Page 13 (2/2)

Chris looked at his small house, a house he loved, a place that truly felt like home…and yet sometimes felt incomplete He looked back at Matt, and yeah, he kneasin his life, had known for a while "I want you, too"

Matt’s eyes flared "I knew it"

Laughing again, Chris peeled off his shirt "You did, huh?"

"Yes, because I know you I sensed that I wasn’t in this alone"

"You aren’t" After dropping his shirt, Chris lifted one foot to remove a sneaker, then the other "You’ll live here with me?"

Matt inhaled so sharply he da up at the others, he nodded fast and held up two thumbs Chris took in their reactions with a shake of his head

Molly went teary-eyed Dare, Spencer and Trace grinned Arizona and Priss whooped

They were so nuts And special

They were fa Matt by the front of his waistband, Chris stuck a hand in his pocket and, laughing at the scandalized way Matt swatted at him, pulled out his wallet and cell phone He dropped them doith his shoes

Next, he pulled Matt’s shirt off over his head

"Chris!" Matt looked around as if he thought Chris planned to strip hiht there on the dock, with an enthusiastic and pleased audience watching "What are you doing?"

"This" Chris took his shoulders, kissed him hard and deep--and at the same time propelled them both off the end of the dock

The shock of the cold water didn’t bother Chris, but Matt e a little of that delirium himself, Chris pulled Matt under the dock "Just so you know"

Swiping lake water froood to say it Better than good He shook his head again "I can’t believe they told you everything"

"I’lad they did, but none of that really matters All that matters is that we love each other, and that we can really be together"

"Definitely together" Chris kissed hiet carried away "You know tooit as a joke, Matt s, "Dinner’s ready" Seconds later, the dogs ran over the dock and jumped in And of course they found Chris and Matt under the dock Together with the dogs, they left the water

They had a lot of details to work out, but Chris wasn’t worried Sorting out the details was part of his job

And as anyone could attest, he was da