Page 31 of Sugar

“Just a few more,” Juno admitted. Maybe more than a few, but he’d left off all the unrealistic “travel overseas” ones because he wouldn’t be able to get his passport on time, and he was running against the clock.

Realistically, according to all the literature he had on his condition, he had a few months at best before most of his sight was gone and a few weeks at worst. But fate was rarely ever kind to him, so he knew he had no time to waste.

He’d deal with the rest when they got back and the future when he was ready to look ahead.

CHAPTER NINE

Piper knew getting Juno to agree to everything would be difficult, but he was confident and persistent, and in the end, he won. He knew Juno wasn’t adding everything he’d wanted to see to the list, but it was a good start.

And if things worked out in Juno’s favor and things didn’t go downhill quickly, maybe there’d be time for other things.

Piper put in his notice at the mall job, and no one seemed to care when he stopped showing up for his shift right away. He spent his time helping Juno pack up everything in the bakery—selling what he couldn’t fit in his storage unit and giving away the rest.

Piper convinced him to keep some of his more expensive equipment, and he cleared out the third bedroom at the town house to fit it all. “It’s not like I’m using this space,” he said when Juno put up a small fight. It wasn’t much anyway. It was a large stand mixer, a couple of folding tables, baking racks and trays, and six boxes full of decorating supplies.

They barely took up a corner of the space, and it let Piper imagine what the room would look like with Juno’s bed in there. And his dresser.

Or maybe a sitting area because if Juno was with him, Piper wouldn’t want to let him leave the bed.

But he wasn’t going to let himself think about that now. He needed to focus on the road ahead. He had several hotels booked already and tickets to a few things planned. He’d purchased some hiking equipment since he hadn’t done that in a while, and he had an appointment scheduled with his cardiologist because he wanted to make sure he could be there for Juno without reservation.

That was the only thing making him sweat. If he got the news that travel was off the table, he wasn’t sure how he was going to break it to the man he was falling for. He knew Juno wouldn’t blame him for it, but he also knew it would crush him.

“Are you leaving?” Juno asked when Piper walked into the living room, keys in hand.

Piper cleared his throat. “Quick appointment. I’ll be back in two hours at the most. Can I bring you anything?”

Juno was lying on his stomach, watching TV with his laptop on the floor beside the hand that was dangling off the cushion. He rolled his head up and smiled. “No. But a kiss might be nice.”

They hadn’t fucked since before their argument, but Piper had held him every night he was there—which was becoming more and more frequent. He knew Juno was packing his apartment and moving his things into storage, and he didn’t think there was much left at the studio.

If this was how it happened, a sort of slow burn where their lives merged and never separated again, he’d take it.

He didn’t need titles or words or promises.

He’d be happy with just this.

Dropping to a knee, he brushed the backs of his knuckles over Juno’s cheek, then kissed him softly. “Text me if you think of anything.”

Juno hummed. “I’m going to be a lazy fuck and not move from here until it’s time for dinner.”

Piper smiled and stood up. “See you when I get back.” He headed out the door, and his phone alarm buzzed, telling him it was time to go. His heart kicked up a few notches, and he tried to breathe steadily, to keep himself calm. The last thing he needed was a tachycardia spell in the office.

The drive wasn’t long, which was both bad and good. He didn’t have time to freak out, but he also didn’t have time to calm down. The waiting room was all but empty, though, so two minutes after he checked in, he was being called back.

That felt like some sort of record.

He managed a tense smile at the nurse who got him weighed, and he tried not to read her expression as she took his blood pressure and pulse. Did she look worried? Was that concern in her eyes? Did she?—

“All right, the doctor will be with you shortly.”

The door shut with a heavy thud, and he passed a hand down his face as he tried to control his breathing. He regretted not telling Juno where he was going. He knew if he’d texted or called him, he could have calmed Piper down. Right now, he had no one. He could call his brother, but Nix was never great at that sort of thing.

When he needed a reality check, his brother was always there for him. But when he wanted to be irrationally nervous? Nix tended to make it worse with facts.

He swung his feet and fought the urge to press two fingers to his throat to count his pulse. Instead, he thought about getting in the car three days from then and starting his trek north. New York was their first stop, and so long as the doctor didn’t torpedo his plans, they’d be going on a hike to see the Eternal Flame behind its trickling waterfall.

Juno had moved that to the top of the list and sent him a video on it. It was apropos, he supposed. At least, he wanted it to be. He wanted it to be a symbol of what they could be to each other. All of his fears—his hesitations and self-deprecating view on his own body—had faded in the face of Juno’s smile.

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