Chapter Twenty-Four

Justin

THEY'D FINALLY FOUND the house in a gated beach community farther north than they'd imagined but closer to Ethan's parents. Though Justin would have a commute, the house was their dream. The privacy alone ensured they could keep their heads down but still breathe. And the team would provide Justin with a small apartment close to their facilities. He'd stay there, just as he had in the football dorm during practices and game days, then drive back home to Ethan when he could. There just weren't any houses in the Bay that worked for what they needed, and Justin agreed with John. Having Ethan closer to them in case something happened was also better.

The upscale neighborhood had many wealthy retirees with large, well-built houses, which were older than some of the more modern beach homes farther south. It was quiet, safe, and gated, with security walls and 24/7 security guards. Ethan felt good about it and was aware of Justin's relief that Ethan would be ultra-safe there alone. And while there was only one local rink, Ethan liked it, affectionately calling it "retro," letting Justin know it would do.

John had officiated a private, off-the-record ceremony in their backyard, and Ethan had gotten Justin a ring. They said their vows, everyone cried, and they signed a certificate John found somewhere. None of it legal because that would be too easily discovered. Still, they felt married, and this would do until Justin left the NFL, when they could do it legally.

Justin had also hired a lawyer, written out a will and trust for Ethan with his father's and John's help, and put everything in Ethan's name. He authorized a living will, giving Ethan power of attorney over any decisions should something happen to him. He paid for Ethan's insurance since he couldn't add him to his policy, and they worked through other legal issues as best they could for now. Ethan knew some of it, not all, but Justin wanted to ensure Ethan was taken care of. He worried that telling Ethan all of this would cause anxiety he didn't need. His father and John had promised to make sure all his wishes for Ethan were fulfilled, but both hoped they'd never have to keep those promises.

"You never know," Justin had told them both, and they'd witnessed everything without any arguments.

Justin was spending the day with his parents and looked down at the list Ethan had made out for him.

"Two lamps, and we are in the clear," Justin said, and they headed to the new house.

"I think we got off easy," his dad said.

"Ethan knows shopping isn't my favorite pastime."

"They're handling the kitchen and living room, and we've only got the master bedroom and game room," his father confirmed, rubbing his hands together over the game room.

Justin enjoyed the rest of the day with his parents and later, as his and Ethan's parents worked together to help them create a home. He still couldn't get over his signing bonus and the whirlwind of the draft.

"We have a pool and a hot tub," Ethan whispered as they stood next to them.

"And not a single patio chair. You left out a room."

"I got you something," Ethan said.

Justin grinned. "Give it to me."

Ethan pointed to the far corner of the pool deck, just past where it ended and within a few trees and foliage. "See the top of it, just through those palm things?"

"Palm things," Justin repeated. "Wait, is that a chiminea?" Justin busted out laughing.

"It was Dad's idea."

"That's great," Justin said as they walked over to look at it. "We need an outdoor area here and then the chairs for the pool deck. I think I want a grill too."

"I agree. I'm glad I forgot it. It'll give me a project when everyone leaves."

They headed back inside to help their parents and do all they could to get everything settled. With two spare bedrooms, their parents could stay over when they came for visits and football games. Justin's parents were already looking for something in the same area. Coach and Bethany had debated it, but Coach just couldn't leave his team yet. Justin and Ethan both understood that. So, they had a bedroom at Justin and Ethan's house. Bethany planned a short visit for the first week when Justin left. Ethan wanted to learn his way around town and check out the touristy side of things with her.

Justin had worked hard to get everything out of storage and moved into the new house. They no longer had a rented space but now had a mortgage. They still had some boxes needing to be unpacked, but Ethan didn't seem to be in a rush to do everything all at once. Their parents had left to give them time alone before Justin had to go for training.

JUSTIN STOOD IN their driveway in front of his open garage and just stared at the empty space. Ethan's new compact barely occupied any room, and Justin had no intention of parking his truck inside. He considered the area, deciding it would be an excellent place for all the toys he planned to buy for himself and Ethan. Kayaks and bikes. Maybe an air hockey table for Ethan's strange obsession with that game. Their meager camping gear currently sat on one of the lonely shelves. There wasn't even a single tool. The Home Depot beat theme song faintly played in Justin's mind, Josh Lucas, beckoning him to fill the space.

Ethan had already designated the room next to the garage as their home gym, so this was up for grabs. Justin turned, gazed out at the lush lawn and tropical beds, and realized they had no lawnmower. Justin laughed as he studied the pristine yard with a more suspicious eye.

"Hey there." A man waved from across the street.

Justin waved back.

"I gotta know what's so funny," the man asked, motioning at Justin's lawn.

"I just realized we don't have a lawnmower," he admitted to the guy.

He crossed the street toward Justin. "Most people around here use a service. I think you might just be the youngest person in this neighborhood. I'm Frank Fortner." He stuck out his hand.

"Justin. Nice to meet you," Justin said and shook his hand.

"Welcome to the neighborhood; a nice place you've bought," Frank said. "The last neighbor was a doctor, but he got transferred to a hospital in another state."

Justin knew what was coming, but he and Ethan had decided there wasn't much hiding from neighbors, and they'd just wing it with Justin using Ethan's last name and hoping no one recognized him.

"Fat chance," Ethan had said at the idea.

"Well, I hope we'll be even better neighbors than your last," Justin said. "You like your service?"

"Oh, yeah, they come once weekly and do about six yards in a row on a schedule. I'll bring you their card. They did this lawn for the previous owner, so you really can't go wrong with them. I want to say they did the pool, but don't hold me to that."

Justin said with amusement, "I may use them for the lawn, but I've got a pool guy."

"Getting settled in then?" Frank peeked past Justin to the empty garage and his lone truck parked behind them in the drive.

"Yeah, I was just out here imagining everything I need to buy to fill that beauty up. An empty garage almost feels wrong. It's almost un-American, ya know?" Justin said, and they moved onto the lawn as Ethan turned into the driveway in his sporty little Infiniti with the worst timing ever. He pulled into the garage and joined them.

Justin flung his arm over Ethan's shoulders. "Ethan, this is our neighbor Frank Fortner. Frank, Ethan."

"Nice to meet you," Ethan said. "Which house?"

"Right across the street," Frank said, studying them, the rings on their fingers, and returning to Justin.

Justin nodded to confirm what Frank was putting together.

"Thank God!" Frank exclaimed as he blew out a breath. He turned and waved wildly at his house, then grinned back at them. "I want to introduce you to my husband."

"No shit," Justin burst out, and they all laughed as Frank's other half came jogging across the street.

"Oh boy, we were sweating it," Frank said. "The last neighbor was a real dick, to be honest."

Justin held out his hand to Frank's husband. "Justin Halstead and Ethan Halstead," he said with pride as they shook Donovan Fortner's hand.

"Oh, man, we'll all joke about this later," Donovan said, standing next to Frank. "Frank's been peeking through the blinds trying to figure out just who our new neighbors were.

"Our parents helped us get settled in," Ethan said. "I bet that was confusing."

"Halstead…" Frank said and turned to Justin.

"See, I told you ," Ethan started. "It was never going to work. Go on, Frank."

"First-round draft pick Halstead?" Frank said slowly.

"If you could keep that between neighbors, I can't tell you how much I'd appreciate it," Justin said with a frown.

"Oh no…" Frank nodded, then shook his head. "No, I get it. Jesus ." Then he covered his mouth and looked at Ethan, then back to Justin, down at Ethan's finger, then Justin's again.

"Exactly," Justin said.

"That's why you're this far north," Frank said, understanding.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Donovan said.

"Sports." Frank sighed.

"Oh," Donovan said, clearly not a fan, and Ethan snickered.

"Secret's safe with us," Frank said. "My brother-in-law"—Frank thumbed at his husband and winked—"moved in after his divorce."

"The things we do, huh?"

"So, is it just us?" Ethan waggled his finger between the two houses.

"Nope, we got lesbians down at the end there, but the rest—" Frank shrugged. "A few old shits who will bitch if you don't drag your trashcan back in on trash day, but they mostly stay in the AC or are only here for winter."

"We love it here, no problems," Donovan said.

"Good," Ethan said, brightening.

"What are the chances?" Frank seemed pleased to find out he had new neighbors he would like.

"I gotta go; I've got groceries in the car. Sorry," Ethan said.

"Yeah, be there to help in a second." Justin waited until Ethan was out of earshot. "I'll be out of town a lot. Do you guys mind keeping an eye on the place when he's here alone?"

"Yeah, man," Frank and Donovan both said, and they shook hands with Justin once more before heading back across the street, holding hands.

Justin carried the rest of the bags inside.

"They were so us in like twenty years," Ethan said as he put things away.

"Yeah, I see that. And by the way, we don't have a lawnmower."

"Are you mowing the yard?" Ethan stopped and pointed to himself, shaking his head. "Because I'm responsible for that pool. That , husband, is the life you promised. There was never any mention of yard work."

Justin, always so amused by Ethan, responded happily, "No, I was going to see if you'd agree for me to just hire the service that's been doing it. They do Frank and Donovan's and, like, four others on our street."

"Oh," Ethan said, nodding. "Yeah, the service, then."

Justin sensed zero anxiety from Ethan and could tell he was in a good mood. "You want kayaks or bikes?"

"Bikes. That garage bothers you so bad . I knew it would."

Justin leaned on the island and looked around their home.

"It's coming together," Ethan said as he moved in beside him.

"Will you be happy here?"

"Yes, and it feels safe. I am more at ease than I have been in a long time."

"Good." Justin kissed his cheek. "Run or swim or catch?"

"Catch," Ethan grumbled. "Because I know that's what you want to do."

Justin smirked and went to grab a ball. Their new backyard was big, with the pool and patio area, a secluded shaded portion with large trees, native tropicals, and a long green space along the side before a retaining wall, gate, and path down to the beach. They were in an inlet but within walking distance of the main beach. Still, they had a beach-front property with the privacy they'd thought would be impossible to find.

Justin threw the ball, and Ethan lobbed it back. He was pleased at how much better Ethan's throw had gotten over the last six months. Justin threw again and imagined setting up some drill nets in the space to make things a little more challenging for Ethan and for more downtime practice for himself. Back and forth they went until Ethan complained his arm would fall off again.

"What kind of dog?" Justin said as he picked up the ball from the lazy wobbling throw Ethan hurled at him. "We'd need a fenced area."

"They make invisible ones. And no, I'm thinking something small, but I want to wait and see how the school plan and your games go first. I don't want to get a pet and be too busy."

"Smart, we'll wait and see," Justin said, pulling off his sweaty shirt.

They swam and cooled off, with Justin teasing about every leaf and a floating bug or two. He pointed at the long dip net on the back wall of the house with amused satisfaction and already knew he was going to enjoy this teasing game with Ethan for years to come.

"You suck," Ethan said, laughing as he climbed over the pool wall into the hot tub.

"Too hot," Justin said as he propped his arms on the wall and stuck his hand in. "Or not? Did you turn it down?"

Ethan nodded, and Justin climbed over as Ethan reached out and turned on the jets. They sat together in their slightly warm hot tub and talked about all they planned to do. Justin relaxed as Ethan talked about flowerpots and outdoor furniture, where he would put everything and some new plans for inside.

When he stopped and looked over, Justin smiled.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too. So, the color for the living room?"

"Yes," Justin said, agreeing to whatever Ethan wanted. He tugged Ethan over onto his lap, and Ethan leaned back on him. "Keep telling me."

And Ethan relaxed and told him about all his other ideas.