Love In Slow Motion (Love Beyond Measure #2) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,106

to the counter. “We’re not really doing holidays this year—and he’s never done gifts for Chanukah. But it’s been…kind of a strange year.”

“I think it has for a lot of us,” Brian said on the heels of a sigh. “What sort of gift are you looking for?”

Fredric’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know…something for his office, maybe? He’s opening up a new practice, and it’ll be just his for the first time in his life.”

“Law?”

“Doctor,” Fredric said, letting pride color his tone.

Brian let out a very quiet hum, and Fredric heard his fingers drumming on the glass case. “Something for his wall, maybe? Or…does he have bookshelves?”

“He has nothing right now,” Fredric answered with a small laugh. “They had to do some renovations, so I think it’s mostly drywall and rubble. But I imagine he’ll have something like that.”

“We have some local art,” Brian said, and Fredric heard his shuffling steps as he came around the corner. “Paintings, sculptures. Some of them are pretty small and they’d look nice on a desk or shelf.”

Fredric followed him across the room, taking Bas’ lead when he slowed and then stopped. “He’s never really talked about art with me before, and I would feel like I was betraying the gallery if I bought something here.” The corner of his mouth lifted into a smile. “Maybe something small. A candle?”

“What about this,” Brian asked and, recognizing the tone, Fredric extended his hand and accepted the heavy weight Brian handed over.

Looping Bas’ leash around his wrist, he used his free hand to trace the edges. Square, subtle, metal, glass. “Photo frame?”

“For his desk. It comes in a set. I can even print a photo if you have one and set it in the frame before you go,” Brian offered.

It was small and simple idea. Like a movie night or candlelight dinner. Fredric had asked Ilan to take a couple of selfies of them together on his phone—one at the beach, one on a kayak trip up the intracoastal. “For when we’re ready to tell people,” Fredric had said. “Because there’s no way I’d want to hide you.”

Ilan had hooked his chin over Fredric’s shoulder, then kissed him and kissed him. Somewhere in the midst of that, some photos existed. He pulled his phone out and opened the screen, then navigated to his images.

“Will any of these do?” he asked, laying it on the counter.

Brian hummed and Fredric heard the voice-over as he swiped. “Perfect. You text them to me and I’ll get them printed. I can ring you up while we’re waiting.”

Fredric took down his number, then got the images sending. He heard Brian clicking on the computer as he ran up the order, and he thought about handing this gift to Ilan. He wanted to believe it was a good idea. He wanted to know that he was making the right choice for a future that would exist. One where Ilan was proud to display the two of them together. In public.

But he wasn’t sure if Ilan would be ready to display them on his desk like that come spring.

Hell, what if he wasn’t ever ready?

His insecurity threatened to choke him, but he was trying to have faith in how much Ilan cared about him. He wanted the hope to be real, to be tangible, that Ilan would be ready soon—for all of it. That he was willing to take the risk and willing to trust that the people who cared about them would be more happy than angry—but that the anger was worth bearing for their future.

“All set,” Brian said. “The photos are printing now, and if you want, I can wrap them up when they’re done.”

“That would be great. I…” Fredric started, then stopped and shook his head. He passed over his credit card and listened to Brian swipe it. “Thanks for this.”

“Of course.” There was hesitation in his voice, then Brian cleared his throat. “Are you okay?”

Fredric laughed. “Yes? I…it’s been a rough year. I’m missing my family, and things with my partner are a little off kilter.”

“My wife’s feeling it too. Our kids are going on some vacation this year instead of our usual gathering, and it’s hard. But that’s the way of things, isn’t it? Our kids grow up, change the routine.”

Fredric smiled softly as he heard Brian start to assemble the frames. “I think next year will be better. We’ll be in Paris to visit my son, and it’ll my first trip with my partner. As a couple.” The