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Cass laughed. “I get that. It took me a while to get used to the taste. My friend Brendan buys this local IPA that’s pretty good, but I’m not much of a fan of typical beer brands, and I only drink wine on special occasions.”

“This is a special occasion?” Ash teased.

“Feels pretty darn special to me,” Cass countered with a silly grin.

Ash held Cass’s gaze for a second, and then he nodded. “Yeah, I think you’re right. I’ll try the wine. Just a little, though.”

“You got it.” Cass rubbed his hand gently along Ash’s upper back. “Have a seat, and I’ll bring everything over.”

Ash did as he was told. Cass took a moment to put the rose in a small vase, which he placed in the center of the table. Then he brought over a plate for each of them. The pasta, he explained, was a mushroom stroganoff recipe he adapted from his mom’s beef stroganoff, which was one of his dad’s favorite meals, and the green beans were also something his mom used to cook all the time. Bri cut in to let Ash know there was also “pie” (which he knew meant it probably wasn’t actually pie since Bri called nearly every dessert “pie”), and Cass grinned and reminded Bri that the dessert was a surprise. Bri giggled and put a finger up to her mouth with a quick “shh!”

Dinner was fantastic, and Ash even found himself liking the wine, though he only had a few sips. They talked and laughed, and Bri kept them amused with her running commentary as she ate.

“One bite!” she declared loudly each time she successfully used her fork to eat a noodle or green bean. Then she’d switch to picking up her food with her fingers and say, “More! Yum!”

After dinner, they had the “surprise” dessert, which was an incredible chocolate mousse cake Cass had snagged from the store. Then, Cass did exactly as he’d said he would. He cleaned up the kitchen and took care of the dishes, and he ran through Bri’s entire nighttime routine with her while Ash lounged on the couch, reading a book. It was just about eight thirty when Cass finished tucking Bri in and finally joined Ash out in the living room.

Ash had reached the end of a chapter, and so he closed his book and set it down on the coffee table as Cass slipped into the end seat on the couch with a quiet sigh.

“She’s asleep already,” Cass mused. “She was nodding off during the last few pages of her book. Well, the second time we read through it.”

“Ah, you’re quite skilled then. Twice is the minimum number of reads. Usually she insists on at least three.”

Ash swiveled around and scooted over on the couch, then lay his head down in Cass’s lap.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

“Mm-hmm.”

Cass’s low hum was followed by a gentle touch—his fingers caressing slowly down Ash’s bare forearm and then back. It was warm and divine, and the same deep contentment he’d been letting himself feel all night washed over him again, surrounding him in a comfortable haze. Cass’s fingertips kept caressing his arm, stroking softly back and forth with a tenderness that felt so real and genuine. With a quiet sound of approval, Ash closed his eyes.

“Mmm, you’re going to make me fall asleep again if you keep that up,” he said, and he took another deep breath as Cass chuckled quietly.

“If you’re relaxed enough to fall asleep, please do.”

“Mmm, I don’t want to,” Ash said. “But I’m really, really comfortable.”

“Good, good. I’m glad to hear that.”

This time, Cass’s hand ventured higher up Ash’s arm, past his elbow and up to his shoulder before smoothing back down. The soft touches continued, accompanied by the occasional brush of Cass’s other hand along his forehead and through his hair. Ash hummed with contentment again and then shifted over onto his back, opening his eyes partway.

Cass gazed down at him with a kind smile, his fingers caressing along Ash’s forehead.

“That feels good, too,” Ash said, his voice thick with relaxation. “Can you do it again?”

Cass obliged, grazing his fingertips gently across Ash’s forehead to brush his hair back. “Like this?”

“Mmm, yeah, like that.” Ash closed his eyes and turned his head slightly so his cheek rested on Cass’s stomach, and Cass continued, tracing a slow path down Ash’s cheek and then turning his hand over so the backs of his fingers ran down the side of Ash’s neck. Ash’s skin tingled, a pleasant buzz that spread into his chest. He smiled and let out another sigh of contentment.

“You look happy,” Cass said quietly.

Ash blinked his eyes back open and gazed up at his boyfriend. “I think I am. And it’s been a really long time since I’ve been able to say that,” he admitted. “Tonight helped. It was perfect. I really needed it. Or . . . or maybe . . .” Ash paused and lifted a hand up to cup Cass’s cheek. “Maybe I just needed you.”

Cass’s expression softened, and he seemed about to say something, but nothing came right away. Instead, he brought his hand up to cover Ash’s on his cheek, then turned his head slightly and kissed Ash’s palm. It was such a small gesture. Yet it was tender and caring in a way that made Ash’s stomach swoop.

Ash lowered his hand and then pushed himself up to sit, scooting back until his mouth was only inches from Cass’s. He smiled and leaned in, and Cass met him in a kiss they didn’t have to rein in or hold back or finish early. No one was going to interrupt them, and they had nowhere else to be and nothing else to do.

It was just the two of them, there, together. Finally.