Leo had never been particularly fond of Easter egg hunts. Something about watching grown adults scramble after plastic eggs like sugar-starved toddlers always struck him as more humiliating than festive. But when his sister, Rachel, guilt-tripped him with talk of "community spirit" and "you need to get out more," he found himself in the middle of the town square--surrounded by pastel streamers, the scent of warm cinnamon rolls drifting from the café, and more bunny ears than should be legal in public.
At least he wasn't alone. His nephew, Oliver, looked equally unenthused.
"I don't wanna do this," the seven-year-old grumbled, kicking a pebble across the cobblestones.
"Yeah, well, neither do I," Leo muttered. "But your mom'll kill us both if we don't at least pretend to try."
Before Oliver could respond, the mayor--cheerful in that unnerving, over-caffeinated way--lifted a megaphone to her lips.
"Welcome to our annual Easter Egg Hunt!" she chirped. "This year, as always, we have a special challenge--golden eggs hidden throughout the town, with fabulous prizes for the lucky finders! And to encourage community bonding, everyone will be randomly assigned a partner."
Leo's stomach dropped.
So much for wandering around with Oliver, sneaking candy from the kid's haul and calling it a day. Now he was stuck hunting eggs with a stranger who probably took this entire thing way too seriously.
Fantastic.
He sighed and reached for one of the wicker baskets on the sign-in table--just wanting to get this over with--when another hand brushed his.
Warm. Familiar. A touch that sent a shiver right down his spine before his mind could even catch up.
Leo looked up.
Carter James.
Still effortlessly gorgeous in a fitted navy jacket and dark jeans, his hair a little shorter but just as artfully tousled as Leo remembered. Those sharp blue eyes lifted from their touching hands, and for one dizzying second, the noise of the town square faded.
"Leo?" Carter's voice curled around him like smoke, smooth and amused. "Well, well. Didn't think I'd find you at an Easter egg hunt. You never struck me as the competitive type."
Leo's mouth went dry. "I'm not."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Community spirit," he deadpanned, glaring at Rachel, who was suddenly very busy not making eye contact.
Carter chuckled, reaching for the basket again. This time, Leo let go, letting Carter claim it.
"Guess that means I win round one."
Leo crossed his arms. "Didn't realize we were keeping score."
"Oh, I always keep score." Carter winked. "But don't worry--I play fair. Most of the time."
Leo's chest pulled tight. God, this man. Carter had always known how to disarm him with just a glance, a half-smile, a well-placed tease. And damn it, it still worked.
Two years. That's how long it had been since Carter left. Since Leo had let him go.
They'd been inseparable. The kind of couple people in town just assumed would last forever--coffee dates that turned into slow mornings tangled in bedsheets, laughter that lingered like perfume in the air, plans built on half-dreams and hope.
Until Carter got the offer in Seattle. A dream job. A new life.
He asked Leo to come with him. Begged, even. But Leo had panicked. Leaving his family, his roots, the only town he'd ever known--it felt like too much, too fast. So he stayed. And Carter went.
They tried to hold on. Long-distance calls that dwindled into strained silences. Visits that started sweet and ended with aching goodbyes. And then, eventually... nothing.
And now, Carter was back--standing close enough that Leo could smell his cologne, the subtle citrus and pine of it triggering a thousand memories.
"All right, everyone!" the mayor's voice blared through the megaphone, snapping Leo out of his thoughts. "Check the partner board to find your hunting buddy!"
Leo blinked. "Wait--did she say--"
A firm hand clapped his shoulder.
"Looks like we're a team," Carter said, grinning. "I love it when fate shows off."
Leo shot Rachel a dirty look. She gave him a thumbs-up from across the square, the picture of innocence.
Fantastic.
-------------------------------- The hunt began, and Leo found himself being practically dragged by Carter, who approached the event with all the intensity of a professional athlete.
"We're going for the golden egg," Carter declared as they jogged toward the park. "Obviously."
"Obviously," Leo muttered. "Because why not turn this into the Hunger Games?"
Carter smirked. "Come on, you used to love a challenge."
Leo shook his head but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. They fell into an easy rhythm--Carter leading the way, Leo pretending he wasn't trying to keep up. It felt frustratingly natural, like no time had passed at all.
As they scoured the park, Carter's competitive streak only intensified. He climbed onto a bench to check a tree branch, knelt in the flower beds, and even sweet-talked an elderly woman into giving him a hint about where the mayor had hidden the special prize.
"You really hate losing, don't you?" Leo said, watching him dig through a pile of decorative hay bales.
Carter glanced up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Winning is just more fun."
Leo rolled his eyes but kept searching. The golden egg was nowhere to be found, but somehow, between the ridiculous antics and Carter's relentless determination, Leo realized something unsettling.
He was having fun.
A laugh bubbled up in his chest as Carter nearly tripped over a toddler trying to grab an egg. He caught himself and shot Leo a glare. "Not a word."
Leo grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Their hands brushed again as they both reached for an egg at the same time, and the warmth of Carter's skin sent a spark up Leo's arm. He hesitated, looking up, only to find Carter already watching him.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Carter exhaled softly. "You know, I didn't just come back for a visit."
Leo's heart pounded. "No?"
