Page 81 of Backward Motion

“Once a year, during a Roman festival honoring Juno, men drew names to determine who would be their special lady friend for the coming year. Then they would wear her name on their sleeve until the following festival.”

“Aww.”

“A little less sweet considering the whole thing came about because Emperor Claudius II believed unattached men made better soldiers, so he declared marriage illegal.”

Sam laughed softly. “I’ll let you wear mine.”

Connor’s heart lurched. “What if I already am?”

Sam rested his head against Connor’s chest. “But a year seems kind of arbitrary. We don’t have to put a time limit on it.”

“Agreed. No time limits.” He left a trail of featherlight kisses along Sam’s neck then lay still, his pulse racing. “Sam?”

“Hmm?” He sounded drowsy.

“I think I’m in love with you.”

Sam tilted his chin to gaze up at Connor, a shimmer in his warm brown eyes. “I think I’m in love with you too.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“What do you even get a five-year-old boy?” Sam asked as he and Connor walked up to Jules and Brian’s house the following Saturday. “I feel like the rules are always changing—plastic, no plastic; dolls, not cars.”

Connor held a gift bag in one hand and Sam’s hand in the other as they scaled the steps to the front door. “I just went with something practical—socks and candy.”

Sam chortled. “Socks? Matty’s going to pull your invite for the next one.”

Connor knew Sam was joking in an attempt to put him at ease. The first event they were attending as a couple was a kid’s birthday party, so he couldn’t even rely on a cold beer to calm his nerves. After Connor had come out to his dad, Brian had offered to give their friends a heads-up, an offer he’d gratefully accepted. He wasn’t great at heart-to-heart conversations at the best of times, and the thought of having this particular one over and over again with everyone he knew made his palms clammy.

“It’ll be fine,” Sam said, catching Connor’s anxious look.

Connor covered it quickly with a smile. “Of course, yeah, I know.” He knocked on the door, and Jules answered with Ellie on her hip, appearing frazzled.

“Come on in,” she said, barely audible over kids’ shrieks and the soundtrack of a popular children’s show. “Brian is with Matty in the backyard. Help yourself to food; we’ll do cake in a bit.”

As Sam walked ahead into the house, Jules caught Connor’s arm in the hall. “How’s your dad?”

“He’s doing all right. We’re keeping a close eye on him and have a home nurse who comes by once a week and reports back to his specialist.”

Jules nodded. “I’m glad. That must give you and your mom some peace of mind.” She shifted Ellie onto her other hip and leaned in conspiratorially. “I heard Sam’s staying in town.”

“Looks that way. For the time being, at least. I don’t want to jinx it.”

“Believe me, you’re not the only one thrilled by the news.”

They both glanced through the open patio doors at Brian, who had tackled Sam into a hug. Connor grinned. “Don’t worry. I can share.”

Jules returned the grin. “Me too.”

Connor went outside to join them. It was a sunny afternoon, and a bouncy castle was set up in the corner of the yard, which teemed with small children. He managed to track down Matty, and when he gave him his present, the kid was less enthused by the candy than he was by the socks.

“Sacrilege!” Brian cried with mock outrage as Matty pulled the red-and-blue Superman-themed socks onto his bare feet. “We’re a Marvel house, Finnis. At least you didn’t get him any more plastic junk we’ll have to throw out.”

Tyler and Mimi were already there, and Mimi looked decidedly uncomfortable. She rubbed her extended belly and warily eyed the rogue gangs of children.

“This’ll be you soon,” Connor said.

Tyler gave a skittish chuckle. “Still getting my head around that.”