“Nothing big. I need to work out for a while, but other than that, I’m open.”
“Cool. I’ll try to get a little workout in myself. Maybe the rowing machine with one foot, huh?”
“I could see that being doable. You just have to make sure you don’t put any pressure on that foot. I could take the big footrest off and put a pillow down there instead.”
“Sounds great.” His phone rang and he rolled his eyes, grabbing for it, then his mouth became a thin line and he sighed, hitting the answer button. “Hey, Mom, what’s up?”
Caleb didn’t put it on speaker, but he sat there so Hawk could hear his mom’s voice as she went on and on, actually not letting Caleb get a word in edgewise.
Then Caleb shook his head. “No, Mom, I really don’t think that’s a good idea right now. I have physical therapy in Denver, and I’m staying with a friend to help with the rehab. He doesn’t really have room.”
Shit. That meant Caleb’s parents wanted to come and stay with him.
“Yeah, no, I’m serious.” Caleb tried to get out whole sentences, but apparently his mom was interrupting him because he kept cutting himself off too. “No, I really don’t wantto talk to Dad.”
Caleb made a couple more clucking sort of noises, trying to get his mom to pay attention, Hawk thought, and then the tone of the conversation shifted.
“Hey, Dad, look, could you just— no, I was not rude to her.” Caleb’s tone changed, going hard. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now, and I would love for you guys to abide by my wishes. Dad, I’m an adult. I have been for a long time. I’ve been on my own. While I appreciate the idea, I don’t need you guys here.”
Hawk winced, because damn he couldn’t imagine having that kind of a conversation with his mom and dad. His mom would kick his ass. But then again they had never given him a reason to feel that way either.
“Okay, yeah, I’m going to go now. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” Caleb hit the end call button and put his phone face down on the counter. He sat there with his head lowered, and Hawk got the impression that he didn’t want to show what he was thinking too much.
“Is there anything I can do, baby?”
Caleb’s shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath. “No, I don’t think so. Let’s just eat breakfast. I don’t want to give them any more time and energy today. I just want to be with you.”
Hawk reached over and tipped up Caleb’s chin so he could look into those beautiful eyes. “You mean with your boyfriend?”
“That’s exactly what I mean. You’re amazing. And I’m glad we reconnected. I’m well on my way to falling head over heels for you, you know?”
His heart started to thud in his chest, and heat spread all the way through his body, from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. “I feel the same way.” There was no awkwardness in him when he said it because it was the damn truth, and he didn’t have to worry about how Caleb was going to take hiswords.
“You want to hang out in bed instead of on the couch?” Caleb grabbed his hand and squeezed, using his other hand to shovel the rest of his food into his mouth.
Hawk nodded, and he ate more slowly, but he understood the rush. He wanted to go back to bed with Caleb as well.
In fact, he wanted to spend the whole damn day there.
Twenty-Three
Caleb hadn’t wanted to leave Idaho Springs to go back to Denver to have physical therapy. He had hoped he and Lucas could meet in the Springs instead of going back to the city, but it hadn’t worked out due to a change in Lucas’s schedule.
So they were on their way back to Denver so he could do his evaluation and his specialized session. He wished they were back in Hawk’s big bed in the Idaho Springs house already. Caleb had all these ideas about what to do with the barn.
And he really hadn’t even gotten to see the upstairs.
“We’ll go back, babe,” Hawk murmured as if reading his mind.
“I know. I’m not going to let that gem of a house get away from me.” He winked broadly when Hawk glanced at him, but his heart raced a little bit at the idea that he and Hawk were planning something long-term.
Crazy, maybe, but he wanted that really bad.
And Hawk didn’t seem to mind the idea either. He reached over and grabbed Caleb’s hand and squeezed it.
By the time they got to Lucas’s office, he felt betterbecause Hawk just kept being the most amazing, supportive, sweet guy ever. And he had promised gyros for dinner, which Caleb absolutely adored.
They were teasing each other about whether they should get fast food gyros or go to an actual sit-down restaurant as he clumped into Lucas’ office, his crutches making this whacking noise on the floor.