Oliver clung to his husband’s shoulder, a burly mountain man if ever there was one. “It’s not what I said; it’s what the doctor said. He said your sugar intake is getting high, and your mom had diabetes, so she also told me to curb it for you.”
Mason growled with a smirk to Oliver. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be in—” He paused, looking at me and Leo. It was obvious they had a similar dynamic to us, and with Oliver pushing a little for control, I saw the Daddy in Mason trying not to get too tempted to rear itself in public. “We’ll save that for later.”
Oliver giggled, which was somewhat disarming for a man in power. Although he never wore suits that I’d seen. The occasional shirt, but never a tie. “I need you around for a long time,” he said, attempting to whisper, but it was very audible.
“Oliver, we should probably walk around together,” Leo said. “Let Mason live a little.”
He kissed his husband on the cheek and then he left with Leo.
“So, I’ve heard all about you and Leo,” Mason said. “I know we’ve spoke in passing when you came by the store for your odds and ends, but we should grab a beer sometime. There’s a nice little clubhouse, it’s not really all that advertised, only a handful of people go there, but they serve a nice cold beer.”
“That’d be fun,” I said. “How long have you lived here?”
He puffed out in a sigh. “Jeez, I haven’t kept count. It’s been a while. And soon you’ll know what I mean, because time flies here, in the best way possible.”
I nodded, trying to process what I was going to do today. “Sometimes I think life is moving too quick, you know? I just want to time everything right.”
Mason pointed to the strawberry lattice pie. “If you want my advice, take every moment you can get,” he said.
Serving him a plate with the pie, I became lost in thought. So far lost that I didn’t even remind him about recycling. I mumbled a couple of thoughts, but he walked off, mentioning something about not telling Oliver.
Time wasn’t going to stop. It wasn’t going to slow. It was an immovable force of nature. All you could do with time was let it do its thing. Except, time had slowed, in the choked-up moments where I could see Leo’s big smile at every turn from every stall, and then as he walked back to me, tilting his head and trying to catch my attention.
“Everyone is raving about the desserts,” he said, his voice finally coming through clearly. “I’m not just saying that.”
“Move in with me,” I blurted.
“What?”
“Move in with me.”
His eyes blinked, so fast yet almost slow. “Are you—are you sure?” he asked, looking around. “I don’t want people to pressure you into asking me that. I know everyone wants us to be together and obviously be the ‘it’ couple of town, but you really don’t have to ask me.”
“It’s not a question,” I told him. “It’s a statement of what I want, and what I think you want as well.”
He squealed. “Are you shitting me?”
“No, never. So this time I’ll ask the question. Will you move in with me?”
“Yes,” he said. “Yes, yes, yes.” He jumped up and down on the ground, only making a small scene for the people look in our direction. “I’d love to.”
“Okay, okay, lemme just—” I dipped down behind the stall once again. “I’m not—I’m just—” I could see how it would look to be on a knee right now. From the box, inside a small jewelry box, I revealed to him a key, cast in a purple and blue color.
He squealed again, taking the box. “I love it.”
“You do?” I asked. I’d had to get the key made especially for him with the nice colors. I’d wanted it to be a rainbow, but since it was such a small key, there wasn’t enough room for that much color to fit on it.
The people of the town went back to what they were doing after the brief moment of celebration. I hadn’t really fully unpacked myself, but I’d help Leo unpack his life intoourhome in a heartbeat.
It felt like the world had been working in our favor and I wasn’t going to let it stop now. Who knew what was next for us? A pet? I was so ready to rush into life with Leo that my mind now raced with all the things a couple did together. And I was sure that meant a never-ending play ofMurder, She Wroteon the TV, an entire corner filled with teddies, and a shelf for the collectables.
Leo went around showing off the key like I’d proposed, boasting about how cute it was and how he was going to be eating all the desserts. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that wasn’t true; he would only get those as rewards.
He came right back to me, sweat dripping from his hair as he brushed it back.
“I love you, little one,” I said, watching his face light up.
“I—I love you.”
From around the stall, I squeezed him in my arms, the sun shining through the small surrounding canopy of trees near the town center directly onto us. We were in nature’s spotlight, and I didn’t want to leave it.
I loved Leo so much. He’d refilled the well of excitement for life in me again, and I’d refilled him—in general. To say we were the perfect match might’ve been boasting, but I really felt it. And even if I didn’t say it aloud, my soul was definitely screaming it, right into his soul.
“Love you more,” I said.
“I love you the most.” And so it began.