Page 106 of Making It Burn

“I know.But this is...”I took a breath.“This is big for me.”

“It is.”Beau stepped closer, his shoulder brushing mine.“But we’re doing it together.”

When we entered the office, a voice rang out.

“Mason!Beau!”

Lisa appeared from around the corner, her face lighting up when she saw us.Her gaze dropped to our joined hands, and her smile grew impossibly wider.

“Merry Christmas,” she said, her voice warm with approval.

“Merry Christmas, Lisa,” Beau said.

“You two look...”She gestured at us, at our hands, at the way we were standing close together.“Happy.”

“We are,” I said, and meant it.

“Good.You deserve it.”Lisa pulled out her phone to check something.“Oh, heads up—Patsy and Carter want everyone in the conference room in twenty minutes.Some kind of holiday send-off meeting.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Beau said.

“Of course.”Lisa squeezed his shoulder.“I’ll see you in there.And guys?”She looked between us, her expression turning serious.“Whatever happens in that meeting, I’ve got your backs.”

She walked away, and Beau turned to me.“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.Just...”I took a breath.“Twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes,” Beau agreed.“We can do this.”

“We can do this,” I repeated, trying to convince myself.

Beau pulled me toward his office, closing the door behind us once we were inside.Then he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me.

“Mason Price,” he said when we broke apart, “you just walked through this entire office holding my hand.That’s huge.”

“It’s terrifying.”

“It’s brave.”He kissed me again.“And I love you for it.”

“I love you too.”I rested my forehead against his.“Whatever happens in that conference room—”

“We handle it together,” Beau finished.“Just like you said.”

“Together,” I agreed.

* * *

The conference room was packed.Every associate, paralegal, and staff member crammed into the space, buzzing with that pre-holiday energy that comes from knowing you’re about to get two weeks off.Someone had brought cookies shaped like snowmen, and coffee cups littered every available surface.

I stood near the back with Beau beside me—not touching, but close enough that I could feel his warmth.

This was it.The moment I’d been planning since last night, lying awake in bed with Beau curled against my chest, his breathing soft and even while my mind raced.

I need to see it, he’d said.Actions, not just words.

Carter stood at the head of the table, Patsy beside him, both of them looking remarkably cheerful for people who’d just closed out one of the firm’s most profitable years on record.

“All right, everyone!”Carter called out, and the room quieted.“I’ll keep this brief because I know you’re all eager to get out of here and start your holidays.First, I want to say thank you.This year has been extraordinary.The cases we’ve won, the clients we’ve brought in, the reputation we’ve built—that’s because of each and every one of you.”