“I wanted that because I thought it was all I should have. But now I know better.” He pulls me out of the spray and grabs his bar of soap, then begins to wash me. “And please, don’t ever stop calling me Jericho.”
I grin, leaning in to kiss his nose. “I’ll call Audrey when we get out and make sure she’s okay with it. If she’s not, I’ll leave in the morning, but either way, I’m staying tonight.”
He looks up at me as he washes my calf. “Good.”
Jericho doesn’t let me wash him and doesn’t give himself even half the attention he gave me. I think he washes his hair and body in under thirty seconds.
When we’re out, he gives me clothes to wear… clothes that don’t fit but are so comfortable because of it. Usually, I wear medium t-shirts, but I can wear a small, if I’m going for a tighter fit. All of his shirts are a size large, so they’re baggy on me, but of course fit him and all his muscles like a second skin. I have to pull the drawstring on the sweatpants tight and tie it to keep them from falling off my hips.
“What do you want for dinner?” he asks.
“Are you cooking?”
“Planned on it.”
“Then whatever you want.”
He gives me a quick kiss and goes into the kitchen while I go back to the living room to get my phone. I call Audrey. She answers right away.
“You good? Need rescuing?”
“No rescuing needed.”
“Good. So, what’s up?”
“Can you bring Noah to school in the morning?”
“He’s my kid, Miles, of course I can bring him to school.”
I run my hand through my damp hair and move over to the window, to look out into the front yard. It’s a beautiful neighborhood. A great place to raise a family.
“I know that, but I bring him for you.”
“Which is a favor, not an expectation. You have a life, Miles.”
I lower my voice. “But I don’t want you to think I’m throwing you and him aside for it.”
“I know you would never do that.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do. You’re not that kind of person. I know that if for some reason I couldn’t bring Noah in the morning, you would, despite wanting to fuck your boyfriend.”
I bark out a laugh. “You’re right.”
“So, he is your boyfriend then? Finally?”
I turn around when I hear clanking in the kitchen. I can’t see him from here, but I can imagine him in the kitchen, grabbing things to prep dinner. That serious look on his face as he focuses on what he’s doing.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“See. I told you it was more.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be.”
I hear the eye roll. “Never is.”
I end the call and watch Jericho as he makes dinner. We eat, watch a movie, cuddle on the couch, and fuck again when we get to bed. Then I fall asleep in his arms.