Kellen McCartney, came from a family that was the very definition of old money.

Next to take over the company when his father stepped down, he had been groomed from a young age by his parents.

Ethan wasn’t sure what had drawn him to Kellen now that he reminisced on the past.

Their first interaction was at a festival in the middle of a field somewhere in the countryside.

Completely accidental and the most cliche thing you could imagine.

Bump

The two knocked heads as they both reached for the same T-shirt on the merch table.

“Ouch.” They both let out at the same time. Quickly followed by a laugh.

“Sorry, I...” Ethan trailed off as he got lost in a sea of blue.

“No worries.” A smile. God that smile. Ethan remembered it now like he was seeing it for the first time again.

It wasn’t exactly love at first sight. But Kellen was easy to be with. His cheerful demeanor and the twinkle in his eyes when he spoke of things that made him excited were brain melting and Ethan fell hard, fast.

First kisses... Ethan unconsciously touched his lips as he remembered.

Toes curling and heart racing. Everything felt good in that moment. They were the only two people in the universe.

“I love you.” Kellen said it first. Weeks after the kiss.

He said it so quickly that Ethan wasn’t sure he had heard him right.

“You...?” A smile crept onto Ethan’s face and his question was met with a set of lips locked on his. Enthralling and perfect.

“I love you too...” he repeated breathlessly when they broke apart. “So much…”

The sparkle again. Ethan remembered studying every crinkle in Kell’s face as they sat there watching each other for what seemed like hours and seconds all at once.

A tiny set of arms wrapping around his neck snapped him from the memory and he looked down at the giggling toddler sitting in his lap.

“Daddy...” Ah that word, the fact that she never forgot no matter how long they were apart.

“Uncle Holden and Titi Ell says we’re gonna watch stars!!”

Ethan kissed her forehead and nuzzled his face against her shoulder as he hugged her tightly.

“We are angel. Just a moment. Go grab your shoes so I can help you put them on for you.”

“No! I big. I can do!” She insisted as she squirmed down from the bed.

He laughed. “Yes you are big. But I’m here if you need me to help.”

“Otay daddy!” She had disappeared from the room within a moment and he could hear her laughing as she was intercepted by Holden in the hallway.