Ethan and Jacob: Wish You Were Here
by SalientLane
Chapter 26
I awoke to Jacob's warm breath on my neck, his arm draped over me. Sunlight streamed through the window of our bedroom. Another perfect summer morning.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Jacob murmured, nuzzling closer.
I turned to face him, drinking in his messy black hair and bright blue eyes. "Morning, Jake. Where are we?"
He grinned. "We're here. Remember? We were going to sleep at my place but Henri invited us for supper. Doesn't matter anyway. We're home."
My heart swelled. After those agonizing months apart in Chicago, every moment together felt like a gift. I nodded, leaning into him. The smell of his shampoo—something citrusy—filled my nose as I held him close. But that wasn't all. The sweet smell coming from down the hall was enticing.
We headed to the kitchen, the smell of coffee and croissants filling the air. Henri, my new stepdad, was at the stove.
"Bonjour, mes fils!" he called cheerfully. My sons. The words still made me smile.
"What's the plan today?" Jacob asked, snagging a warm croissant.
I shrugged. "Vieux-Québec? It's been at least 12 hours since we were there last."
Jacob laughed, his eyes crinkling. "An eternity. Let's go."
We wolfed down breakfast and dashed out the door, pausing only to grab our keys - we both had copies to each other's apartments now.
The cobblestone streets of Old Québec welcomed us like an old friend. We weaved through the bustling crowd, two local boys in a dance they knew by heart.
"Race you to the statue!" he challenged with a mischievous grin.
"You're on!" I took off running, Jacob hot on my heels.
We collapsed at the base of the statue, breathless and laughing. I leaned against Jacob's shoulder, savoring his closeness.
"I still can't believe you're really here," Jacob murmured.
I squeezed his hand. "Me neither. But I'm never leaving again."
He smiled, knowing it was true. Whatever the future held, we'd face it together - best friends, soulmates, family.
The aroma of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air, making my stomach growl. Jacob's eyes lit up.
"Smell that? Let's hit Paillard," he suggested, tugging me along.
Inside the cozy shop, we pressed our noses against the glass display case, marveling at the colorful array of treats.
"Two slices of the chocolate-raspberry, s'il vous plaît," I requested, fishing out some coins.
We took our treasure outside and perched on a nearby bench. At the first bite, I closed my eyes in bliss.
"This has to be the best cake ever created," Jacob mumbled around a mouthful.
I nodded emphatically. "It's like eating a piece of heaven."
We savored each morsel, licking our fingers clean. A street musician started playing nearby, the lively tune matching our mood.
"Where to next?" I asked, standing and stretching.
Jacob grinned. "Let's just wander. Who knows what we'll discover?"
We meandered down winding streets, pointing out quirky shop windows and peeking into hidden courtyards. The city felt both familiar and new, like an old storybook with secret pages.
"Remember when we got lost here as kids?" Jacob chuckled.
I snorted. "You mean when you insisted you knew a shortcut?"
"Hey, we found that amazing ice cream shop, didn't we?"
The sun climbed higher, and sweat began to bead on our foreheads. Jacob fanned himself with his hand.
"Man, it's getting hot. Crystal Fountains?"
I nodded eagerly. Minutes later, we shrugged off our tank tops and dashed into the spray of water jets, colors dancing across our skin. Kids laughed around us, adults too, all captivated by the simple joy of cool water on a hot day.
"Remember when we were little tykes running through here?" Jacob asked, his voice barely audible over the roar of the fountains.
"Feels like yesterday," I said, a surge of nostalgia washing over me. But today was different. Today there was something more between us, something electric and undeniable. We'd been through our own storm, a time when distance tested us, tried to break us. But here we were, closer than ever, two halves of a whole.
The cool air of Le Knock Out hit us like a refreshing wave as we stepped inside. The familiar scent of vinyl and incense wrapped around us, a comforting cocoon. Genesis's "The Carpet Crawlers" drifted through the speakers, its ethereal melody a perfect backdrop to our treasure hunt.
"Dude, check it out!" Jacob's excited whisper drew me to a crate of used records. His fingers delicately lifted a well-worn Yes album.
We huddled over the record, examining its condition. The cover was a bit faded, but the record looked pristine.
"Relayer," I breathed, tracing the intricate lines of the cover art.
"Looks like it's seen some love," Jacob commented, his voice tinged with reverence for the music that had surely filled someone's room before it ended up here.
"Deserves more." I reached for my wallet and Jacob did the same. We knew the drill; our funds combined were just enough for these kinds of treasures.
As we headed to the counter, I could not help but feel a warm glow. It was not just about the music – it was the shared excitement, the unspoken understanding between us.
"Excuse me," a voice piped up behind us. We turned to see two boys about our age, eyes shining with curiosity. "Buying 'Relayer'?"
Jacob nodded, holding up the album. "Yeah! You guys fans of Yes?"
The taller boy's face lit up. "Are we ever! I'm Geoffrey, by the way. This is Sam."
As we introduced ourselves, I couldn't help but notice how Sam leaned into Geoffrey, their hands naturally finding each other. It was like looking in a mirror.
"We should totally hang out sometime," I blurted out, surprising myself with my boldness. "Maybe have a listening party?"
The smiles that spread across their faces told me I'd said exactly the right thing.
The rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked croissants enveloped us as we settled into our usual booth at Café Felin Ma Langue Aux Chats. Geoffrey and Sam slid in across from Jacob and me, our new friends mirroring us like a reflection in the window.
Sam's attention was quickly stolen by Tiki, the café's resident feline ruler. He scratched under his chin, cooing, "Who's a pretty kitty? You are!" Tiki purred, shamelessly indulging in the worship.
I grinned at Jacob. "Looks like Sam's found a new best friend."
"Should I be jealous?" Geoffrey quipped, sipping his latte. His eyes sparkled with mirth.
"Nah, you're still my favorite furball, Geoffy," Sam teased, not missing a beat.
Their banter reminded me of Jacob and myself, the easy rapport of lifelong friends and soulmates. The way Geoffrey looked at Sam, like he was the sun and the moon all at once... I knew that look. I saw it every time Jacob glanced my way.
Under the table, I hooked my ankle around Jacob's, a secret signal of affection. He bumped my shoulder, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth.
"So," I said, leaning forward conspiratorially, "favorite Genesis album, go!"
"Trick question!" Geoffrey declared. "The first eight are all brilliant. I even love the first one, Genesis to Revelation."
"Cop out," Jacob accused with a laugh.
"Fine, fine. Gun to my head... Trespass is my favorite. I love what they did with 12-string guitars."
"Ooh, controversial!" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Everyone knows The Lamb is their magnum opus."
We fell into a spirited debate, dissecting lyrics and arguing over how important Eno was to the overall aesthetic of The Lamb. Our voices rose and fell in excited chatter, drawing curious glances from other patrons. But we were lost in our own little world, four kindred spirits bonding over a shared passion.
Looking at Sam and Geoffrey, I saw a reflection of what Jacob and I had. Partners, best friends, two halves of a whole. Our hearts all spoke the same language. The thought filled me with a warm, fuzzy feeling, like Tiki curled up in a patch of sunlight.
I reached for Jacob's hand under the table, intertwining our fingers. He squeezed back, a silent 'I love you.'
In that moment, surrounded by the chatter of new friends and the comfort of old love, I felt like I was exactly where I belonged. If there's a heaven, it can't feel much better than how I felt at that moment.
The sun dipped low, painting Old Québec in golden hues. Jacob and I strolled hand-in-hand down Rue Saint-Jean, our new vinyl tucked under my arm.
"Best day ever," I sighed contentedly.
Jacob grinned, his blue eyes twinkling. "You say that every day, Ethan."
"Because it's true every day," I countered, bumping his shoulder playfully.
We paused at a street corner, savoring the warm evening air. The cobblestones beneath our feet seemed to glow in the fading light.
"Remember when we were little and thought this place was magical?" Jacob muses.
I squeezed his hand. "It still is. Especially with you."
He blushed, a rare sight that made my heart skip. "You're such a sap."
"You love it," I teased.
"I do," he admitted softly.
We continued our leisurely pace, drinking in the sights and sounds of our beloved city. Street musicians played a lively tune, their melody drifting on the breeze.
"Hey," Jacob said suddenly, "race you to the fountain?"
Before I could respond, he's off like a shot. I laughed and sprinted after him, our flip-flops slapping against the pavement.
We collapsed by the fountain, breathless and giddy. Jacob's hair was tousled, his cheeks flushed. I'd never seen anything more beautiful.
As we caught our breath, I was struck by a wave of gratitude so intense it nearly overwhelmed me. This was our life now - no more separation, no more longing. Just us, together, in our favorite place on earth.
"What're you thinking about?" Jacob asked, noticing my expression.
I smiled, unable to contain the joy bubbling up inside me. "Just how lucky we are. How perfect everything is."
He nodded, understanding without need for further explanation. "Our happily ever after."
"Exactly."
We sat in comfortable silence, watching the last rays of sunlight dance across the water. It was a typical summer evening in Old Québec, but to us, it was nothing short of heaven.
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