Page 116 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

Gabriel gives him a radiant smile. “Like me. And so much more.”

“There’s nothing more. Nothing better.” And even if there was, he doesn’t need it.

The look Gabriel gives him can only be described as adoring. He cups the back of Ellis’ neck, bringing their lips together when a flash goes off, startling them.

“Aww, look at you two,” Carrie says, the camera of her phone directed at them.

“Mum,” Gabriel whines.

“This is gonna be my screensaver.”

Gabriel sighs in resignation, turning to Ellis. “You know, this is a good thing. If my mum won’t scare you off, nothing ever will.”

Ellis snorts even as his stomach flip-flops, because Gabriel is talking like he’s planning on spending his life with Ellis. “So it’s like a rite of passage for a long-term relationship?”

“Exactly.” He gasps. “Look, she’s yawning. This is our chance.” Smoothing both his expression and his voice, he asks innocently, “You tired, Mum?”

She yawns again, nodding. “Traveling always makes me a little groggy. I’m gonna grab a shower and turn in. What time did you say we need to leave?”

“Before nine,” Ellis says.

“Okie dokie.”

“I already put a fresh towel in the bathroom for you. Everything should be in there, but let me know if you need anything.”

“Oh, I will.” She winks. “Thanks, sweetie. Night night.”

“Goodnight.”

“Night, Mum,” Gabriel says before burying his face in Ellis’ neck and mumbling, “I’m so, so sorry.”

Ellis chuckles, dropping a kiss in Gabriel’s hair, smelling sugar and sunshine.

“Don’t be. It’s…kind of nice. I love the way you are with each other.” Even if witnessing the unconditional love between them makes everything inside him ache. He doesn’t understand how something he never had can hurt so much. Shouldn’t he be over it by now? He’s a grown man, for god’s sake.

“Seconds away from killing each other?” Gabriel snarks.

“You’re very close. It’s obvious.”

“Yeah, well…we only had each other when I was growing up. I mean, there was Ash, but…” He trails off, as if losing himself in the memories. His gaze flicks to Ellis. “She brought up my dad, didn’t she?”

“Just briefly.”

“Thought so.” He sighs but doesn’t seem upset. “She’s so worried about me, even though it’s her who’s still hung up on the man.”

“You’re not?” Ellis doesn’t know the story, but isn’t everyone somehow hung up on their parents? It’s kind of a biological imperative.

“No. I found…solace.” The thing is, he looks and sounds like he did. There’s a certain nostalgia in his eyes as he speaks, but Ellis can’t sense any bitterness or grudge. Not that he’s an empath, but he likes to think he’s become well-attuned to Gabriel.

“I wonder what that’s like.”

The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them. Too late. Gabriel is already fixing him withthatlook, the one that makes Ellis feel exposed, not a single inch of his messy heart spared Gabriel’s scrutiny. He doesn’t want to talk about himself. He’s been down memory lane so many times already, and it’s just the same old song being played over and over.

Gabriel pecks him on the jaw. “Let’s have a shower first, and then I’ll tell you my sob story. I think it’s time.”

“Only if you want to.”

“I do.”