Page 37 of Love in Mission City: The Shorts

“Oh, yes, I do.”He propelled me toward the back door and smacked my ass.“Get changed and let’s eat.I’m starving.”

As I passed through the door, Sunshine appeared and stopped directly before me.“I knew.”

Where I expected smugness, there was only deep contentment.

The woman was happy for her boss.Was happy for me.

In that moment, I wished she might one day find the same happiness.

Without another word, I bolted outside and sprinted up the stairs.The quicker I changed, the quicker I could head back downstairs and spend time with my new man.

Epilogue

Dickens

The day Isaac walked back into my life was the day I proposed to Fritz.

I should explain.Fritz and I’d been dating almost six months.We spent every night at my place and we’d even—slowly—talked about getting a house together.And a dog.For sure a dog.But we’d either wait until Ari passed or—since the cat appeared to be going strong—we’d find a dog who loved cats.

Ari’d met many pooches who came into the store over the years and she never fussed.She looked at them, they looked at her, and everyone went on with their lives.

I wondered how she’d handle a full-time canine companion.Knowing my little one?Probably with aplomb.

Anyway, it’d been on my mind to propose to Fritz, and then Isaac walked through the door of my shop.I was stunned speechless.He was just as beautiful as I remembered.

Dark skin, soulful brown eyes, and a shy smile.

But where my heart used to speed up, it maintained a normal rhythm.Where I used to feel bone-deep attraction, I felt only warm comfort.He’d been a friend as well as a lover and, in that moment, I hoped we could be friendly again.He’d broken my heart, but it’d been first love.Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I saw what I had with Fritz went so much deeper.True love.Forever companionship.‘Til-death-do-us-part shit.

“Hello, Dickens.”

His voice was even deeper than I remembered.I stepped out from behind the counter and offered my hand.

He grabbed it and pulled me in for a hug.

It felt good.Like releasing tension I’d carried for half-a-dozen years.

After a bit, he pulled back and ducked his head.

“I’m happy to see you.”I gave him my most genuine smile.

“Are you?”

“Yes.”I offered the word enthusiastically.

He scratched his bald head.“Well, that’s good because, well, I’ve taken the job as harbor master here in Mission City.”

Stunned speechless.He came from landlocked Whitehorse.But now he wanted to be near the water?

“I can see I’ve surprised you.”He grinned ruefully.“I’ve spent the past three years working the lighthouse in Tofino.That was great, but too far from the city.I figure being in Mission City will give me the small-town feeling, but I can head to Vancouver whenever the feeling hits me.”

“And Davie Street?”The local hangout for gay men.

His eyes widened.“Well, sure, if Ben is up for it.”

“Ben?”

“Ben Whitaker.”

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