“Sorry,” she giggles, then sobers, tilting her head at me. “It makes sense, I guess.”
“What?”
“You and Caleb. I see it. He’s loyal and humble about life. He’s someone you can really count on. If Caleb has decided he loves you, then he means it. He doesn’t throw that word around casually.” Mom’s words leave me stunned. I don’t know if I was expecting her to try to talk me out of it, but for her to give us her blessing so easily… Then again, it’s similar to how easily she and Dad gave me their acceptance when I came out to them.
“Thanks, Mom. I really needed to hear that.”
I only hope Dad will be as accepting of my relationship with Caleb as Mom is.
Chapter Twenty
Caleb
“Fuck, I’m cooked!” Kayden blows into my kitchen, and I stop mid-movement on my way to the fridge. I turn and find him bent over, panting, his hands resting on his knees. He holds up a finger. “Just a sec. Shit, it’s hot out.” He emanates heat and sunshine, and my fingers itch to get my hands on him and suck up some of that brightness. He eventually stands, smiling widely, and the fluttering sensation in my chest returns like it does whenever he’s close. It still catches me by surprise every time, the physical reaction I experience every time I see Kayden. Like life begins all over again. His chest heaves, sweat pooling at his temples, strands of golden curls sticking to his forehead.
“Did you run all the way here from your place?”
He nods, wiping at his forehead. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
I swallow, my gaze dropping to his flimsy running shorts that are so fucking indecent it should be illegal to run around like this. I’m sure in some states it is. I lick my lips, my eyes glued to his toned thighs and the soft dusting of hair that covers the tanned skin.
“You wear those for me, baby?” I rasp, closing the gap between us.
He tips his chin defiantly, his eyes gleaming. “No.”
“Liar.” I snake my fingers behind the waistband of his shorts and pull him in. “You wore those shorts for me, didn’t you, you little slut?”
“Maybe,” he breathes, but the truth is written all over his face. “Or maybe I just like running around looking like a slut, having all your neighbors’ horny-ass eyes on me.”
His words pull a guttural growl from deep in my chest, and I dig my hand into his shorts and grab his dick possessively. “Really?”
He rolls his eyes like he’s out of his mind, bored, and fuck, I love when he’s like this, trying to get a rise out of me. “Really.”
“Well, they can look all they fucking want, but this,” I pinch his dick, and he whimpers against me, “belongs to me and only me, isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
And just like that, his neediness takes over, and he’s my pliant Kayden again. “Uh-huh.” He thrusts his hips forward, and I feel his erection against my fingers. He’s not wearing his packer, just a jock underneath his flimsy shorts.
I lick my lips, about to drop to my knees, when something buzzes between us. Kayden looks down at the pink fanny pack slung across his chest. It buzzes again, and he pulls it off, then drops it to the floor.
“Aren’t you gonna get that?”
“Nope. It can wait. It’s probably just Mom.” Something flashes across his face, something I can’t decipher.
“What is it?” I reach out and brush the damp curls out of his eyes.
“I told her.”
My heart does a somersault. “You told her?”
He nods.
“What did you tell her exactly?”
He stares at me, wide-eyed. “That we’re together.” He pauses, his eyes shimmering. “That we love each other.” He sucks his bottom lip into his mouth, his eyes not leaving mine.
“Okay.”
“I know we were gonna tell them together on Sunday, but I went by the hospital yesterday, and as soon as I saw her, I just knew I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.” He sucks in a long breath, pink spreading across his cheeks, then more words rush out. “And she’s okay. I think maybe she already knew. Or not exactlyknew-knew, but it made sense to her the moment I told her. Like the idea of you and me together had always made sense to her in some strange way. What I mean is, she didn’t act surprised.” He’s shaking by now, twisting his hands in front of him, his gaze flickering all over the place. I wrap my hands around his, and his eyes lock onto mine again.