Chapter 21
“No, I can’t get the part in for another week. You’ll have to tell the client that’s the only option.” I peered into my screen, open to a Teams meeting with Leslie, a rep from our inside sales team, the other screen open to our inventory management system. Sales reps hated hearing no. All they wanted to do was give the clients what they asked for, but there was no way in hell I could make the shipping process go any faster.
“Okay, I’ll let them know.” Leslie pursed her lips. “Tell me if anything changes.”
“Will do.” I slid my curser to the corner of the screen to end the meeting.
My phone buzzed on my desktop, Archer scrolling across it.
Okay, odd. Why would he call now? “Gotta go, Leslie.” I clicked to end the meeting, then picked up my phone and strolled out of my cubicle and through a set of glass doors into the courtyard between buildings. My coworkers didn’t need to hear my conversation with my boyfriend. Not that any of them knew I even had a boyfriend. “Hi, babe. What’s up?” God, I loved calling him that. I looked up at the gray sky. Yes! We were finally getting some rain.
“Leo?” His voice cracked.
I held the phone tighter, my heart kicking. “Archer? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay. My dad…he’s in the hospital. Shit, I think he’s in the hospital. Uncle Tad just called me and told me my dad had a heart attack.” His breath caught. “I-I need to maybe change my flights and leave today. He’s having bypass surgery in a few days.”
I dropped my mouth open, staring at the fake grass beside the concrete walkway. “Are you at home?” I had to get to him. No way was I going to let him handle this by himself.
“No, I’m still in the parking lot at school.” He held a breath.
“Go home, Archer, and I’ll meet you there. Can you drive?” Shit, hadn’t thought of that. “Where’s Jonah?” Maybe we could find a way to leave his car there for now.
“I can drive and I’m pretty sure Jonah is taking a final right now.” His voice steadied, as if he was forcing it. The rumble of an engine starting up carried through the phone.
“Okay, I’ll meet you at your house.” My chest pinched. Fuck, I did not want him driving. But it was only a few miles. He’d be okay. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “See you soon. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” He hung up the call.
I glanced at the doorway to the office. I had to get out of here. I’d tell my boss I wasn’t feeling well and needed to leave. Period. I already had tomorrow off.
After parkingmy car in the street in front of Archer’s house, I jumped out and jogged to the front door. The sky was even darker than before, but the rain had yet to start. I lifted my hand to knock.
The door opened and Archer stood there, a frown on his face and his eyes red and swollen, his shoulders hunched.
“Oh, babe.” I hooked my arms around him and held him to my chest, then kissed his hair. “I’m so sorry.”
He clung to my sweater, fisting his hands into the back of it. “Why didn’t he tell me? I hung up on him. Does he think I hate him? I don’t hate him.” He sniffled.
I squeezed, then released him and held him in front of me, my hands on his shoulders. “I don’t think he hates you. I don’t have the answers, but you’ll never know until you get up there and talk to him. He’s conscious, right?” With my brows knitting, I peered into his sullen face.
“I-I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I assume so.” He scrubbed his face. “But then, why wasn’t he the one calling me?”
“Maybe he’s on oxygen or something. We won’t know until we get up there.” We? Fuck yeah, I was going with him. I wasn’t going to let him deal with this alone. I pressed my lips into a grim line.
“Leo? You’ll go with me?” His frown relaxed and he freed a long, staggered breath.
“Yes, I’m going with you. Let’s look at flights and figure this out.” It was a few days before Christmas and it was going to cost me a small fortune, but fuck that. We’d find a way. “Let’s sit down and get things sorted. Once we work out the logistics, then we can focus on the rest.” My professional planner self was out in full force. Thinking logically and lining up tasks, then checking them off one by one was what I was good at.
I led him to the couch in the main room and we sat down as I opened my phone. “What flight are you on?”
He opened his itinerary on his phone inside his email and showed it to me.
I got to work. There were no flights out tonight, but I could still get on his flights with him, so I booked them. “Okay, one thing done.” I had until tomorrow afternoon to get next week off work and…shit. I stiffened. “I have to tell my family about us before we leave.” I threw my arm around his shoulders as my heart flipped in my chest.
“What? Why?” He wrinkled his forehead.
“How the hell else am I going to explain to them why I’m leaving at the last minute over the holidays to go to Minnesota with you?” I rubbed my forehead. If I’d had a backbone and did it a long time ago, I wouldn’t be in this mess.
He sucked in a breath. “You can tell them what happened, and we’re friends. We’re?—”
“We’re boyfriends. It doesn’t make much sense the other way.” I wrapped my hand around the side of his neck and pressed my lips to his. I’d show him with a kiss I was ready for this, ready to make him my priority.
Slanting his mouth over mine, he deepened the kiss, shifting closer to me, sliding his tongue inside my mouth, tangling them together.
Heat tingled over my skin. It’d been way too long. I broke the kiss, breathless, then gazed deeply into his eyes. “Archer, you mean the world to me, and it wouldn’t be right to be up there with you and your family during a crisis like this and be hiding us from my family.” I brushed my thumb over his cheek.
His eyes glistened and he took a hard swallow. “I love you, Leo. I knew I could count on you.”
“You can. We’ll get through this together.” I kissed him again, my chest aching, then freed him.
Jonah opened the door from the garage into the kitchen. “Oh, hey.” He did a double take of us. “Why are you here, Leo?” He set his backpack down by the kitchen island, then strode to us. “What happened?” He dropped in beside Archer.
Archer’s lower lip trembled.
“Oh, fuck. Your dad.” With a quick glance at me, he threw his arms around Archer and hugged him tightly. “Did you hear from him?”
“Sort of. He heard from his uncle. His dad had a heart attack and will be having bypass surgery soon. I’m going back to Minnesota with Archer.” I set my hand on Jonah’s forearm, wrapped around Archer’s back. “I need to deal with a few things with my family. Can you take care of him while I’m gone?”
Archer peeked at me from under his blond bangs, his thick lashes catching in them.
“I’m coming out to them all.” I knew Archer would be in good hands with Jonah and he didn’t need to witness any fall out from my family. I focused on Jonah.
“Yeah, I’ve got him. You go and do what you need to do. Let me know if you need anything along the way, Leo.” A short smile crossed his lips. “You’re a good man. I’m glad you’re going with him. He’s going to need you.”
“Shit, I’m right here.” With a sniffle, Archer freed himself from Jonah’s hold. “You two are talking about me like I’m not.” He drew a rough breath, then gripped my hand and gave me a thin-lipped grin. “I’ll be okay.” He glanced at Jonah. “I appreciate all your concern though.” He tapped his head on Jonah’s shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
“You know I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Jonah scoffed. “And I’m going to help you pack.”
“Fine.” Archer snatched Jonah’s hand. “I have the best friends and boyfriend a guy could have.”
I’d textedAxel and Remy and made sure they were both home. In the off-chance Axel did freak out on me, I’d need Remy to help settle him down. Mom and Dad were also waiting for me to come see them tonight. I’d told them I had some news and of course, Mom had wanted to make me dinner, but I didn’t want to leave Archer alone for that long.
As I strode inside my house and into the kitchen, my heart pounded like I’d run a marathon.
Axel and Remy sat on our couch, watching the news. As Remy twisted and his gaze caught mine, he lifted the remote from a cushion and paused the program.
“Hey, bro. What’s up?” Axel stood up and stepped to me, his black bangs falling past his cheekbone, his blue eyes focused on me. “Jesus, you look like shit.” He planted his hand on my forearm.
I glanced at Remy, who upnodded at me. “Yeah, I have something to tell you.” I swallowed thickly. Axel wasn’t going to care…much. Right? He was such a gay crusader.
“What is it?” He squeezed my arm. “Jesus, Leo, did somebody die? You’re turning white.”
“It’s…it’s Archer.” I swallowed again, my chest pinching, then straightened my spine. This was it.
“What about Archer?” His eyes grew wide. “Fuck, he fell in love with you. You had to end your friendship.”
I choked out a stuttered laugh. “Yeah, he fell in love with me. But I fell in love with him, too.” My gaze cut to Remy for a beat, watching us closely, then came back.
Axel’s brows snapped together, then he gaped, threw a glance at Remy, and arched a brow at me. “Are you telling me you’re fucking gay?” The edges of his lips twitched. “My fucking metro-sexual brother is gay?”
“Oh, shit.” I dipped my head and pressed my fingers into the bridge of my nose, then straightened. I had to be clear about this. “I’m bisexual, Axel. I’ve hidden the part of me that likes men and focused on dating women. Then I met Archer?—”
“And the hot-as-fuck hockey player turned my brother gay. Hot damn.” He giggled and flung his arms around my neck, then planted a quick kiss on my cheek. “I knew it. I fucking knew I saw something going on between you two.” He pointed at me, then turned his point on Remy. “You little shit. You knew this all along. Didn’t you.”
Remy smiled and shrugged a shoulder. “Leo needed someone to talk to and obviously, I’ve been right where he was.”
My body relaxed. Thank God, Axel was taking this well. “So, yeah, I’m in a gay relationship with Archer and it might be the best relationship I’ve ever had.” Now I needed to tell him about leaving for Christmas.
“Wait, why didn’t you tell me sooner, Leo?” Axel cocked his head. “I mean, what did you think I was going to say?” His lips tensed and he stepped closer to me. “Fucking Angie was really Archer. You lied to me.”
“Axel...” Remy rose from the couch and walked to us.
“Why would you keep this from me?” Axel’s gaze turned hard. “And from Mom and Dad. You know we’d all have supported you.”
I had to be careful here. “Because…Because you’re the gay son. You took that role in our family, and I didn’t want to upset the balance.” I winced. That didn’t come out right, though it was the truth.
“What the hell does that mean? A family’s not allowed more than one queer?” He lifted his brows.
“Axel.” Remy grabbed his arm and turned Axel to face him. “Leo has his reasons. It’s not the same for everyone. How about we leave it at that?”
Axel huffed and walked off toward the patio doors, then twisted around. “Yeah, okay. I get maybe I don’t understand what it’s like to be bisexual and all that shit. I get maybe it’s different and we all have our own journey to acceptance. But I would have supported you from the very beginning. I hope you’ll let me support you now.”
My eyes burned and I stepped to him. “Thank you, Axel. It means a lot to me.” I wrapped him up in a warm embrace.
He freed me and his gaze locked to mine. “Is one of you on PrEP?”
“Jesus, Axel.” With a snort, Remy shook his head.
“No, not yet anyways. We’re both negative.” My lips quirked. It figured he’d go there. He was the anti-HIV champion.
“Get on it. Shit happens. I’m not saying Archer’s going to do something stupid, but still.” His eyes rounded. “The fucker was hooking up with Milo.” He held the back of his hand over his mouth and barked out a laugh. “Oh my God, you’re Milo’s sloppy seconds.”
“Do you have to put it that way?” I rubbed my forehead. I’d finally gotten over the fact that Milo had Archer first.
“This is a lot to take in. I think I need a beer.” Axel strode into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. “Any other takers?”
“No, thanks. I have to go see Mom and Dad and tell them next.” I drew a deep inhale. Shit, I still hadn’t told him about leaving. “And uh, I’m leaving tomorrow to go with Archer up to Minnesota. His dad had a heart attack, and he needs me.”
Axel snicked a beer can open, sipped it, then focused on me from across the kitchen island. “So, you’re coming out to all of us because you have to be a good boyfriend and support your man.” He ticked a brow.
“Yeah, pretty much.” I rubbed an aching muscle in my neck. It was proving to be a long ass day. “I was going to come out to you all anyways. This just sped up the process.”
“Okay, I get you.” Axel nodded. “Let me come with you to Mom and Dad’s. I want to be there for you.”
“No.” I held up my hands to him. That’s all I needed was for Dad to be an ass and burst Axel’s bubble.
“No? Why the fuck not?” He tilted his head.
With a soft chuckle, I said, “Because I don’t need you. You know how they are. It won’t be a problem.” I’d better get out of here now, before Axel got insistent. I snatched my car keys off the dinette. “Anyways, I’m going to head up.” Even though I wasn’t due to see them for another hour. But I’d find something to do on the way up. Maybe stop and get Mom some flowers to soften the blow.
With a huff, Axel stepped to me and gave me a quick hug. “Okay, but know that I love you. Always have, but maybe even more now.” He snickered and freed me.
“Yeah, love you, too, bro.” I patted his shoulder, my gaze finding Remy’s. “Thanks, Remy.”
Remy nodded. “Go take care of shit. We’ll be here if you need anything.” He waved at me.
Waving behind me, I headed out the door. All I wanted was to get this over with, so I could go back to Archer.
As my hearttried to pound out of my chest, I stopped my car in the driveway of my parents’ home and grabbed the bouquet of flowers I’d picked up, an all-white mix. Mom would love them. I climbed out of my car and stepped up the walkway, droplets of rain sprinkling my hair. The rain had started.
The door opened and Mom stood there in a red sweater and jeans. “Aw…did you bring flowers?” With a wide grin, she held out her hands.
Giving her the flowers, I said, “Yeah, I figured white would go with all your Christmas decorations.” I hugged her, then followed her inside. All I had to do was get through this, then I could run back to Archer.
“This must be big if you’re bringing flowers.” Mom glanced behind herself at me, then winked.
Fuck yeah, it was big. I stuffed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans.
Dad rose up from the couch, wearing a flannel shirt and loose jeans, and paused the football game. “Hey, Leo.” He walked to me and gave me a warm hug. “Nice to see you.” He held out his hand toward the couch. “Have a seat. Want a drink? Beer, bourbon? Whatever you like.”
“No, I’m okay.” I worried the bottom of my hair by my nape, my gut clenching. Maybe it would be better for Dad if he had a drink? “On second thought, why don’t you pour us both a bourbon?”
Mom set the flowers in a vase with water, then beamed at me. “Oh, and I’ll grab a glass of wine.”
I had a feeling Mom thought we were going to have something to celebrate. I twined my fingers together and dipped my head.
Dad poured two bourbons, neat, for us, then strolled over and handed me one. “There you go.” He sat in the loveseat next to the couch. “What have you come to tell us?”
After pouring herself a white wine, Mom dropped in beside me, her grin widening, and set her hand on my knee. “Yes, Leo, what’s the big news?”
“I’m uh…” I bit the inside of my cheek, darting my gaze from Mom to Dad and back again. Fuck, I couldn’t do it. “I’m not going to be here for Christmas.” I’d start there.
The front door clicked open and shut.
“Hey, hope I’m not too late for the coming out.” Axel waltzed into the room, a broad smirk stretching his lips. Hopping on his toes, he looked us all over.
“The what, honey?” Mom sipped her wine, then cocked her head. “I didn’t know you were coming over, too.” She sprang up from the couch. “Did you want a bourbon? Leo and you father are having some.”
“Sure.” Axel eyed me.
With heat swarming my chest, I shot up and strode to Axel. He was not supposed to be here. How the fuck did he get away from Remy? Under my breath and close to his ear, I said, “What the hell are you doing here?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I told you I’d support you. I’m not missing this for anything.” He furrowed his brows. “What?”
Mom handed Axel a bourdon. “Everything okay, boys?” She studied us both.
I rolled my eyes. Fucking Axel. I should have known. “Yeah, everything’s okay.” Staring him down, I walked back to the couch and took my seat, then drank a long sip of my bourbon, letting it sting down my throat. Hopefully, things would go smoothly.
Dad sat forward on the loveseat. “Why won’t you be here for Christmas?”
Stepping toward us, Axel drank his bourbon, then sat across from us on the stone hearth next to the television, still paused on the game.
I breathed in deeply. “I met someone, and they need me. He needs me.” Okay, so I was trying to break them in slowly.
“Oh dear, what happened?” Mom grabbed my hand.
“His father had a heart attack and I’m going back to Minnesota with him. Things are…not great between them.” I glanced at Axel, the smirk teasing his lips again. He was waiting for everyone to be happy for me.
Covering her mouth, Mom said, “Oh, you’re talking about that nice boy, Archer. The hockey player? I’m so sorry.” She patted my thigh. “You’re a good friend to go all the way up there to be with him through this at such short notice.”
“Doesn’t he have any other family or friends back there? Why do you have to miss the holidays with us?” Dad crossed his arms over his chest.
“Ed, what sort of a thing is that to say? You know what a loyal friend Leo is.” She tsked. “Leo was always there for Remy.”
I peeked at Axel, shaking his leg, and grinning like he could barely keep his mouth shut.
Twisting my short bourbon glass on the coffee table, I said, “He’s more than a friend.” I cut my gaze to meet with Dad’s.
Dad’s eyes widened and he gripped his glass so tightly, his knuckles turned white. In a low voice, he said, “What are you trying to say, Leo?”
Mom stared at me, then glanced at Axel and came back again. “You’re um, you’re not queer, are you? No, you can’t be. Not you.”
“I’m bisexual, Mom. I’m with Archer. We’re boyfriends.” I watched Axel, my heart ripping in two. If only he’d stayed at home. I could have made up a great story to tell him and saved him from the truth. Fuck.
Axel’s smile faded and he hung his head a moment, rubbing his eyes. “Fuck me.” Standing up, he straightened his shoulders. “Why not him, Mom?” He held his hand out to me. “There’s nothing wrong with it, right? Isn’t that what you told me?”
Her gaze darted all over the room and she gaped. “Well, yes, but, but it was you. You were always gay.” She set her wine glass on the table and strode to him, grabbing his arm. “Axel, dear, we always knew you were different.”
“Different?” He glared at her.
“Axel, you sit down right this instant.” Dad rose up, puffing out his chest and stabbing at the ground. “You know damn well what she means. This is about your brother, not you.” He scowled, then walked around the coffee table to stare out the window into the dark back yard. “I didn’t see this coming from Leo. I thought…I thought we’d have at least one normal wedding in this house.”
“Normal? Are you fucking kidding me?” Axel stomped to Dad. “Now I’m not normal?”
I mumbled, “Jesus fuck.” I ripped my phone out of my pocket and texted Remy.
Leo
Axel is here with my parents. It’s bad. Come now.
Remy
What? I thought he went to go buy beer? God damn it. Be right there.
Leo
Door is open. Walk in.
Inside a growl, Dad said, “Stop with the theatrics, Axel.” He glared at him, then turned his back on him with a huff, rubbing his forehead. “Jesus H Christ.”
I rushed to Axel and planted my hand on his shoulder. “Hey, settle down, they’re just shocked. Give them a minute.” My heart splintered as I looked into my baby brother’s deep blue eyes, glistening in the low light.
“They never had a problem with me being gay. Why are they saying these things, Leo?” He wrinkled his brows. “I thought, I thought they always supported me.”
“We do, honey.” Mom wove her way to us and wrapped an around Axel’s waist. “It’s like Leo said, we’re shocked. It’s a lot to take in. We had…” She snuck a glance at me, then dipped her head.
“Hopes and dreams for Leo that you never had for me?” Axel clenched his jaw. “Because I’m gay and I can’t give you what he could?”
Dad stomped toward the hallway leading into his study. “I need a moment.”
“I’m sorry, honey, but you have to look at it from our perspective.” She brushed her fingers up and down his arm, her forehead creased, her eyes glossy. “We love you just the same. We’ve always loved you. You know that.”
Axel peeked at her, then sniffled and rubbed his nose. “I don’t know what to say.” He slumped his shoulders.
Remy burst through the front door and jogged through the house into the family room. “Axel?” He glanced at me as I stepped aside.
Axel rushed into Remy’s arms. “Hold me.”
Hooking his arms around Axel’s torso, Remy held the back of Axel’s black hair and stared at me. “What the hell happened?”
“I’m sorry, Mom, but yeah, you have two sons in gay relationships. I don’t see that changing any time soon. I’m totally, head over heels in love with Archer, and he feels the same for me.” I faced her and grabbed both her hands.
She nodded, wetness filling her eyes. “I love you, Leo, and nothing will ever change that.” She brushed a lock of my hair out of my eyes, then shaking my hands between us, said, “Nothing.”
I wrapped her small frame up in a tight embrace, then kissed her cheek as I released her.
“You tell Archer if he needs anything, anything at all, just let us know. And tell him we’ll be sending healing thoughts to his father.” She swiped at her eye and sniffled. “And bring him back here for dinner when you can, so you can formally introduce him to us as your boyfriend.”
Axel freed Remy and slowly turned around, his gaze affixed to me. “Leo, I understand now.” He flashed his gaze at Mom, then wrapped his hands together. “Mom, I’m sorry?—”
“Honey, I love you.” She hugged him close, and kissed the side of his hair. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.” As she let him go, she squeezed his biceps.
Axel nodded. “What about Dad?”
Sliding my gaze to Remy, I mouthed, tell you later. There’d be a lot for all of us to unpack after this conversation tonight.
With a hard swallow, Remy ticked his head.
“What about me?” Dad strode into the room, his bourbon glass empty in his hand.
“Well, you’ll support us, too, right?” Axel edged into Remy’s side. “You never had a problem with me being gay, right?”
“I um…” Dad’s gaze flicked to each of us, then he hung his head. “Truth is, it was hard for me to accept.” He stepped to Axel. “But I did.” He placed his hand between Axel’s shoulder blades. “I love you and always will.” His gaze found mine. “That goes for you, too, Leo.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Axel. I never wanted you to know how hard it was for me at first.”
Axel stepped into Dad’s side and wrapped an arm around his waist. “You were protecting me from yourself.”
“Yeah, guess so.” Dad gave Axel a warm embrace and glanced at me. “I’m sorry if you felt you had to hide your relationship with Archer over Thanksgiving.”
I blew out a breath. “Yeah, well, I’ve been hiding this side of me for a long time.” Now it was out in the open, was I relieved? Only time would tell. The worst of it was over.
“Come here, son.” Dad opened up his free arm and I walked into his other side. “Love you both.” He kissed my head, then Axel’s.
With a slow smirk, Remy stuffed his hands into his front pockets.
I freed myself from Dad. “Okay, well, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. A certain hockey player needs me.” I hugged Mom one last time, then left Axel and Remy to talk some more with Mom and Dad. I needed to pack for the trip to Minnesota before going to Archer’s house. I wasn’t leaving his side again.
After parkingmy car and grabbing my suitcase out of the trunk, I rolled it up the front walkway and to Archer’s door. Light spilled out of all the windows of the house and the street and driveway were still wet from the rain. Everyone must be home. I knocked and the door swung open.
Jonah stood in front of me, then stepped aside. “Boy, am I glad to see you.” He waved me in.
I lifted my suitcase over the threshold and left it by the door, scanning the room for Archer, my gaze catching on Myles and Ace in the kitchen cooking. “Where is he?”
“Taking a nap. Practice and finals were bad enough, but this? He’s a mess.” Jonah squeezed my shoulder, taking me in. “How are you? You came out to your family, right?”
“Yeah, I did. It…went as well as I thought it would.” I relaxed my shoulders. “It was harder on my brother. He always thought my parents were saints.”
“Yeah?” Jonah’s gaze cut to the hallway.
Archer padded out in a pair of grey pajama bottoms and swimming in an oversized t-shirt, combing his fingers through his long bangs. “Leo?”
“Hey.” I strolled to him, my chest aching, then draped him in my arms and pressed him to my chest. “How are you?” I stroked the back of his head, and he rested it on my shoulder, his warm arms surrounding my waist.
“Okay.” He lifted his head, his gaze finding mine. “What happened? Is everything okay?” He wrinkled his brows.
“Axel took my coming out all right. But he was pissed off I didn’t tell him sooner.” I glanced around the room, everyone watching me. “Axel decided to show up at my parents’ house, just as I was about to tell them. So, of course he saw their reaction, which wasn’t all that great.” I’d been right about everything. “Axel was pretty hurt.”
Archer pursed his lips. “Shit, really? Why? I thought they were okay with?—”
“They are, now. But every member of a family has their place. Axel was the gay son, and I was the straight son. They said some things…” I rubbed my neck and flicked my gaze to each of the guys. “They said some things that Axel took offense to, and it got a little heated. But in the end, everyone made amends. I think Axel and Remy are probably still there talking things over.”
“Remy?” Archer lifted his brows.
“Yeah, I had to call Remy. Axel was upset. Like, I could see this immense pain in his eyes. He’s never heard anything but support come out of my parents’ mouths.” With a ragged huff, I dipped my head, my chest squeezing. “Fuck, it was hard. I didn’t want him to know. I love my brother.”
“I’m sorry, Leo.” Archer brushed his fingers up and down my arm. “I wish I could have been there for you.”
“No, then I’d have two of you to feel bad about.” I grabbed his hand from my arm and kissed the back of it. “My Mom did say to have you over for dinner, so I can introduce you properly as my boyfriend.”
“Good.” He kissed my cheek. “When we get back, that’s what we’ll do.”
“Hey, speaking of dinner, how about some home-made spaghetti?” Ace held up a wooden spoon. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No, I haven’t.” Wrapping an arm around Archer, I led him to the kitchen island, my stomach grumbling. “I’m starved. How about you, babe?” I squeezed him to my side. For the rest of the night, maybe we’d be able to relax.
“Yeah, I think I could eat now.”