25. Epilogue

Epilogue

Greg

One Year Later . . .

“Alright, Beans is asleep—poor guy is tuckered out—and the dishes are done, and it’s just you and me and that big huge moon up there, lighting up the sky and blocking all the stars from view,” Greg said with a chuckle as he settled down next to Allen on the two-person sleeping pad he’d set up just outside their camper.

“All that planning you did, and you forgot to check the moon phase, huh?” Allen scooted over next to Greg and curled up in his spot, with his head resting on Greg’s shoulder.

Greg laughed as he stared up at the moon through the clearing in the trees above them. “At least it’s clear, and the weather has been pretty perfect. I hope you’ve had a good time, darling.”

“I have. I’ve had a great time. And the camper—it was an excellent idea.”

Allen was right. It had been an excellent idea. And this, their inaugural trip in their new camper, had been everything he’d hoped, even with the moon being out and sort of ruining Greg’s plans for stargazing.

They’d chosen a secluded camping spot at a small campground along Methow River in the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest in northern Washington, and despite the mild late-summer weather, the campground had remained quiet; for the last three days, they’d been the only ones there, save for day hikers using the campground as their trailhead. Together, they’d enjoyed light hiking along the nearby trails that ran along the river and Robinson Creek to the north, with stunning views of the surrounding rocky mountain peaks. They’d seen tumbling waterfalls, colorful wildflowers, and plenty of wildlife. And when it had gotten too warm or when Allen had gotten tired, they’d retreated back to the camper to relax and rest, read, or sit outside in their lounge chairs, talking and enjoying each other’s company, as always.

It had been exactly what Greg had wanted it to be when he’d suggested they get a camper earlier in the year. And when Allen had finally decided to officially step down as head librarian, they’d timed this trip as sort of a celebration.

Greg turned his head and pressed a kiss into Allen’s hair. “That makes me happy to hear,” he said softly, “even if all we’re seeing tonight is the moon.”

“It’s gorgeous and full and bright. I dunno, I kinda like it,” Allen said, and Greg closed his eyes and inhaled deeply as Allen’s hand ran a slow path up and down his chest. “And I’m really happy to be here with you.”

Allen’s lips brushed along his jawline, and Greg hummed contentedly. “Mmm, me too. Me too.”

It was true, of course. The night really was beautiful, and...

He opened his eyes again and tilted his head to look at his husband, who was watching him with a smile full of joy and contentment, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight .

The night was beautiful, and so was Allen. Beautiful and kind and loving. And there was a joy and vibrance in Allen’s smile that ignited something in him.

Slowly, Greg shifted to prop himself up on one elbow, settling slightly over Allen. He bent down, closing the distance between them, and captured Allen’s lips in a deep, tender kiss. When they parted, he lowered his head to Allen’s shoulder with a shuddering breath.

A year ago. A year ago, they’d been tried and tested and ultimately come out stronger. But a year ago, he’d been closer to losing this—to losing Allen—than he wanted to even think about.

God, depression and anxiety were monsters. And it had taken so much effort from both of them to overcome that bump in their journey. Ultimately, it had shown Greg what was important, and for the last year, he’d focused hard on reprioritizing. He’d cut back on work, like he’d said he would. He’d stopped going on solo, multiday backpacking trips altogether. He’d started spending more time at home and less time out on the trail. And it was all better.

He didn’t regret any of it. In fact, he thought maybe he’d waited a bit too long to make the change. Because now—now, every day, he got to spend more time with his husband.

Allen’s hand rubbed Greg’s back lightly. “Are you okay? You know, if you’re really set on seeing the stars, we can come back when the moon won’t be out. We have time in our schedule now, since I’ll only be working three days a week. Though it’ll need to be soon, won’t it? Because otherwise it’ll be cold, and I’m not sure this would be so much fun if we were both freezing.”

Greg laughed and nodded into Allen’s shoulder, then pushed himself back up onto his elbow again. “I’m okay, darling. It wasn’t that. The stars will always be here. We can come back whenever. ”

“We can.” Allen’s smile softened, and his hand came around to cup Greg’s cheek. Then he drew Greg back to him with a gentle pressure, and their lips met again, softly, briefly. “You’ll just have to be a bit more thorough with your planning,” Allen teased when they parted.

With a quiet chuckle, Greg nodded again. “More thorough. Yep. I can definitely be more thorough,” he said, and he dipped back down to capture Allen’s lips. An addicting warmth coursed through him, and he deepened the kiss, slanting his mouth against his husband’s as his tongue sought entrance. Allen gladly complied, and his quiet, low moan sent a jolt of arousal through Greg as he tasted remnants of chocolate and strawberries from their dessert less than an hour ago. It was an intoxicating mixture, and Greg quickly let himself get lost, his heart racing more with each passing second.

He finally broke the kiss minutes later when he heard a quiet whine from the camper. Glancing up with a sigh, Greg saw Beans through the closed screen door, standing with his front paws up on the mesh and his tail up in the air and wagging. Beans whined again, then let out a low bark and scratched at the screen door with one paw.

“Sorry, darling, I thought he was down for the night,” Greg grumbled, shaking his head.

Allen twisted a bit to look back toward the camper and then grinned as his hand slipped down to Greg’s chest. “I think he’s just reminding us how much more comfortable the bed inside is than this camping pad, dear.”

“Oh?”

“Mm-hmm,” Allen hummed, and he stretched up and placed a kiss on Greg’s jaw and then his neck. Allen’s hand slid down more, stopping low on Greg’s stomach. “Much more comfortable. ”

Greg groaned quietly and closed his eyes. “You know, I’m comfortable wherever you are.”

“And I’d be most comfortable in the camper, in our bed.”

“With fewer clothes on?” Greg murmured suggestively, his lips now only a hair’s breadth away from Allen’s.

“Mm-hmm. Or none.”

“Ahh, yeah. That would be best, probably.”

Beans whined again, and Greg huffed a light laugh. “He’s relentless, isn’t he?”

“Yup,” Allen agreed, and his hand slid out to Greg’s hip and then around to Greg’s back. “But he’s just trying to make sure we’re most comfortable.”

“Mmm.” The pressure of Allen’s hand on Greg’s lower back sent another rush through him, and Greg lowered his mouth to cover Allen’s again. It was a brief kiss this time, but no less tender or sweet, and when he pulled back, Allen smiled gently.

“I am really happy, you know,” Allen said, and he held Greg’s gaze for an extra moment before dipping his chin. “And this—”

Another bark, this time much louder and more insistent, cut Allen off, and he and Greg both groaned together.

“Yeah, yeah, Beans. We’re coming,” Greg huffed, giving Allen an apologetic look. “I want to know what you were going to say, but after we get inside and appease our little whiner in there.”

Allen nodded in understanding, and together, they stood, rolled up the sleeping pad, and packed it back up in its bag. Then they headed inside the camper, where Beans greeted them both with more whiny yips and a wagging tail. Allen headed to the bathroom to wash up and get ready for bed while Greg snapped on Beans’s leash and took him out to do his business. When they returned to the camper a few minutes later, Allen was just exiting the bathroom, now dressed comfortably in plaid pajama pants and a plain white T-shirt .

Greg unclipped Beans’s leash, and the pup bounded over to Allen and hopped up to put his front paws on Allen’s thigh. A soft smile graced Allen’s lips, and he knelt down slowly and murmured some quiet words to Beans while scratching behind the dog’s ear. Greg set the leash on the counter near the door and then stepped up the last step into the camper just as Allen straightened back up.

“Go on to bed now, silly dog,” Allen said, the affection in his voice clear, and Beans—being the very, very good, very, very obedient pooch he was—did some sort of whole body shake and then trotted happily off to the bedroom area and hopped up on their bed rather than curling up on his own bed, which they’d put on the floor just at the foot of their bed. Greg rolled his eyes, and Allen sighed. Beans turned around to look at both of them, wagged his tail, and then circled twice before lying down at the end of the bed, right in one corner, his head resting on his paws.

“Well, at least he doesn’t take up much space?” Greg offered, closing the rest of the distance between him and Allen. He reached out and set his hand at the small of Allen’s back, and his husband leaned into the touch with a hum of agreement. Or maybe contentment? Greg dipped his head and touched his lips to Allen’s neck as he wrapped his arms around Allen’s midsection. “I can still make him get off, though, if you want.”

“Hmm.”

Greg kissed Allen’s neck again and let one hand drift lower, under the hem of Allen’s T-shirt and then along his stomach, gently pressing himself up against Allen’s back. “Just... whatever you want.”

With another quiet hum, Allen turned in Greg’s arms until they were facing each other, and his hands slid up Greg’s chest. “I just want you. ”

Allen’s soft smile was everything. It meant everything, and it filled Greg’s chest with love and happiness and joy. He bent down again and brushed his lips lightly against Allen’s.

“You have me, darling. Now and forever.”

The End