The key turned in the lock. Austin lifted his head from the vegetables he was chopping and leaned back so he could peer out the kitchen door. Hale let himself in, locked the door again, then yawned and craned his head to the side.

“Long day at work?” Austin asked.

“Mmhm. Glad to be home.” Hale kicked off his shoes and padded into the kitchen. He wrapped his arms around Austin from behind and rested his cheek against Austin’s back. “How about you? Did you have a good day?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t bad. Got some cleaning done, sent out a few more resumes, figured out what we’re having for dinner…”

“You’re a star.” Hale kissed his back. “You feel like going out with me sometime after dinner? I’m feeling antsy. We could see a movie, or go get ice cream, or just walk around Moore Wood park and terrorize the goose who hates my guts.”

“All the geese there hate everyone’s guts.”

“But that one in particular hates mine most of all. I swear.”

“Are you sure it’s not a different goose chasing you each time?” Austin asked flatly.

“Yes, I’m sure. God, you’d think that I’m not some kind of goose expert or something, with the way you’re interrogating me.” Hale laughed. “Do you need any help with dinner? I could put the rice cooker on or something.”

“We’re not having rice tonight.” Austin raised a brow. “I’m making potatoes. They’re in the oven. But, if you want, you could help me finish chopping these vegetables. I’m going to fry them up in a second, but I wanted to get a start on the chicken. It’s been marinating since yesterday, but I need to get it cooking. But in answer to your question, yes, let’s go out tonight. I’ll think on what we can do while we cook.”

“Yeah, no problem. I’m only not allowed to use a knife in like, four states, and this isn’t one of them.” Hale stepped in to take the knife from him, and Austin traded off to get the chicken. It had been like this for almost a year now—Hale stepping in to help him when he needed it, and him picking up the majority of the work around the house. It was comfortable, and even though it sometimes drove him insane, it had allowed him to really get back to himself. He’d discovered new passions and explored old ones he’d lost to his depression. He’d started to stitch himself back together—in a large part thanks to Hale—and find his center again.

He was ready to be a productive member of society, and when he found a job, he was excited to start saving toward the future he wanted with the man he wanted it with. Hale had been doing a fantastic job of supporting them while he got back on his feet, and he couldn’t thank him enough. Together, they made quite a team.

“I was talking with Michael today,” Hale said. “He says hi, and that we should plan to do something together soon. I’m thinking that it might be fun to go out on a hike. We haven’t been out of Hidden Creek in a while. We should start looking into trails and things.”

“That’d be nice.”

Austin took the chicken from the fridge. He’d sealed it in a sandwich bag the day before, and it was ready to go. He barely noticed the tremor shaking the bag. It had never gone away completely, but as he continued to work on his mental and physical health, it was getting better. It no longer inhibited him, and he no longer allowed it to get him down.

“Maybe we could go on a trip somewhere soon,” Austin suggested. “I don’t know if you have any vacation time coming up, but if we could find somewhere cheap and maybe split costs with Michael, we should consider it. It’ll probably be our last chance until I get settled into whatever new job I find.”

“Yeah! I like that idea.” Hale leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’m proud of you, you know.”

“Proud of me?”

“Mmhm. For seeing things through.” Hale smiled. He’d finished with the vegetables. “It takes a lot of strength. I’m so proud of you.”

“I had some pretty good motivators… and some awesome support.” Austin set the chicken down. He looked Hale over. Even though a year had passed, the excitement hadn’t gone away. Their relationship was old now—they’d signed a lease and moved into a new apartment together—but even the domestic life was invigorating with Hale to share it with. The fog of depression didn’t always stay away, but these days, Austin was having more good days than bad. He contributed it both to his meds, and to Hale’s constant enthusiasm and positive energy. With Hale, he’d created a safe environment in which he could better himself. He could never thank Hale enough for that.

“You’re sweet.” Hale winked. “Tell you what… I’m done chopping these vegetables, and it looks like you’ve got the rest covered. I’m going to go hop in the shower, we’ll eat dinner, then we’ll head somewhere nice. Okay?”

“Sounds perfect.”

“And after our date, you can take me home and remind me how talented you are between the sheets.” Hale winked and blew Austin a kiss. “See you in twenty minutes.”

“I’m going to hold you to it. Dinner isn’t that much longer.”

“I’ve got it down to a science. I’ll be on time, I promise.”

Hale hurried out of the room, laughing under his breath, and all Austin could do laugh and shake his head. He had a feeling life would always be the same joyous, random, beautiful thing that they’d made of it by being together, and he couldn’t wait for the day that he had his life in order enough to give Hale the ring he deserved. Hale was his opposite in so many ways, but maybe it was why they got along so well. Austin couldn’t imagine the dreariness he would be living through without such a bright and shining presence in his life—his flame, his heartfire, his everything.

And no matter where life took them, or what adventures they found themselves living through, he knew that his love for Hale would see them through. There was no one he wanted more. He’d found his forever, and he intended to keep it.