Page 122 of Ethan

"Those are my favourites. He didn't mess them up, did he?"

Ethan laughed. "No, I kept my eye on him."

Liam, his waist wrapped in a towel, sat beside me.

"Hey, Liam," I said.

"Daniel. How have you been?" He took a sip of a diet cola he'd brought with him to the table.

"I'm doing great. You?"

"Surviving." Liam and I chatted a bit about some surfing vacations to Tofino he and Ethan had planned for the fall season. It was good to hear him excited about something.

Owen brought the food over and we all continued talking as we ate. Liam only picked at his chicken breast. Ethan set his hand on my thigh and leaned his head against mine.

"I'm so incredibly happy right now," he whispered to me.

"Me too. You've got an amazing group here."

"Made better by you and Brody."

I turned my head and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for inviting me into your life by asking to sit with me that day at the coffee shop." Those few moments had changed everything.

Ethan squeezed my thigh. "You were so cute … how could I not?"

"What are you too whispering about?" Owen grinned at us. "All lovey-dovey."

"You're as bad as Noah and Brody," Liam added. "And I couldn't be happier."

We turned back to general conversation. The banter between the four was more than entertaining. And some of the subjects they covered—sexual topics, made my ears burn.

These were four men who loved each other deeply.

I relaxed and soaked it in; the serenity of knowing Ethan would always be cared for.

Later in bed, I held him, my senses infused by the smell of his shampoo. We'd showered when we arrived home to wash away the scent of chemicals from Owen's pool and hot tub.

We'd had an incredible evening over there. Ethan had been so relaxed and happy. He was responding well to his new medication. What helped most, he said, is that I was there for him.

"Noah and Brody are so overjoyed," Ethan said against my chest.

"They're looking forward to their wedding."

Ethan shifted. "Is that something we want?"

I angled back to look at him. "What? A wedding?"

"It's just a thought." Ethan raised on an elbow and looked down at me. "If you want to … I would do it." He traced his finger on my chest. "I want you to know how much I love you."

"But you don't want a wedding."

Ethan was quick to shake his head. "It's not something I see myself doing."

I brushed his hair from his eyes. "I only want you. I don't need to proclaim my love for you to others. It's enough to have you know my heart beats for you. You're the morning and night of my life. As long as we're together in love, we're whole. I don't need a ceremony to prove that."

Ethan stroked my cheek, tears forming in his eyes.

"You sir … are my everything. The first time I told you that you didn't hear me. You were asleep but I knew then I loved you. We are the only ones who need to share in that. I commit myself to you … for the rest of our lives, however it might unfold. You're my forever love."

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