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For so long, Chris had wanted to tell Matt what he contributed Not to brag, but to…hell, he didn’t know Maybe to validate his worth Never before had it ht

But with Matt, he cared A lot Even though he’d fought it, frolanced back again, and now the wo on them, held close

And damn it, he could almost feel their collective affection

"This is ridiculous," he grumbled as he mimicked Dare’s stance, fists on his hips, feet braced apart

"They value you and love you" Matt drew in a deep breath, looked at Chris’s mouth, then back to his eyes "Not asthat like a sucker punch, Chris pulled back "What?"

They stood at a siht, eye to eye, and Matt moved closer still He obviously didn’t care that everyone watched

Hell, he still looked happy

"I have so for you" Matt reached into his pocket and pulled out…dog tags "They’re personalized"

Cautiously, Chris accepted the chain fro, he read the inscribed names: Chris on one, Matt on the other

"They’re perfect for you, right? I’d thought about getting the the satin stainless steel, the engravings "They’re perfect"

"I picked the, Matt hung it around Chris’s neck "I love you"

Chris eyed hi easy and warm "Since when?"

"Since…always"

He had to point out the obvious "You thought I was an errand boy"

"And I loved you even then" Before Chris could reply, Matt added, "But…it didn’t make sense to me I knew you were more important than that Smarter than that,you wanted"

Heat crawled up Chris’s neck What the hell? He hadn’t blushed since he was in middle school "You’re so full of it," he blustered, but he liked hearing it all the same

Matt beamed at him "Your friends have accepted me"

"Why wouldn’t they?" Chris rubbed the back of his neck, glanced back again, and this tis He had to laugh "Stop staring already! I feel like a spectacle"

Arizona swaggered forward "Are we keeping hihed, too, but there was uncertainty in the way he said, "See? They want me"