Complement, page 32
part #3 of Connectivity Series
~
The day had gone off beautifully. Brunch and snowshoeing had been perfect. A great meal, followed up by some fun outdoor time with friends and family, had been a lovely way to spend the cold winter day. But when Ian arrived for dinner with Ash’s gift, he and Nick snuck it quickly into Stevie’s bathroom while Ash had been distracted.
However, the gift seemed impatient and Nick needed to get things moving.
“Everyone? Can you all come in here, please?” he called. The house was so small that everyone was divided between the living room and the kitchen, but as Nick’s voice carried, everyone quieted and pushed into the living room. Rick and Adam took the far wall while Josh and Cory stood near the front door. Ian and Crystal sat on the sofa while Stevie followed Ash into the room. “Ash, I need you right here,” Nick said, positioning him to sit in the recliner. “I thought it would be best if I gave Ash his gift right now and then we can all enjoy it while we have dinner. So, baby? You just sit here and close your eyes and I’ll be right back. Ian, you make sure he doesn’t peek,” he instructed and everyone chuckled.
“You know I won’t peek. I love surprises and peeking would ruin it,” Ash replied, making a shooing motion with his hands. “Now hurry up. I won’t peek but now I’m getting excited. It sounds cool if everyone else gets to enjoy it too.”
Nick laughed. “Alright, alright, bossy. Eyes closed,” he said and Ash slammed his eyes shut, causing a round of snickering to ensue. Nick mimed to everyone to zip their own lips, pointing sternly to them, then retreated to retrieve Ash’s present.
He fussed over it for just a moment, making sure the green bow was perfect and when he was satisfied, he carefully carried it out to the front room.
He pointed to everyone again, as their eyes landed on his burden and they all nodded with hearts in their eyes. Nick crossed the small room. “Don’t open your eyes yet but I’m going to set it in your lap, okay?” he said to Ash and he nodded, moving his hands away. Nick gently placed the gift on Ash’s lap and his eyes instantly flew open.
“A puppy!” he exclaimed, his hands immediately cradling the small bundle. “You got me a puppy?” He looked up quickly and Nick nodded. His eyes were huge and full of excitement as he looked back down at the squiggly creature trying to crawl all over him. “Oh my God, Nick. She’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve never had a dog before.” Ash scooped her up and held her close to his face. She licked him and started to squirm, trying to get at his nose and he giggled, a sound so full of pure joy and innocence that it warmed Nick’s heart full to bursting. He’d known Ash would love the dog and Stevie had been surprisingly fine with it when Nick had explained he’d wanted to give Ash a puppy from the litter Ian’s cousin’s dog had just had.
Everyone talked excitedly, cooing over the small golden animal but gave Ash plenty of room so the dog didn’t feel scared.
“Does she have a name?” Ash asked, looking up as Nick moved over to pet their new puppy.
“No, love. I wanted you to choose,” he replied, crouching down to pet her. “It is a girl, though, and she’s a golden retriever mix of some kind. Ian’s cousin’s dog had puppies and they were trying to find homes for all of them. He was telling me about it during class one day and I asked him not to say anything to you about it. She’s just over eight weeks old, and so far, she’s just been ‘puppy.’”
Cradling the bundle to his chest, Ash thought for a moment as he stroked her soft head. “I’ll have to think of something perfect for her. She’s our first little girl and needs just the right name.” He threw his free arm around Nick’s neck and hugged him awkwardly, still holding the puppy in the other arm. “Thank you so, so much, babe. I love her already. You’re the best.” He smacked a kiss to Nick’s cheek then pressed a softer, sweeter kiss to his lips.
Nick smiled and cupped Ash’s cheek. “I love you, babe. Happy birthday.”
“On that note,” Stevie chimed in, drawing everyone's attention. “Since we’re all here and passing out gifts. I think the next gift is in order.” Rick and Adam came over and stood next to Stevie, handing here a small nicely wrapped box. She smiled at them then turned her attention back to them. “Now. I wanted to get you a birthday gift, Ash, but I didn’t want Nick to feel left out. After all, we’ve never had the chance to celebrate a birthday with him before. That being said, this is a birthday gift for both of you.” She paused and a her eyes watered a bit as she blinked a few times. Sniffling a little, she continued, “It’s also an early wedding present.”
Ash took Nick’s hand, looking at him quickly then looking back up to his mom.
“I told myself not to cry,” she warbled and used her sweater sleeve to dry her damp eyes. “Ash, you’ve come so far and been through so much and I’m so unbelievably proud of the man you’re growing to become. You’ve been my joy and strength in this life, especially after your father died, and I’m so excited to for you finally be getting all the wonderful things life has in store for you. You’re an amazing son and a wonderful partner to Nick. Your Connection has grown so much in the last few months and I often find myself wishing your father were here to see it. He’d be so proud of both you.
“Nick,” she continued, turning her gaze to him. “What can I even say about all that you’ve brought into our lives. You’ve been a miracle that I think we both needed. Your love and acceptance of Ash has been the most gratifying thing for me to witness over the last few months. I can’t tell you what it means to me after having been through so much with Ash over the years, to have you come into our lives, and just love him, no questions asked. There’s nothing more a parent could ever want for their child than to be happy and loved and accepted for who they are. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and I’m so looking forward to you joining our family on Valentine's Day.”
She took a deep breath and Rick rested his hand on her shoulder. “Okay, enough of all that.” She sniffled. “This gift is from the three of us.” She indicated to Rick and Adam. “I mentioned wanting to do something really special for you guys for your wedding and these guys wanted to do the same. But the one thing we all kept going back to was you guys needing your own place to start your lives together.”
Ash squeezed Nick’s hand and Nick moved up to squish in next to him on the recliner. Darting over, Josh gently took the puppy from them as Stevie handed Ash the small wrapped box she’d been holding. Ash held it out between them, looking between Nick and his family.
“Open it,” Stevie encouraged and Ash turned it over, unfastened one piece of tape from one fold then handed it to Nick who chucked and unstuck the other side. Handing it back to Ash, he finished it off and carefully pulled off the lid.
Inside, on a small square of cotton, were a pair of keys on a rainbow keychain.
“Mom?” Ash asked and his voice wavered as he looked up at her with questions in his eyes.
“We got you guys your own place.” Ash gasped as his eyes watered and he clutch Nick’s thigh with his free hand. Nick gripped him tighter with the arm he had around his back, placing his left hand on top of Ash’s. They listened raptly as Stevie continued, “It’s just a rental and it’s actually just across the street. When the Grandals moved out last month, I inquired with the property management company, and since that house is smaller than ours, the rent was really reasonable. We signed a year lease and will be covering your rent until you guys finish this semester and start working for Rick this summer.”
Ash leapt off the chair and threw his arms around his mom, hugging her tightly around her neck. Nick’s own vision blurred as he stood as well and hugged both Rick and Adam at the same time, never having felt so grateful for his newly acquired family. They stepped over and Nick opened up his arm to pull Stevie and Ash into their tightly knit family circle. Ash squealed, a giddy, delighted sound from within the mass of bodies and grabbed onto Nick, hugging him like he never wanted to let him go.
And that was perfectly fine with him.
Their lives had all come together in the unlikeliest of ways, and over the next few days, as his family flew into town and he and Ash were finally married in the simple ceremony they’d been working to plan, Nick realized these moments were only the beginning.
They had a lifetime of memories yet to make.
They’d come so far in the short time since they’d found each other. From school, to friendships, and Ash’s transition, they’d weathered every storm and even grown their little family. And as they broke apart and Ash gathered their newest family member into his arms again, he declared her name to be Sunshine.
“It’s the perfect name, love,” Nick said, pulling his man in and kissing him on the forehead.
“It feels right, doesn’t it? Like she’s just the beginning.” Ash snuggled into Nick’s side and they moved to the window, looking across the street at their new little home. “She’s like that first ray of light after a storm, when you see a rainbow in the sky and feel that warmth on your skin again. You know that everything is going to be okay. That together, you’ll be able to weather whatever life throws at you and come out stronger for it.”
“I couldn’t agree more, babe. We’ve certainly come a long way. And I for one, can hardly wait until next week to finally call you my husband.”
“Only if I get to call you mine as well,” Ash teased, bumping his hip into Nick’s. “My new and improved zombie husband. I like the sound of that,” Ash began and Nick laughed as he started in on how they could turn Sunshine into a zombie dog.
He quieted his fiancé’s ramblings with a gentle kiss to his lips. “I love you, baby. Forever and always.”
“I love you too. Forever and always,” Ash replied with a smile and they turned back to their friends and family, choosing to revel in the moment, knowing that their future looked bright.
-About the Author-
Whitney Cannon is a new author with a love for gay romance novels. Over the years, her love for reading about boys who love boys turned into a desire to write her own stories and characters. She has gone on to become a published author of her first short story which was a celebration of Pride month and belonging.
Her first novel, Connectivity, was published in October of 2018 and has been featured on Amazon’s Best Sellers list for Teen and Young Adult LGBT Fiction.
Catalyst, her second novel in the Connectivity series, was published in December of 2018.
When she's not reading or writing, Whitney plays house with her family and pets at her true job of being a stay-at-home mother.
You can find Whitney Cannon at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whitneycannonauthor
Email: whitneycannonauthor@gmail.com
-More Books by Whitney Cannon-
Belong (Pride 18)
In the spirit of Pride 2018, we all wish to belong somehow, somewhere. The ultimate satisfaction one could enjoy is belonging and fitting it, knowing one's place in the big scheme of things. Check out these stories from Whitney Cannon and L.B La Vigne that would blow your mind away.
Vanilla by Whitney Cannon
Blurb:
Wendel has struggled his whole life to fit in. His stutter has always left him with few if any friends; none of them boyfriends. Surviving in a life of solitude, Wendel needs to decide if risking the sanctuary he has created for himself is worth sharing his darkest truths. Can he step out of the shield he hides behind to give someone the chance to accept him for who he really is? Or, will the results of how he’s been treated in the past, keep him from taking a chance on another rejection?
Vanilla by Whitney Cannon
Connectivity (Book #1 in the Connectivity series) by Whitney Cannon
Blurb:
Josh is out and proud at his private prep school. The only problem with that is there’s no one who’s boyfriend material. He spends his weekends volunteering at the hospital, and one particular weekend, something happens that will change his life forever… He finds a gorgeous boy lying in a hospital bed who can’t seem to stay awake without him.
Through friends, family, and graduation, how will Cory and Josh handle needing each other, when they don’t even know each other. With their lives turned upside down, they learn to navigate the Connection they share.
Will they receive the support they need, in light of their unique circumstances? Will all their friendships survive? Or will their new relationship prove too much for some to handle?
Connectivity by Whitney Cannon
Catalyst (Book #2 in the Connectivity series) by Whitney Cannon
Blurb:
Travis has spent his whole life as the second born child of a Connective couple, never knowing if fate would grant him his one true Connection and soul mate. He’s never felt the desire to form a relationship with anyone before and has spent his high school career watching his friends date and one of his best friends fall in love. But would fate ever be kind enough to present him with an opportunity to find someone of his own to love?
When he meets Jersey, the man stirs feelings in Travis that he's never experienced before. Maybe he should try a relationship and be grateful for having Jersey in his life at all. Even if Jersey isn’t his Complement, his one true Connection, he can still find some happiness that has been lacking in his personal life. After all, having someone is better than having no one. Can he keep himself from falling in love with someone who isn’t his to love? Or, when attachments start to form, does he even want to try?
What will happen when fate has something else in store for him?
Catalyst by Whitney Cannon
Whitney Cannon, Complement
