Page 63 of Find Me Again

"—you make excellent eggs."

"That's it, romance is dead." Neil sighed, even though there was a smile tugging at his lips.

"I wouldn't say so, well-prepared eggs are a clear sign of romance to me." Ryan laughed at Neil's face. "Fine, fine, your skills in both sex and cooking are very much appreciated and applauded. Happy now?"

"Happy-ish."

"For what it's worth, these eggs aren't giving me an orgasm, so—"

"Okay, okay, forget it," Neil cut him off. "I'm happy, full stop."

"Yeah. I'm happy, full stop, too," Ryan told him, more honestly than their joking required.

Neil's smile turned gentle, and he nodded. "Good. That's good."

And itwasgood. Great, even. They'd been making it work, and while it hadn't always been easy, they'd hung in there, flying back and forth, brushing off the media attention, and talking every day. And now, here they were—Neil with another StanleyCup victory to his name and Ryan with his partner home with him for the entire post-season break. All they had to worry about was how to handle all the small stuff, like the fact that Neil still hadn't learned to put the milk back in the fridge after taking it out, or that Ryan refused to go running with him in the morning.

Problems like that, Ryan could deal with any day.

"Hey," he said, and when Neil looked up to meet his gaze, he winked at him. "I love you."

And there it was, Neil's most beautiful smile.

"I love you, too."

For that, Ryan could deal with anything.

THE END