Jono knelt and helped Patrick into his combat boots, lacing them up with deft fingers. He curled his fingers around Patrick’s calf and tipped his head back to look up at Patrick. There was so much he wanted to say, but none of it could be spoken in front of the authorities except for one single truth. “I love you,” Jono said as he stood. Patrick’s gaze never wavered. “I’ll come back.”
