Gage

Gage looked around the big space and grinned. Everyone he knew was there. At least half the town of Silver Lake had shown up for Newton’s grand opening.

“You really know how to throw a party,” Gage said, pulling his boyfriend close and planting a kiss on the side of his head. “Everyone came out to see you tonight.”

Newton smiled and took a sip of champagne, looking up at Gage with those bright blue eyes that never failed to take his breath away.

“It’s a good thing you talked me into getting this bigger space,” he said, his cheeks already a light pink from the alcohol. “There’s no way this many people would have fit inside the old place.”

“And there’s no way you would have been able to display all these beautiful pictures,” Gage added, looking around at the dozens of matted and framed photos that lined the walls. Each one was a masterpiece of color, shape, and composition. Even someone like Gage, whose knowledge of photography was limited to the occasional selfie, could tell that Newton was a genius when it came to his art.

Gage’s sexy, red-headed genius with those rosy pink cheeks and that sweet little ass that Gage would definitely be seeing more of later.

“Newton,” a woman’s voice boomed from the front door, commanding everyone’s attention from one side of the room to the other. “Newton, sweetie, I’m here.”

Gage felt a slow grin cross his lips as he watched his boyfriend hurry over to catch the woman in a big hug. There was no doubt in Gage’s mind who she was, and it was confirmed a few moments later when Newton brought her over and introduced Gage to her.

“Aunt Sandy, this is my boyfriend, Gage.” He looked over to Gage. “This is Aunt Sandy.”

“So good to finally meet you,” Gage said, smiling down at the tiny woman with a voice like a megaphone. “Newton has told me so much about you.”

“Likewise, sweetie,” she said, beaming up at Gage. “He tells me you treat him really well.”

Gage knew the smile on his face—already ridiculously wide—grew even brighter at her comment.

“He deserves every bit and more,” Gage replied.

“I’m glad to see we’re on the same page,” Sandy said. “And for what it’s worth, I think he was right.”

Gage quirked an eyebrow. “Right about what?”

“You really are a cutie.” She winked at him then turned to chase after a waiter with a tray of champagne.

Gage laughed and looked around, scanning the crowd for his boyfriend, who had somehow completely vanished while Gage had been talking to Aunt Sandy.

When Gage finally spotted him, Newton was walking back to him, arm and arm with their friend, Scottie, the coffee shop owner down the block from Gage’s gym.

“This place is fantastic,” Scottie gushed, reaching up to embrace Gage in a friendly hug before turning back to Newton. “You really outdid yourself this time. I thought the other place was great, but this…” he let out a low whistle and looked around. “I’ve already seen three prints I want to buy for the coffee shop, and I haven’t even made it all the way around the room yet.”

Gage loved that Newton was getting so much attention and so much well-deserved credit for his work. After the shooting, they had both taken a couple of weeks off to recover together. But when it was time to go back, Newton couldn’t make himself walk into that old building again.

Fortunately, business had picked up enough to pay for a move, and then had picked up even more to justify renting the space next to his new studio—the space they were celebrating the grand opening of tonight—to use as a gallery for some of Newton’s non-commissioned, personal work.

And Scottie was absolutely right. It was fantastic.

Newton stood on his toes and planted a kiss on Gage’s lips, the sweet blend of champagne and sexy pulling him from his thoughts.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without Gage cheering me on and helping me out every step of the way,” Newton said. “So, he definitely deserves half the credit.”

“No way,” Gage shook his head. “I don’t even get a little bit of the credit for this, babe. This is all you, and I’m so proud of you. Truly.”

“Oh my goodness,” Scottie said, smiling at the two of them. “You guys are so cute and sweet, I’m gonna need a root canal. I can’t get over how perfect you look together.”

“Not gonna argue with that,” Gage said.

“Don’t worry, Scottie,” Calvin’s voice piped up from their left, appearing through the crowd with Jack in tow. “Your time has to be coming up soon. Pretty sure the odds are in your favor.”

Scottie sighed and cast a longing glance toward the door, as if half-expecting his Prince Charming to walk in right on cue.

“I keep thinking it will happen,” Scottie said with a small shrug. “First you two,” he nodded toward Calvin and Jack. “Then you two,” nodding at Newton and Gage. “Trenton Lewis and I fight like an old married couple, so that’s gotta count for something, right?”

All four of them groaned at the mention of Scottie’s across-the-street competitor.

“As badly as I’m sure Trenton needs to get laid,” Jack said, “I can’t think of two people who are more night and day than the two of you.”

Newton giggled into his champagne glass, and Gage pulled him closer, letting his hand drift down to rest above the curve of his sexy ass.

Gage didn’t say anything, but he knew exactly what Newton was thinking.

Sometimes the least likely pairs make the best couples.

Sometimes two people can look for love all their lives, only to find it right under their noses.

Or right across the street.

Sometimes, you just have to trust.