Three and a half years later, Dallas was leaning over the open hood of a pick-up truck and trying to reach the engine oil cap when there was a loud honking outside the garage. Deon, the mechanic who shared a shift with Dallas at the auto shop, looked up and whistled.

“Check out that old bird,” Deon said, jerking his thumb towards the outside. “I hope they aren’t planning to ask us to fix something on it, because I don’t know if they make parts for that model anymore!”

Dallas grunted and looked up at the older car that was pulling into the shop’s parking lot. It was a pretty old model, although he’d have guessed from its good condition that the owner didn’t drive it very much over the years (it probably belonged to some elderly lady).

Dallas loved working at the auto shop. He’d started six months ago after he finished his initial training at the trade school and earned his certificate to work as a mechanic. Now he was focused on getting more work experience; Dallas mostly did oil changes and tire replacements at the shop, but Deon liked to include him in more complicated tasks to help build up his knowledge. Deon and the rest of the crew at the shop were great to him, and Dallas was glad they’d taken him on (and not just because he was making pretty good money).

The years following Nate’s departure had gone by quickly, to be honest. The Carpenters ended up moving into the same town as Rosalie’s sister and yes, shortly afterwards Esperanza (or ‘Rezzi’, as Rico insisted on calling her) was born. Compared to Rico, Rezzi was a calm and soothing infant…but like Rico, she was a charmer. Rob was absolutely besotted with his daughter and Dallas had a hard time resisting her himself. But Rico proved to be a capable big brother and more than once Rosalie had paid him the highest compliment by saying he “was just as good a brother as Dallas.”

But even though his classes and home life helped Dallas’ days go by quickly, the nights were long and lonely. He’d lay awake wondering how Nate was doing. He worried about Nate’s health and hoped he was eating. He wanted to know if Nate still was studying to become a teacher. He longed to hold and kiss him again. All he needed was just one message, one little word from Nate and his worries would go away…but Dallas kept his promise to his father and didn’t try to contact Nate. 

“I trust Nate,” Dallas reminded himself whenever the temptation got too great. “He promised he’d come back to me, so I’ll trust him and wait.”

“Hey, isn’t that your brother?” Deon’s voice drifted back into Dallas’ thoughts and Dallas looked out into the parking lot again.

Yes, it was Rico getting out of the old car’s passenger seat. The boy was taller now and looked a lot like Dallas had at his age, although he had Rosalie’s darker coloring and dazzling smile. Rico beamed that smile at Dallas now and waved energetically at the two mechanics. 

“Hi Dallas! Hi Deon!” he called. “Surprised to see me?”

Dallas swore.

“For fuck’s sake, if you’re getting into stranger’s cars now…” he started to say, but then the driver’s door opened and Dallas’ words died in his throat. In fact, all of his thoughts died away except for one: Nate.

Nate was taller now too and while he was still lean, he’d definitely filled out. His blonde curls had lengthened into waves that brushed just above his shoulders. He wore a t-shirt with a band logo and dusty jeans, but there was no mistaking that it was Nate. His clear blue eyes met Dallas’ and he smiled that beautiful smile that never failed to make Dallas’ heart stutter for a second.

“Hey Dallas,” Nate said.

Dallas couldn’t reply; he couldn’t move. He was so overwhelmed with relief and joy that it was all he could to keep breathing. Nate’s hopeful smile faltered a little and that was enough to bring Dallas back to his senses. He dropped the cloth he’d used to wipe his hands and in the space of a second he had Nate in his arms. Dallas pressed his face into Nate’s neck and his body shook as he cried.

“I waited,” he sobbed. “I waited for you!”

Nate’s arms were around him and his fingers were in his hair as he pressed kisses to Dallas’ cheek.

“Thank you for waiting,” he said, his voice watery too. “I came as soon as I could – I promise!”

“I know,” Dallas replied, and he lifted his head to kiss Nate’s warm lips. He didn’t care if Deon or all the customers inside the shop’s waiting room were watching – they could go to hell, because Dallas had his angel back. Nate kissed him and they probably would’ve continued in that way for some time if it weren’t for Rico.

“Gross guys, wait until you’re alone before you start sucking each other’s faces,” the boy said. “You’re almost as bad as Mom and Dad!”

“Listen here, you brat…” Dallas started to say, but Nate’s laughter distracted him from his annoyance.

“Can you get off work now?” Rico asked. “I’ll ask Deon!”

“No, I’ll ask Deon,” Dallas said and he grabbed the boy to stop him from running into the shop. “Nate, how long are you here for?”

“Oh, well,” Nate replied bashfully, “That depends. But for a while, hopefully…your parents are letting me stay with them.”

Dallas had moved out of his parents’ house into a small apartment shortly after he got his job, but he went over often for dinner and babysitting. He’d noticed the other day that Rosalie was cleaning out his old bedroom above the garage and now he began to wonder how long his folks had been planning this surprise. Dallas couldn’t be mad at them, though, now that he had Nate back. If he did have Nate back, that is.

Nervously, he asked, “Umm, would it be alright if I introduced you to Deon as my boyfriend?”

Nate’s eyes widened and then he blushed.

“Yes, I’d like that very much,” he said, “but only if you don’t mind people knowing…”

“Deon already knows I’m interested in men,” Dallas said quickly. “At least, one particular man. But that sort of thing’s not a problem here – this town is much more accepting than Cooper’s Creek.”

Dallas hoped that Nate wouldn’t get upset at the mention of their old town, but Nate only smiled and nodded.

“I’d like that very much,” he said, “…boyfriend.”

Dallas grinned and dragged both Nate and Rico over to the other mechanic, who had finished with the pick-up truck and was signing off on the paperwork.

“Sorry for running off like that Deon,” Dallas said, “but this is my boyfriend Nate, who I haven’t seen in a while.”

“I figured you didn’t greet any ordinary friend with a kiss like that,” Deon replied cheerfully, and he shook Nate’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nate – Dallas’ mentioned his high school sweetheart before.”

“Oooh, you two ARE high school sweethearts, aren’t you?” Rico piped up with a wicked grin. “Dallas and Nate, sitting in a tree…”

“Ricardo Jose Rodriguez Carpenter…” Dallas said warningly and Nate chortled.

“Oh my god, you sound exactly like Rosalie!” he said.

Dallas rolled his eyes before turning back to Deon. “I’m sorry to do this, but would it be alright if I left early today?”

“Yeah, it’s been a quiet day and I expect you have better things to do with your afternoon,” Deon replied, smiling. “Start your weekend early. I’ll turn in the paperwork and let the chief know.”

“Thanks Deon, I’ll see you on Tuesday!” Dallas clasped hands with his coworker before he grabbed his stuff to leave. He was going home with Nate!

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