Early nodded for him, eyes still on the boys. “I get it. I’ve got a bunch of balls in the air here too. The hooligans will be busy here, running their asses off and getting tan.”
He watched Early carefully but couldn’t catch his eye. “They’ll have a great summer. Will you be okay with them here and everything else you’re doing?”
“I will. This is a good place to be, Connor. This is a great place to grow up.” Early sighed softly, chewing on his bottom lip. “I’m going to miss you. I was hoping you could stay.”
“I want to. But I have a job, honey, and I… I can’t do it here.” He could quit. Early had plenty of money now, but he couldn’t just walk out on his colleagues. “Plus, there’s the house and all our things…”I have a life and friends and…Starbucks.
“Yeah. I hear you.” Early frowned for a minute, and then the expression smoothed. “Do you want to stop by sometime today and see my folks? We can grab tacos on the way, if you want.”
He’d fucked up. It was unavoidable, and that was why he’d waited until this morning to say anything. He’d selfishly wanted last night before they landed here. He sighed and let Early go. “Sure, sounds great.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked away, watching their boys play. “How is your dad?”
“Sore. He’ll be okay. They just need help. We can go into town around supper, so you can spend the day relaxing and hanging out, and we’re not wasting time cooking or cleaning up.” Early took a deep breath, then let it out. “What do the kids think is going to happen?”
“I haven’t discussed it with them. I wanted to talk to you first. Early.” He reached for his husband again, taking him by the arm. “Even if I stayed the week, I’d still have to go back. I have a job.” It was his turn to take a deep breath. “A job I’m going to quit, obviously. But they’re friends too, so I can’t just disappear.”
“Hey!” That frown showed right back up. “I’m not asking you to just disappear. I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know. And I know I said I’d be here for a little while, but something came up. Don’t shut down on me.”
“I’m not. I’m disappointed. I miss you. I’m not being an asshole, I swear.” Early shook his head. “I’m not riding your ass.”
“I’m sorry.” He put his arms around Early again. “I miss you too. I’m going to resign. Soon. I’ll pack up the house, I’ll get it on the market. Okay? A month just isn’t enough time to completely change our lives around.”
“I know you have a whole life there. I get it.”
It didn’t escape Connor that Early hadn’t said “I have a life there” or “we do,” but “you have a whole life.”
He caught himself frowning this time. “You never said you were unhappy.”
“I wasn’t. I’m not. I just—this makes me feel…like I’m contributing again.”
“Raising our boys is contributing.” He shrugged and moved away once more. “I know you’re happy here; it’s in your eyes and your smile, it’s…in your tan skin and all the work you’ve put into everything to make this house special for us. I know you did a lot of it for me, and I love it. I promise. I have no idea what I’m going to do here, but I’ll figure it out.” His husband didn’t need him to contribute anything at all. Early was a zillionaire now, totally capable and in charge, and a much better cook.
Early blinked over at him like a confused owl. “You’re a lawyer, Connor. You practice law. You consult. You write a book. You write books about consulting.”
He snorted, grinning. “I have zero interest in writing a book. But I appreciate the suggestion. Maybe I’ll just be a kept man and sip piña coladas by the pool all day.”
“Maybe you’ll help me with the ten million bits about this whole fucking money part of this that I don’t understand.” And for the first time—there was a hint of a crack in Early.
He nodded. Money matters he understood. “Sure, maybe I can help. But you’re a smart cookie, you’ll get it eventually. Money has rules, that’s all.”
“I will. I’m sure I will.” Early caught the ball in one hand, tossing it back into play.
“Good catch.” He caught Early’s gaze. “Hey. Look at this place. You’ve got this. We’ll be okay. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Early winked at him. “You don’t know how much.”
“I have some idea. I’m a little sore this morning.” He tossed a wink right back. “Very happily sore.”
“If you’re good, I’ll let you soak in the hot tub tonight before you head home.”
“Dad, let’s meet the horses!” Jaxson came up and grabbed his hand. “This is the coolest place ever!”
“Let’s do it.” He held on to Jaxon’s hand, but turned back to Early. “You promise, sugar daddy?”
Early didn’t even hesitate. “I do. You have all of my promises, darlin’. Every one.”
And he knew Early would keep them. Every single one.