Page 91

“You liar. You dance just fine.”

“Never said I couldn’t, just that I don’t.”

“Guess we’ll have to change that.”

“Now that we know you’re not a complete heathen who hates all jazz, I may be more amenable.”

“Does that mean karaoke?”

“Don’t push it.”

He pulled Andrew closer, forgoing form so he could hold him with both arms around his waist, and Andrew encircled his neck. They rested their heads on each other’s shoulders and settled into a slow sway.

The music, the closeness, what they’d shared earlier in the bedroom—finally in a bedroom—and what they’d shared just as remarkably sitting on Isaac’s sofa and talking over nachos, made everything—madeanything—seem possible.

“I love you,” Isaac whispered over the final lyrics.

They stopped. The song stopped, leaving them in silence. Isaac felt like a raw nerve. Back on that cold Christmas night, he never could have imagined that one day he’d be here, but when Andrew raised his head, there was nothing but joy, nothing butlovestaring back at him.

Epilogue

ISAAC

Thechickensaladatthe café really was something special. Isaac got it nearly every time he and Dalton went there for lunch—like today.

They both had plans for the afternoon, but like always with the two of them, seeing each other three to four times a week was the norm, if not almost every day. It felt like family, the way Kathleen and Luke had always been, but with a touch of something more that had been missing from Isaac’s life.

Understanding maybe? Hope? Light? Whatever it was that Dalton brought with him, Isaac hoped he never had to learn to live without it.

“Star Trekmarathon this weekend?” Dalton asked.

“I’ll be there.”

“So will Riley. Be nice.”

Isaac scowled. He still wasn’t sure he liked something blossoming there, but he couldn’t control everything in his son’s life. “I’m always nice. I hired him, remember? What’s this?” he asked when Dalton set a bag on the table.

“I almost forgot. Housewarming for your new apartment. But I can’t take the credit. I saw Andrew earlier. He knew we were meeting for lunch and asked me to give it to you.”

“I’m meeting him later. Why not give it to me himself?”

“He said you’d know once you opened it.”

Intrigued, Isaac tugged the bag open and removed the tissue paper.

Inside was Andrew’s Santa mug and a note.

Enjoy lunch. I’ll be waiting at 1:00 with Bruce. Your move.

“Santa? I don’t get it,” Dalton said.

Isaac made sure he couldn’t see the note. Bruce was the gargoyle from their rooftop encounter. He didn’t mind a repeat of that, but if Andrew was giving him Santa, then he planned to be on the same rooftop this time. “Inside joke.”

“Okay, Dad. Have fun today.” Dalton went for a hug as soon as Isaac stood from his chair. “I love you.”

“I love you too,Kid Cunning.” The name had stuck, so Isaac figured he might as well accept that Dalton was a part of all aspects of his life, even the ones he wished he could keep him safe from. At least now he had a lot more people to help watch his son’s back. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get some hot chocolate to go.”

The walk to Bruce’s building was short, Isaac arriving just a handful of minutes before 1:00 and ascending to the roof. Andrew painted a lovely picture stretched out on the ledge beside his gargoyle friend. He’d paint an even lovelier one once he shed his clothes.

“Larson asked for another run on their security now that the updates have been finished,” Andrew said, “but that’s not for an hour. Care to pass the time?”

“I have only one question.” Isaac strolled closer and held up the mug. “Who gets to drink the cocoa?”