Miguel tiptoed out to the living room. Not that he had to worry about keeping quiet; Nate slept so deeply Miguel wondered what it would take to wake him up before morning. The man clearly had some kind of internal alarm system, though, because he woke at 5:45 like clockwork, rising like the undead to stumble into the bathroom. After about five minutes of splashing and grumbling, he would emerge awake and ready to go.
Their house was quiet but not fully dark. Moonlight flooded through the picture window, painting the hardwood floors and living room furniture with myriad shadows and light. They’d left the shade open before they went to bed, and now the August full moon’s light was streaming inside. An uninvited but not unwelcome guest.
He flopped onto the couch by the window with a whump and stared out into the canopy of the locust tree in the backyard. The moonlight created complex and mysterious shadows in the leaves. A bat swooped across the yard, chasing late-night dinner. The house creaked as the outdoor temperature cooled.
Another sound reached his ears. Turning his head to see, he raised his eyebrows at the sight of Nate shuffling into the room.
“What are you doing awake?” They may have only been together officially for two months or so, but Miguel knew Nate did not wake in the middle of the night.
“I rolled over and you weren’t there.” Nate pouted.
Miguel scooted into the back of the couch, then patted the vacant spot for Nate. Spooning with Nate had become one of Miguel’s favorite activities that didn’t involve sex.
“I couldn’t stay asleep; my brain was going a million miles an hour.” He tucked his arms around Nate. “I can’t believe how bright the moon is tonight.”
“It’s a full moon,” Nate grumbled. “Happens once a month.”
“Is somebody grouchy?”
“Hmph.” Yes, somebody was grouchy.
“We’re getting married tomorrow—well, today.”
There would be no elaborate wedding. Miguel wasn’t the only one who didn’t want one; Nate was against them on general principle. With any luck the whole shebang would be done in fifteen minutes. But… since Miguel had said yes, Nate had argued there was no reason for them to wait to tie the knot. Why wait when they both knew what they wanted? Miguel hadn’t put up too much of a fight. He hadn’t actually been able to think of a serious argument against getting married right away. Mostly he’d rolled his eyes and teased Nate for once again jumping into something the way Adam Klay was constantly accusing him of. But he had made Nate wait a few weeks.
Miguel admired, loved, craved Nate’s certainty, but he needed a moment to think and breathe even if he knew he wouldn’t change his mind about getting married. Nate was… solid and real. The most steadfast person he’d met, even more than Buck. Fearless in his commitment. He never faltered. Nate had told Miguel he thought of him as a river; well, Nate was his rock, solid and sure under the heavy current. Miguel knew that was what made Nate an excellent agent, even if his impulsive tendencies did drive Klay up the wall. Nate had received a warning from his team leader and, much to his chagrin, more online training.
Nate called city hall as soon as Miguel gave him the green light and made an appointment at the courthouse. Then he called his sister. Miguel had kissed the back of Nate’s neck while Nate spoke, breathing in his scent to keep himself from becoming angry. He reminded himself he had no idea what was happening in Melody Richardson’s head. Miguel hadn’t grown up in their family. He also reminded himself that their loss was his gain and that Nate didn’t seem particularly upset by her tepid reaction. Nate had commented that knowing he truly had been an outsider in that family made sense to him. It explained a lot about how he’d grown up.
“Mel has her own stuff to figure out.”
Anger wasn’t something Miguel was used to feeling. Normally he let things go. It was easier and healthier. But Nate’s family really took the cake. It almost made Miguel feel lucky. He may have been on his own for the most part, but he never had to negotiate a battlefield of emotional land mines.
“I thought I’d let her know. Mel and I were close once.” Nate shrugged off the rejection. “She didn’t hang up on me. I don’t know what’s going on in her head, and I’m not going to worry about it.”
Nate twisted in his arms so he was facing Miguel, very much in danger of falling off the couch. “We’re getting married. I am so excited.”
“We are.”
Nate grinned and leaned in, placing a possessive kiss on Miguel’s lips. Reflexively, Miguel tightened his arms around Nate, acting for once as the anchor to keep Nate from falling.
They could do this thing. They could be both rock and river for each other. Together they would be each other’s home and family. Together they would carve a path through this thing called life.
After renegotiating body space on the couch, Miguel the small spoon this time, Nate claimed Miguel again, wrapping his good arm tightly around Miguel’s waist, resting his chin against Miguel’s shoulder. Together they watched the sky lighten as the sun came up over Skagit. There wasn’t a cloud in sight, birds were chirping morning songs about food and weather, a dog barked, a car door slammed somewhere up the street. Miguel shivered, and Nate squeezed him tighter, understanding Miguel was taking everything in: the new day, the new life, Nate, everything. Family. His to keep.
End