“Love you, son,” his father whispered, gurgled and strained, and his eyes were wet with tears.
“I love you, too.”
The next few days happened in a blur. His father passed in his sleep that night, with Wyatt by his bedside. Nancy and Carol had already made funeral arrangements, and the lawyer came by with the deed to the ranch, which Wyatt signed over to his aunts, who sobbed upon receiving it from him.
This wasn’t his life anymore.
The funeral was small, yet he was surprised to see Mateo’s pregnant sister had come to pay her respects wearing a pretty floral coral dress, her husband by her side. He greeted her with a hug and a kiss, they exchanged pleasantries, and then he introduced John to her. It felt good to see the warmth in her bright brown eyes as she shook John’s hand, and tears unexpectedly swelled in his throat.
He never knew what closure was until that moment.
Mateo had been his first love.
And John was his last love. His true love.
Everything had come full circle.
The plane ride was short, but he was exhausted by the time they made it back to John’s place the following day.
John called the hospital and requested another week off for both of them, as well as a meeting with Tanya when he got back to inform them of their relationship, which Wyatt agreed to. He wasn’t worried and was ready to take whatever consequences they might face, and so was John.
They spent the next few days moving Wyatt into John’s place. He was still adjusting to this being his home, but was slowly getting used to it, especially now that his things were there. Jin was excited for him. They agreed to make time for each other and planned brunch for the following week to fill him in on all the details.
Wyatt finished breaking down the last box and stuffed it into the recycle bin. He headed back inside and closed the front door, pausing at the sight of his cowboy boots next to John’s shoes.
I belong here.
I’m loved here.
His thoughts stilled him. John had truly worked hard on making this place feel like his. Feel like home. Wyatt’s grief had rolled in waves the last few days, but every time he needed comfort, John was there. He knew it would take time to move through the grief and he was okay with that, because he was okay. He was more than okay.
He was home.
He was loved.
And he couldn’t wait to start this next phase of his life with the man of his dreams by his side.
“I’m too tired to cook. How does pizza sound?” John asked from the kitchen, pulling out two beers from the fridge.
He tore his gaze away from the shoes and strolled into the kitchen, taking the cold beer John handed him. “Sounds good.” He cracked the can open and took a sip, letting the carbonated flavor pop on his tongue. “So… now that I’m moved in, do you prefer summer or fall weddings?”
John choked on his beer and came up laughing. “Easy, cowboy, we've got time.”
“I prefer fall,” Wyatt continued, smirking. “Cooler weather, and if we wanna have it outside, which I think we should—”
“Wyatt—”
“We should probably plan for early next fall, because I want your dad to be there.”
John’s tone softened, “Wyatt…”
“Because he needs to see his son happy,” he pressed on determinedly. “He needs to know you’re taken care of.”
John’s throat bobbed, and he reached for him. “We don’t have to be married for him to see that.”
“He does. He’s a romantic, just like his son.”
He tilted his head into Wyatt’s, sighing. “I love you so damn much.”
