Page 48 of The Fault Next Door

Nolan nodded. "I'm glad they have something in common. He had a job working at a stadium taking care of the lawn for a professional team."

“That’s impressive,” Dr. Moore said. “I know you have a contract that is valid for twenty more months. Do you think you’ll stay?”

Nolan nodded. “I’m going to try. I will encourage him to apply to places where he’ll be happy.”

Dr. Moore nodded. “Well, I’ll be happy if you stick around for a while. You’re easy to work with.”

“I try. I like the environment. It’s not too much, and about when I’m bored and ready to do anything to have something to keep me busy, a new patient stumbles in.”

“It is that type of place. So far, I’m happy here. I don’t know how long I’ll last, but I hope it’s for more than two years.”

Ryder and Wade came back in, both of them smiling wide. "We figured out we both like hockey, and we are both Boston Bruins fans."

“Wow, that’s great,” Dr. Moore said.

“I was worried I wouldn’t have anyone to watch the game with here,” Wade said with a wide smile.

Nolan smiled and shook his head. “I didn’t know you liked hockey,” he said to Ryder.

“We were a little busy doing other stuff than talking about sports.”

Everyone laughed as Nolan moved closer to Ryder and kissed him on the cheek. He was glad they had people to hang out with where they could be themselves. They were growing closer every day. They still weren’t telling people that they were in a relationship. He’d run into a few people who were rude, but most people just didn’t seem to care that he was gay.

Dinner was great, and Ryder was having a good time. They didn’t stay too late and promised to get together again soon. Nolan was happy to have a couple they could spend time with, and he was happy that Ryder didn’t seem uncomfortable around gay men.

That night, as they were lying in bed, Ryder got up on his knees and held onto Nolan's hands. Nolan rose, going up to his knees, too, so they were almost at eye level. He felt special being with Ryder, like maybe he could have a future with a man again.

“What’s this about?” Nolan asked.

“I don’t want another day to go by without saying this.”

Nolan nodded, watching Ryder as he drew in a deep breath and then blew it out. This was going to be big for Ryder. Nolan was glad Ryder was opening up to him. It seemed like everything was easier now, deeper, too. Maybe Ryder's parents finding out about him being gay and Ryder being with him had let something loose inside that allowed Ryder to be himself.

“I have feelings for you. Not just friendship or dating feelings. I have the rest of my life feelings about you.”

Nolan squeezed Ryder’s hands. “I’m falling for you, too.”

Ryder’s lips spread into a wide smile. “How did we get like this?”

“Like what?”

"I've known you for so little time, and yet I'm ready to declare my love for you. It took me years with Amy."

Nolan smiled and leaned in, brushing his lips against Ryder’s mouth. “It’s because you already know what love feels like.”

Ryder nodded. "I do know that this feels like love. I want us to really be together. I think we should pick a house to live in. I don't think you should sell your house yet unless you really want to. I just think it would be good to keep it because it can't have gone up that much in value."

Nolan chuckled. “That house is very close to yours, and I don't really want some stranger living only a few feet away from us. And yeah, it hasn't gone up that much in value. I'd do better to keep it for a little while and then sell when we're ready to move."

Ryder’s forehead wrinkled. “Move?”

“One day, you’re going to want to go back into caring for the lawn at a stadium or some other place like a golf course or maybe a botanical garden.”

Ryder shrugged. “Maybe.”

“I’ve only been here a few months, so I still have almost two years left on this contract. We can’t move yet, but I don’t want you to think we’re stuck in this town forever.”

Ryder pulled Nolan to the mattress and adjusted so he was hugging Nolan from behind. “Do you really think I could go back to it?”

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