“Hey man,” Sal’s voice sounds next to me, and I nearly jump out of my skin.Fuck.
“Morning,” I croak, then pick up my coffee.
“I tried calling you last night. Several times.”
“Oh yeah? I guess I must’ve put my phone on silent mode. I went to bed early.”With your son in my arms. Naked and spent. Fuck.
“Right, right. Viv said you weren’t feeling well. You better now?” Sal smirks at me, and I know what he’s thinking. That I made up some bullshit excuse about being unwell because I was preoccupied with my latest conquest, and I guess in some ways he’s right. Iwaspreoccupied. Only Kayden is not a conquest, and he’s not my latest. He’s my fucking last if I have any say in the matter.
“Yeah, I’m good. It was just one of those twenty-four-hour things, you know?” I lift my coffee to my lips to hide my dopey, lovestruck grin, then take a long sip from the hot, creamy mixture.
“Oh, I know,” Sal chuckles, waggling his eyebrows, then places a mug under the tap. “Haven’t had one in years, but I know.”
I shake my head. “Fuck you.”
“Nah, man, you know I’m not into that kinda thing.”
I inhale deeply. “Anyway… what did you wanna talk to me about?”
“Oh, right. We got the all-clear from the bank.” Sal pumps his fist in the air, and I can’t help laughing. “I just need your digital signature, and then we’re good to fucking go, baby!” His face splits into a wide smile, and I see so much of Kayden in him. The same gentle expression in his eyes and the softness of his demeanor.
“That’s fucking amazing!” I hold up my hand, and Sal high-fives me, like every other time we’ve succeeded together at something in life. All our small and big wins throughout the last three decades. My chest squeezes. I hope our relationship will survive what’s coming. I don’texpect Sal to high-five me when I tell him I’m dating his son, and that it’s not just a fleeting thing, but that I’m serious about Kayden. I just hope he’ll accept it and that he’ll see how genuine my feelings are. That I’d do anything to make Kayden happy, and that I’d never hurt him.
“It is. We’re on a roll, baby!” Sal beams at me, then raises his coffee mug between us. “Cheers, Caleb. Here’s to us and our next big adventure.”
I lift my mug and clink it against his. “Here’s to us, Sal. I’m proud of us.” I swallow back the lump in my throat. Sal is family. Viv too. I can’t lose them, but I won’t give up Kayden either. I just have to have faith that everything will work itself out.
We walk upstairs into Sal’s office to get the signature sorted. On the way, I steal a glance at Kayden’s office, but the door is closed. He’s probably hiding away in there. I don’t blame him. He was all jittery and nervous this morning as we got ready for work.
‘How am I supposed to have a serious conversation with you at work, Caleb?’he stared at me all wide-eyed and panicky, stabbing his toothbrush at me.‘I can’t even brush my teeth without thinking about your dick in my mouth.’He scowled at me when I snorted toothpaste.‘You think this is funny?’he hissed like a cute little dragon.
‘No.’I tried to keep my face composed and serious, but after a few seconds, I cracked, laughing loudly, toothpaste bubbling from my lips.
‘You’re impossible,’he sighed, then leaned his head against my chest.
‘It’ll be fine. I’ll keep my distance. I promise.’I carded my fingers through his silky locks, and he relaxed against me.
We took separate cars, with Kayden in the company truck he’d come in the night before, and me inMarilyn. It felt weird letting him go, even though I’d see him minutes later. The second I got in the car, I placed my phone in the holder and called him. We talked about random shit for the entire drive to the office. Just hearing his voice makes me so damn happy. Maybe I can call him after Sal leaves.
“Oh, guess who I saw at the store yesterday with Quinn Lawson?” Sal leans in over his desk as I pull up the email from the bank on his computer.
“No idea.”
“Stacey.” Sal smiles knowingly. “Looked pretty chummy if you ask me.”
I throw Sal a warning glare. “I didn’t. We’re over.”
“I can’t believe you let someone like Stacey get away. You guys were perfect for each other.”
“We really weren’t, Sal, and I really don’t feel like talking about it.”
“Fine, fine, whatever.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest, resting his hip against the desk. “I just want you to be happy, okay? I want the same for you that I have. I’d hate to see you end up alone, man.”
Iamhappy,I want to say.I’m so fucking happy. Happier than I’ve been before, I think, and it’s all because of your son. It’s all Kayden and the way he has decided I’m good enough for him. It’s all Kayden and the way he loves me back, so open-hearted and honest, so generously. The way he trusts me makes me want to be a better version of myself, makes me want to earn his love.
I clear my throat, forcing back the emotion. “I won’t. Don’t worry about me, Sal. I’m just… I’m taking a break from dating.”
Laughter booms from Sal’s chest. “Famous last words!”