Chapter Twenty-Six

Stefano

New Years—January 2020

“Where do you want this?”

He swung around to find Rossi holding a box of books.

“In the library,” Stefano offered with a chuckle.

“You laugh now, but you’ll pay later.”

He grinned at the teasing light in those beloved whiskey-colored eyes. “Promises, promises.”

With a bark of laughter, Rossi disappeared down the hallway.

Stefano continued unwrapping knickknacks and pictures of their life and friends. The wooden shelves were recessed into the living room wall, leaving more space for their furniture. Well, his furniture because Rossi really hadn’t had anything but a table, chairs, and bed. He supposed that his furniture was Rossi’s… but maybe not… It wasn’t like they were married. Although, after a certain number of years, they could claim common law in California.

“So…” Rossi said from the doorway. Stefano tossed the man a glance to find him rubbing his hands together and then on his jeans before crossing them against his chest. One foot twitched.

He’s nervous…

That look didn’t bode well, and Stefano quickly turned back to adjust the frame of a photo of them in Morocco one spring against the backdrop of the fortified city of Aït Benhaddou.

“So?”

“I’m…” Rossi cleared his throat. “I’m keeping the apartment in the city.”

After a slight pause, Stefano answered. “Okay.” He straightened the photo and selected another wrapped one from the box sitting on the leather seat of the recliner. He’d known this wasn’t going to be an easy transition for Rossi. Hell, it had taken them two years just to get to the point of sharing a house; he wasn’t going to fuck it up by guilting the man into getting rid of his apartment.

“Yeah?” Rossi sounded skeptical.

“Yeah, I might need some space.” He snatched up another wrapped photo and tossed a grin at Rossi. He found the man scowling.

Unable to help it, Stefano broke out in laughter and after a moment, Rossi joined in. Long strides brought the man across the carpeted living room, and Stefano was caught around the waist and lifted.

“Hey!” Stefano had just enough time to drop the wrapped photo back in the box before he was swung around and around in Rossi’s arms.

“Silly.” He pressed his face into Rossi’s neck.

“I’m so happy.”

Stefano’s heart jumped and his eyes stung from unshed tears and when his feet touched the floor, he wrapped his arms around Rossi’s neck.

“So am I.”

The year passed relatively quickly and Stefano spent most of the time in a happy bliss.

Until about a month before Christmas.

That’s when shit went south. Once again, he tried to get Rossi to come out at least to their unit—their friends and loved ones. Of course, some already knew… He wondered if Rossi would lose his shit if he found out just how many of Phoenix knew that they were already living together. Hell, over half of the unit already knew of their living situation, Rossi had to be blind not to know it.

Maybe he was blind to it all. Well, Stefano was tired of hiding for fuck’s sake, it was the twenty-first century.

Christmas time was the perfect opportunity to get together and he wanted it at their house this year.

“Let’s have the get-together here this year,” Stefano said casually.

“Not yet.”

Stefano gnashed his teeth, trying not to lose his calm. Rossi must have sensed his irritation because his next words were spoken hurriedly.

“Please don’t be mad.”

“I’m not. I’m just disappointed.” Clenching his hands, Stefano turned on Rossi and the man had the good sense to keep his mouth shut for a moment. “I thought we’d celebrate Christmas here at our place.”

“We can still have Christmas here.” Rossi frowned.

Stefano threw up his hands and then planted them on his hips. “You know damned well I’m talking about inviting all of our family and friends over.”

This was getting ridiculous.

Rossi looked away and rubbed a hand at the back of his neck.

What the hell? About at the end of his patience, Stefano ground his teeth together—then, a sudden thought occurred. Hurt filled his chest and his words came out wobbly.

“Are you ashamed of us?”

“No!” Rossi looked outraged at the accusation.

“Then what the fuck is it?” he spat.

“I just… I just… I… need time.”

Shock drew Stefano up short and the fear in Rossi’s eyes tightened his throat so bad, he couldn’t speak for a moment.

Was he pushing too much?

Had he become inflexible in his desire for them to be out and proud and living together?

Stefano quickly closed the distance between him and the love of his life. Because make no mistake about it, Rossi was his happily ever after. Even if the man drove him nuts.

“Can you give me an idea of when?” he said gruffly.

When Rossi’s hands gripped his waist and pulled him closer, Stefano leaned against the hard-muscled chest.

“Soon,” Rossi rasped, but Stefano wasn’t sure he believed the hesitation in the man’s voice.

Rather than answer, Stefano smoothed his palms down Rossi’s back, feeling tense muscles beneath the dress shirt. It hadn’t been their first argument about this very thing over the past year. Perhaps they still needed to settle into their new living arrangement.

After all, it had only been a month since Rossi had completely given up his apartment in the city. Stefano admitted, if only to himself, that the past several weeks had been a bit like living with a caged lion.

“I’m sorry I pushed,” Stefano whispered.

Rossi didn’t answer but responded by clutching him tighter before suddenly putting him at arm’s length.

“I have something for you.”

“Oh?” Curious, he watched Rossi tug and pull a box that seemed too wide for his front jeans pocket. The box was a long, brown velvet rectangle with gold hinges on one side. When Rossi held it out, Stefano carefully took the box and snapped it gently open.

His breath caught when he saw the medium-brown braided leather band. Intricate gold was inlaid into the pelt with his name inscribed. It was a beautiful work of art.

“Here, you have to tie it on,” Rossi murmured and slipped the band from the bed of velvet and carefully tied it around his right wrist.

Stefano touched the band, at a loss for words.

“Like it?”

Rossi sounded so unsure…as if he wouldn’t love anything the man gifted him.

“I fucking love it,” Stefano said, throwing his arms around Rossi’s neck.