It had to be love.
He’d expected, if he ever felt that way, to experience more panic, to freak out about losing his independence or his autonomy or whatever. Becoming part of awehad always seemed counterproductive, thanks to his parents. Maybe worse than that, maybe damaging, the way his father sort of had gotten subsumed by his mom; it seemed like it was a bad thing to become part of a couple.
But now he knew about things like support and having each other’s backs and spending time together and having someone to share things with. He’s been alone most of his adult life. In fact, pretty much all of it up until now, and he realized he didn’t want to be alone anymore. Specifically he wanted to be with Hawk.
So he took a deep breath and stood, hobbling over to wrap his arms around Hawk’s waist from behind, his cheek against the Hawk’s back between his shoulder blades. “I love you.”
Hawk immediately turned off the stove before turning around and grabbing around the waist. “Oh, thank God. I love you too, baby.”
Caleb pinched Hawk’s nipple through his shirt. “Were you ever gonna tell me?”
“Ow, hey! I was being patient.” Hawk bent down to kiss him, a lingering contact, making him hum. “I kept worrying that it was too soon, and I didn’t want to fuck up and tell you and have you freak out.”
“I’m not gonna freak out.” He was going to revel in it, in fact.
“So does this mean you’re going to move in permanently?”
His heart raced, and he reached up to the cup Hawk’s cheek in his hand. “Do you want me to?”
“Hell, yes. Why waste time running back and forth to a soulless condo in Vail when you could be here with me or inIdaho Springs or wherever? You could even travel with me when I have to.”
“Sure, as long as I can get into an online school until I have to do hands-on training or whatever.” He had talked to Hawk about doing physio work, but he had never actually made concrete plans.
“So you’re going to go back to school and do the sports trainer stuff?”
“I think so. I really love that idea.” Things seemed to be falling into place, and it kind of scared him, but it also made him incredibly proud and happy.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Do I need to come in there and cook supper?” Helen called.
“I think you might. We’re having a moment,” Hawk yelled back.
“I love moments!”
Caleb broke down into hard laughter because Helene and David were such amazing people, and he already adored them. He felt like he now possessed more family than he’d ever had in his life.
“Come on then, you can have a moment with us.” Caleb wasn’t about to deny her this. Seeing her son in love had to be amazing; at least he hoped so.
Helene and David both appeared in the kitchen and Hawk pulled them into a group hug, which felt stunning to him, making his eyes prickle with a little bit of wet happiness.
Caleb knew what he wanted to do with the rest of his life now, and he would do anything he had to do to stay on his feet when they landed.
This time he didn’t think it would break anything though.
Epilogue
Santa Fe, NM, three months later
“Hey,Puck! You want anything else to drink?”
Hawk rolled his head to one side and looked at the beer sitting on the little table next to his lounger before he called back to a former teammate. “Nah, I think I’m good. Caleb? You want anything?”
Caleb waved a hand in the air, not even bothering to look at him over the top of his sunglasses. “I am so good right now. I think I will just sit here and have a nap.”
Hawk grinned because that was what they’d been doing anyway. They were at a fancy-ass resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one with a couple of different pools and a huge area to cook out. They also provided attendants to grill hot dogs and hamburgers and chicken.
The whole place had been rented out by the former hockey player, Kane Dubrow, who wanted to start a hockeyfranchise in Santa Fe called the Zia Suns. Hawk knew him from when they’d played against each other, and he’d been invited because of his podcasting, to cover a scouting session for a practice arena.