Page 75 of Sight Unseen

Nate stood, seemingly confused by the sudden lack of activity. “What’s going on?” His forehead wrinkled as he frowned.

I jumped on top of one of the boxes, one I knew would hold my weight—I think it held those damn books—and raised my arms dramatically.

“Ladies, gentlemen and dorks,” I yelled, looking at Dev and smirking. Dev rolled his eyes and grinned. “I, Cody Fisher, wish to proclaim that this man”—I reached down and grasped Nate’s shoulder as he looked up in astonishment—“this man is my man, my one and only.

When you realize you want to start the rest of your life with somebody, you want to start the rest of your life as soon as possible.”

Dev was laughing, Suzanne and Blu simply looked confused. Nate’s face was slowly turning pink but the look of love on his face was hard to miss. He knew where I was going with this. Together we’d seen all these films I was quoting from.

I swallowed through the sudden lump in my throat and forged on. “We’re gonna have to work at this and it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be very hard. We’re gonna have to work at this, every day, but I wanna do that because I want you. I want you, Nate Powell, and I want to live here with you, and nowhere else. So if that means I never get to leave anything out of place ever again, then that’s what I’ll do. I’m a boy standing in front of a boy asking him to love him. Because I love you and I’ll do whatever it takes to make a life with you, forever.”

I’d paraphrased that second to last line, but it had needed doing. The last line was all me.

Blu’s eyes were glazed, Dev started to clap and Suzanne was about to blubber.

“Did you quote, like, three different movie lines in that little speech?” Nate said, his hands gripping my hips and pulling me off my box. I stepped down and placed my forehead against his.

“Yep. You can tell me where they’re from later,” I teased. “If you can’t remember, you’ll have to pay a forfeit.” I made what I thought was a villainous chuckle.

“Way to embarrass me,” Nate muttered, his cheeks pink. But I could see the delight. He gave me a soft kiss on my cheek, leaned down and picked up his box, and walked toward our bedroom. I was tempted to follow him but…there were people around. I sighed heavily.

Tonight our bedroom was going to rock.

Dev walked past with my board. “Way to go, man,” he said, and we high-fived.

Blu simply shook his head in pity, but he was laughing inside, I could tell.

He murmured as he went past with his box, “You’re definitely going to get lucky tonight with that speech.”

I smiled smugly. Why yes, I think I was.

“Oh God, that was beautiful, Cody.” I found myself squashed against a distinctly girly bosom. “You’re such a dork, but an adorable one.”

Suzanne took the opportunity to wipe her eyes against my tee shirt then turned and carried the stuff she’d brought into the kitchen. “I think that’s the last of it, guys. There’s only a few bits of clothing left, but I’m sure Cody and Nate can manage those.”

I stood basking in the knowledge that I’d hopefully put my man’s mind at ease. With a sudden frisson of anticipation, I realized Nate was still in the bedroom. Perhaps I should see what he was up to.

I was disappointed when I walked in and Nate was still fully clothed. I’d half expected he’d gotten naked and was waiting for me with a come-hither look. I thought my creative speech deserved that at least.

Instead, he was standing in the middle of the room, a box on the bed, half open. He looked up as I entered and moved swiftly to stand in front of it.

“You need a hand with anything, lover?” I asked. I tried to edge past him to see what he was hiding.

Nate laughed and pushed me onto the bed. “Nope. Sit down, though. I’ve got a present for you.”

“But Christmas is still three days away.” I didn’t mind. Presents were for every day of the year.

Nate shrugged. “After your speech, I really wanted to give this to you. I think, as it’s the first night together in our place, it’s fitting.”

He reached into the box and shifted around a load of purple and pink tissue paper. From the depths of the box he pulled something out that took my breath away.

I knew Nate had been working on something since the accident with Nate’s Folly. That piece had been cleaned up and we’d planned on putting it in the dining room, on the sideboard. It would forever be a reminder to us both of how something that was thought to be broken had simply endured and grown stronger.

Our love was like that.

But this piece was even more extraordinary. Tears welled as he held up one of the most beautiful pieces he’d ever made. It was two men sitting naked, limbs entwined, foreheads pressed together, arms draped over one another’s shoulders. The detail was incredible, each muscle defined, even down to the genitals and the curve of the men’s buttocks. Over them, a wave washed, in intricate detail, protecting them, shrouding them. What was even more amazing, it was instantly recognizable as us. Our faces were forever enshrined in smooth, cool clay.

I stared at Nate in wonder. “How did you do this? It’s…” Words failed me. “I can’t believe the work you must have put into this. It’s absolutely stunning.”