Page 105 of Septembers

“I’m so sorry for taking so long, but I was so scared to hurt you that I pushed you away over and over, and I’m so fucking sorry. Last week wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t stupid. It was the best kiss of my life, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it, about you. Not for a single second.” More movement, a small shift, a soft creak. “Oh fuck, shit, I’m a thousand percent sure, Dae. A million percent sure! I promise I won’t hurt you. I promise I’ll⁠—”

“Sir, I need you to try to get to the window.”

Theo’s eyes slowly slid open like they weren’t sure if they were allowed, and for a second, he didn’t understand what he saw: a strange man hanging from a cable with a large metal clamp securing the fire escape. Behind him, almost everyone Theo knew was at the window, hands over mouths, looking at each other in shock or worry or triumph. Min was pumping her fist in the air like her sports team had won some kind of cup. Jordan was beaming, tears rolling down her cheeks, and Jason and Caleb had their arms around each other.

And in the middle of all of them, Dae, face washed with silent panic, chest heaving, fingers clutching the edge of the window.

“It’s safe,” the rescue worker said, reaching his hand to Theo. “Can you climb back in or do you need help?”

Theo assessed the situation; everything he’d just said, everyone who’d just heard, all the people now watching him as if he were the best entertainment they’d had in a while. The embarrassment came hot and fast.

“You know what? I’m okay. You can leave me out here. It’s fine. I’ve had a good life.”

A confused blink. “Sir?”

“Theodore, get your ass in here right now!” Jordan and about half the party held out their hands, but Dae’s was the only one Theo wanted. He stood on shaking legs and reached for it, his heart exploding at the touch as Dae pulled him in, and about a thousand hands gripped his arms, back, and ass to get him through. But then they all scattered and there was only Dae, standing close, his hand still gripping Theo’s.

“Are you okay?” His voice was low, soft, and relieved.

“Yeah.” Theo needed everyone else to leave. He needed to kiss him, and judging by the way Dae kept looking at his lips, he figured he wasn’t alone. Dae’s hand lifted to Theo’s face to wipe away his tears and half the room took audible breaths while the other half ‘awwww’ed.

“Okay.” Jason clapped loudly, circling his finger in the air in a wrap it up motion. “It’s been quite the evening, but now we’re going to leave these two alone and take this party to my place.” Theo mouthed, thank you, as Jason gently squeezed his shoulder. “Glad you’re not dead.”

“Me too.”

Caleb was pale and sweaty, his hand clutched in Avery’s. “But shouldn’t we help clean up?”

She patted his arm. “Tomorrow, babe.”

Jordan stuck around just long enough for the paramedics to make sure Theo really was okay; no broken bones, no hidden injuries. Then she shuffled them off with copious thank yous and promises to send them signed copies of her album.

Theo barely paid attention to any of it. All he could see was Dae, who seemed to have been struck by lightning, unable to speak. He simply stared at Theo through everything, a couple of steps away.

Too far, Theo thought, willing Dae closer. But instead, he stayed back, hovering, watching Theo until Jordan wrapped her arms around his middle, her face wet.

“You scared me.”

“Sorry.”

She shook her head and pressed her cheek to his, whispering, “Keep being brave, Theo. You both deserve it.”

Then she kissed his forehead and left, leaving Theo standing in the middle of the living room, his eyes locked on his best friend. On the man he loved. He wanted to speak, wanted to ask Dae how he felt about what Theo had said. Wanted to explain that it was supposed to be presented in a letter that Theo was going to sing beside a painting of them in a park during a picnic, but words wouldn’t come.

All he could do was stare. And breathe. And love him.

And then Dae was finally moving, closing the space between them, and Theo didn’t have to ask him how he felt because he could see it in his burning eyes just before he kissed him.

The electricity that sparked through Theo’s every cell was almost overwhelming. He’d never kissed anyone the way he was kissing Dae—with complete abandon. No thoughts, no doubts, no fear, just love and relief and wanting.

He moved his lips with Dae’s, hungry, on fire, needing more, his arms wrapping around Dae’s neck without conscious thought, crushing their bodies together. It didn’t matter that he was sore from the fire escape. Nothing mattered in the entire universe but this man and this kiss.

But then Dae was pulling back, and Theo grunted in whiny frustration. “If you deny this because I’m in emotional distress, I fucking swear, Moon Daeyoung.”

His voice was breathless. “I was just going to take off my shirt.”

“Oh.” Fucking yes. “Then get on with it.”

The corners of Dae’s mouth quirked as he undid the first button, then the second, watching Theo watch him. It was the hottest thing Theo had ever seen in his life, and Dae hadn’t even shown any skin yet. By the time he popped the third, Theo’s impatience won out, and he grabbed the fabric, lifting it over Dae’s head. He nearly swore at the sight of Dae’s muscles flexing with the movement. Or maybe he did, judging by Dae’s blush.