Page 110 of Just Business

He tore his gaze off his hands and found Justin in front of him, the edge of his smile shifting into worry. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Close behind Justin were his parents, arm in arm, with Mercy at their side. She winked at him. “I didn’t want to ruin your time with your family.”

“Ruin...?” Justin stepped forward—too close—and caught Eli’s tie with one hand. The other wrapped around the back of Eli’s neck and before he could even breathe, Justin kissed him. Hard. Deep.

Eli’s world tumbled so fast he had to grab on to Justin with both hands to stay upright. His cane fell somewhere—it bounced on his foot, but that barely registered because Justin was doing things with his mouth that should be illegal in the state. Probably would have been, had he been kissing Eli anywhere else. Warmth and desire and love swept through Eli, leaving him dizzy and totally out of control of the situation.

For once, he didn’t care.

When Justin relented, a round of applause broke out. A different heat rose, straight to his cheeks, but he was far too breathless to say a word. He could only stare at Justin.

“You can beat me later for that,” he murmured so softly no one else could possibly have heard.

Eli swallowed and tightened his grip. He would. Quite soundly, too. “What was that for?”

“Because you’re being an idiot.” Justin smoothed down the tie he’d gripped and tucked it back into the vest of Eli’s suit. “Youarefamily.”

“But I’m not—” A gleam in Justin’s eyes stopped Eli in his tracks. The air was so charged.

Then Justin took hold of both Eli’s hands.

Ohshit.“I swear to God, Justin, if you make me cry in public...”

So of course he dropped to one knee. “Eli Ovadia, will you marry me?” From somewhere, Justin produced a ring. Matte black, with a thin line of silver cutting through the middle.

Heat prickled from his toes to his head—even his lips tingled as he stared down at Justin.You are family.

“Yes, of course.” Somehow he pushed the words out his mouth, then Justin was in his arms and the round of applause was far louder and longer this time. He caught sight of Michael and Sam, both of whom looked far too pleased with themselves. Bastards.

This time, he was the one who pulled Justin into a toe-curling kiss—one that forced a tiny moan that only he felt and heard.

When they broke apart the second time, they were surrounded by well wishes and hugs and laughter and—

Eli caught his breath. This—this was what the opposite of heartache felt like. So much joy Eli though he might crack apart from the lightness and fullness of it, or burst into flames, or... live.

He laughed and let the tears come as they may.

Epilogue

One year later

When Noah’s parents entered the synagogue, Eli’s heart skipped a beat. They were older, but somehow still the same. Between them, he could almost see how Noah might have looked as an adult.

They shook hands with Rabbi Berkowitz, then caught sight of him.

“Eli!” Mrs. Feinberg folded him into a hug that crushed his ribs. “Look at you! So handsome! And where’s this man of yours?”

Before he could introduce Justin, Noah’s mom hugged him, too. Noah’s father shook Eli’s hand and clapped him on the shoulder. “You should have seen her when we got the invite. We’re both very happy for you, and I think Noah would be, too.”

There was that pull of guilt. Eli let it hurt. A necessary pain, even on this day. Nothing would change his past. “I’d like to think so.”

A few more pleasantries and Sam stepped forward to lead them to their seats. They were the closest thing he had to parents on this day.

He’d seen his parents a few times in the past year. No insults, but nothing else, either. He’d sent an invitation anyway, as a courtesy, but there was no RSVP.

He hadn’t expected any.

Eli turned back to the door in time to watch his father and mother enter and the world tilted sideways into chaos. He grabbed Justin’s arm, because the cane was not going to be enough to keep him upright.