In a New York Minute

by Felice Stevens

Then he got the call. “Hello, sweetheart. How’re you feeling? Better?” “Yes, thanks. All recovered.” In bed lounging and drinking hot tea, Garrett had decided to give himself a night of doing nothing but watching TV and catching up on some reading. Yes, folks, another wild Friday night for Garrett Steiner. He might as well get a package of Depends and adopt a bunch of cats. Maybe look into buying a cemetery plot.

“So now he’s answered me, and I can’t believe I’m nervous. I don’t know why, because it’ll probably end up being nothing.” “But it’s the start of something. You know, Jeremiah, you don’t always have to know the ending, just the next step on the path.

“I always worried about you when you told us you wanted to be a famous rock star, that you’d change from the loving young man you were brought up to be. I’m glad to see you haven’t.” Remi bit off the end of his sandwich. “I have. I’ve done lots of things I’m not proud of.” He chewed without tasting it. “Sometimes I don’t recognize myself.” “I do.” A surprisingly strong hand gripped his wrist. “You might be older and carry scars around your heart, but you’ll always be that little boy who didn’t mind spending time with me. In your grief, you might see only darkness trapping you in a world that knows you as Remi Angel, famous rock star, but to me, you’re my Jeremiah. My shining light. All I want is for you to be happy so I can see that light shine for someone else.”

“What about you? You’ve made no secret about how much you loved Clarke and that it’s what caused your downward spiral. Are you able to move past your marriage and start again?” Remi cupped Garrett’s cheek, meeting his eyes. “I’ve spent so much time standing by the shoreline, waiting at the edge, thinking that if I ever took that step, I’d drown.” He smoothed his thumb over the warm, bristly skin. “Instead, I swam with my eyes wide open and discovered the deepest water was where I’d find my heart hiding. Waiting to be rescued. So yes, I have moved on. From the first time we met, you became an integral part of me.” “Just like that, huh?” Garrett lit up, his face aglow with the fire of a morning sunrise. “Yeah. Just like that, I knew it was going to be you.”

“All these years I was so lost, only to find myself in you. You’re a part of me, the missing piece I never looked for because I thought it was gone forever.” “I’m here.” Garrett kissed his shoulder. “And I’m not leaving. When I met you that first night, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what I was looking for. But now I do.” “Yeah?” Remi held him tighter. “You. Only you. I don’t need fancy dinners or club-hopping. Remi Angel or Jeremiah Angelberg, it doesn’t matter. Alone here with you is all the excitement I need.”

“I love you. I want to hold your hand in the rain and get caught in a snowstorm so we can make love in front of a fire. I want to bring you flowers on Friday nights to celebrate another week together. I want to have lazy Saturday mornings in bed and family Sunday bagels. I want to grow old with you. I want to love you forever.” “That’s beautiful,” he choked out, Remi’s emotional confession overwhelming him. “Loving you doesn’t mean I need to know everything about you. But I do know the most important things. You’re loving, kind, and sweet. A wonderful son. A devoted grandson.” He turned Remi’s face to his and kissed him, soft and sweet. “The most incredible lover who only needs to touch me and I’m up in flames.” Remi rolled on top of him and began to passionately kiss him. “Better get the fire extinguisher.”

Have I told you how much I love you?” “Yes, but I don’t mind hearing it again.” “I love you. I don’t think I could love you more than I do right now, but there’s always tomorrow to prove me wrong.”