks.” Rain’s grin was warmer than the fire, more joyous than the music filtering out from the house, and there was enough mischief in it to have Garrick counting down to when the house might be empty again and they could crawl under the covers in their big bed and watch the snow falling together.
“Thank you.” It wasn’t adequate, but it was all he had.
“Well, most of the logistics was Linc.” Rain waved away the praise. “I’m just your cheering section.”
“And that’s a lot. Everything. Knowing you’re waiting for me...” He shook his head. “I’ve had plenty of reasons to jump before, but never such a good one to come back to earth for. You’re something else.”
“You were willing to wait on me or follow me if that’s what I wanted and needed. I’m just returning the favor.” Rain held his gaze. “And always. You go fly. Cookie and I will be right here. And who knows, if you make it look fun enough, you guys might get me to try it yet.”
“I’d like that. And I like knowing you’re here even more. You don’t have to ever jump to prove something to me. I love you exactly how you are.”
“Same. And this is a part of you.”
“A part of my past,” Garrick corrected, grabbing his hand. “You’re my future. The future I never knew I needed this damn much, but I do. I love you for making this happen for me, but I love you for giving me my future even more. You give me hope, hope that the best parts of my life are still to come. And I can’t thank you enough for that.”
“How about you just love me instead?” Smiling, that secret private pleased grin of his, Rain bent his knees so he could brush a kiss across Garrick’s mouth.
“I can do that.” And he could. And he would. Behind them, the house erupted with laughter, a joke they’d hear about later, but right here, it was only them and that wide-open future full of possibilities. Job changes. New hobbies. More pets. Lots of additional parties over various seasons. Trips. Promises they’d make and vows they might take. They’d grow and change, and Garrick honestly couldn’t wait to see it. He pulled Rain down for another kiss, this one more lingering. This was his forever person, whatever the future brought, and he was going to keep on loving Rain through all of it.
* * *