"I promise," Jeffery said. "No more open marriage, no more screwing around with other guys. If that's what it takes to get you home and get this family back together, that's what I'll do."
Evan still wasn't certain about this. He wasn't sure if Jeffery could be monogamous. But he had to fight for his family and he had to take the chance. He was old enough now to have picked up a few things along the way. He knew nothing in life was perfect, and every marriage and relationship had a few flaws. So he put his arms around Jeffery and rested his head on his shoulder. He kissed Jeffery's neck and said, "I'll come home. I want to try to make it work, more than anything else. But I'm serious about the conditions. I want monogamy or nothing." He knew he could never change some things about Jeffery, but he had to know he would be monogamous.
Jeffery held him tighter and said, "I love you and I won't let you down this time."
"Are you really serious about this?" Evan asked, still not convinced.
"I have never been more serious about anything in my life. I'll do whatever it takes."
A sharp pain shot up Evan's leg, where one of the guys had kicked him during the altercation on the street. "I love you, too. But you're killing my leg right now. I need to get to bed."
As if he'd just realized Evan's pain for the first time, Jeffery released him and stood up. He took off his tuxedo jacket, threw it on the floor, and bent down. He put one arm under Evan's shoulders and one under his legs, and then he lifted him up off the floor and said, "I'm so sorry. After what you've been through tonight I should have known better."
Evan put his arms around his husband's shoulders and laced his fingers together at the back of his neck. He kissed him and said, "Let's go to bed now. We've both been through a lot tonight and you look exhausted."
As Jeffery carried him to the elevator in the hallway, he didn't seem exhausted. When the elevator door opened and they stepped inside, Jeffery turned sideways and Evan pressed the button that would lead them up to the fourth floor to the private master suite. When the door closed, they kissed until the elevator stopped and the door opened again. Jeffery carried him to the bed without making a face or showing any signs of strain. Then Jeffery lowered him to the bed so gently Evan hardly felt the mattress when it touched his back.
When Jeffery reached down to unbuckle Evan's pants, Evan threw his arms behind his head, stretched, and arched his back so Jeffery could pull his pants down. Although his body ached, he could deal with the pain this time. He didn't crave a drink and he didn't feel overwhelmed by anything. All he wanted that night, and for the rest of his life, was to be with his husband and his family, the only real dream he'd ever had.
THE END