slob,” he said, “And for the first time in my life I know what I’m doing. Then he kissed
him on the lips and said, “I love you so much. I still can’t believe I had to come all the
way to San Francisco to find you.”
Ed closed his eyes and held him so hard he lifted him up off the grass. When he
opened his eyes a minute later and raised his head, he looked over Jonathan’s shoulder
and saw everyone was standing in front of the balloon, watching them. They were all
smiling, including Noah, and they were clapping their hands.
He put Jonathan down and said, “Let’s go. This is the first time I’ve ever been up
in one of these things and I’m glad it’s with you.”
Then he put his arm around Jonathan’s shoulders and they crossed to where the
others were standing. On the way there, Ed looked up at the sky and whispered, “Thank
you, Jake.”
THE END