Chapter Twenty-Two
Anthony
I wake up earlier than usual, my eyes popping open and unable to close again, despite how comfortable and relaxing it is in Kason’s arms. Yesterday meant more to me than he’ll ever know, ever be able to understand.
Young Anthony would have done anything to have a family like Kason’s, to feel like he belonged in a place like this, but it felt like such an impossible dream.
Yet, here I am, with the greatest guy in the whole fucking world, spending the weekend with people who seem like the greatest family in the whole fucking world too.
And I feel a part of them. No matter what happens in the future, I will always be thankful to Kason for giving me this.
I don’t want to wake him, so I sneak out of bed.
Kason’s the early bird out of the two of us, so if he’s still sleeping, he needs it.
His features are at ease, his mouth slightly open, his body so relaxed.
He’s beautiful all the time, but especially when he sleeps, his short dark hair mussed and a light dusting of stubble along his jaw, which he usually shaves.
God, I want to keep him, so fucking much, and the more time we spend together, the more I’m thinking it might be possible.
With that thought in my head, I slip out of the room, closing the door softly behind me.
It’s quiet downstairs, and I pause, wondering if I should be lurking around the house without him. Is that weird? What if his parents are down there and I interrupt some morning routine or, I don’t know, they just want some time to themselves?
I’m about to turn around and head back to Kason’s room, when his mom steps out from the kitchen, wearing a robe and holding a steaming cup of coffee.
“Oh, good morning,” she says with a wide grin.
I can’t sneak back upstairs now… “Good morning. Kason is still asleep. I didn’t want to wake him.”
“He must be tired. He’s an early bird like me.”
I grin stupidly, liking that we both recognize that in him. “I have to admit, I’m not typically the one who’s awake first.”
She snickers. “Harvey likes to sleep in too. When Kason was young, he used to work early morning shifts every day, and he hated it. Now he gets to sleep in, mostly because of our son.” May goes back into the kitchen, and I follow her.
“He wants to take care of us. We still work, but if he had it his way, we wouldn’t. ”
“That’s because he loves you. Kason wants to take care of those he loves—well, I think he would take care of the whole world if he could, but especially the people who mean the most to him.”
May gives me a warm smile. “You see who he is and appreciate him for that. It makes me happy. Not everyone sees how incredible he is, or if they do, they try to take advantage of him, to get what they can out of him. Not you.”
“I would never take advantage of him, and yes, I see him.” I look down, drawing circles on the countertop with my fingertip. I want her to know I appreciate him, how much he means to me, but I’m not sure what words to use to tell her that. “He’s my favorite person.”
“Seeing my son with you, there’s no doubt in my mind you’re his favorite person as well.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Oh, I do.” May reaches over the counter and squeezes my hand. “You have good energy, a positive aura. You’re exactly what he needs. Do you want some coffee?”
Well…that was a surprise. I can’t decide how to respond, so I just reply to the latter. “Sure.”
She pours me a cup, and I use the sugar and creamer on the counter to doctor it. We walk over to the table together and sit down, a large window in front of us, showing me their snowy lawn and neighbors’ houses in the distance.
“This—bringing someone home—isn’t his normal.” May takes a sip of her coffee.
I get what she’s doing here. She wants to make sure I know that Kason is all in with me, that this is serious for him. “I know. This isn’t my normal either. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve done it, so that’s my excuse if I’m bad at it,” I try to joke, but she doesn’t laugh with me.
“You’re not bad at it. I think you’re very good at it because you’re real. You’re not putting on an act or playing a role. You’re honest and vulnerable, the way Kason always is.”
“I wish it came as easily to me as it does to him.” This time when I chuckle, she joins me.
“I hear you. He’s always himself, always has been.
A lot of his peers thought he was a little weird, a little quirky when he was younger, but that never stopped Kason from being who he was.
He played hockey but also started a Gay Straight Alliance at his high school.
One of his old coaches worried about the impression that gave—bullshit, if you ask me.
Why do people care who someone else loves or is attracted to?
But that didn’t stop Kason. It just made him want to participate in those kinds of activities even more.
He could have said he did it because his sister is a lesbian, but that’s not who Kason is.
He came out as bisexual instead, didn’t care that it might hurt his odds of playing in the NHL one day. ”
None of this surprises me. “It’s important to him to do what’s right.”
She smiles. “It is. I think we’re all very lucky to be in his world.”
There’s no denying that. “Agreed.”
“But I imagine he would say the same about you. If I couldn’t already tell you’re a good person, I would know it just by the fact that he chose you.”
“Be careful, or you’re going to give me a big head,” I tease, and again, May and I laugh.
Her words mean a lot to me, though, like she’s trying to build me up the way her son does.
Or hell, maybe that’s just what everyone does when they truly care about people. Maybe I’m just now getting to see that.
We enjoy our coffee together, my worries and nerves from yesterday having melted away. There’s always been something comforting about Kason, and now I see there is something comforting about his family too.
The only time either of us stops talking is when we’re taking a drink, and when our mugs are empty, she says, “I’ll make breakfast for everyone. Harvey usually cooks, but I can handle breakfast.”
“Do you mind if I help?” I ask, not only wanting to lend a hand to show my appreciation, but because I’m not ready for my conversation with her to end. I like May a lot. I see a lot of Kason in her.
She smiles. “I would absolutely love that.”
We make maple sausage, hash browns, and eggs, talking and laughing the whole time.
When I finish flipping over the potatoes, May telling me a story about Kason covering for Courtney so she could sneak out and meet up with a girl when they were teenagers, I turn around and see him leaning against the wall of the entryway, arms crossed, huge grin on his face as he watches us together.
“Have you been telling him stories about me all morning?” Kason asks her, giving me a wink.
“Only a few. And good morning.” She walks over and gives him a hug. “Anthony and I have had a nice morning together. You didn’t tell me you tweaked your ankle a few weeks back.”
His gaze shoots to me. “Are you ratting me out now? You’re supposed to be on my side. No telling Mom when I get hurt.” It hadn’t been a big injury. In fact, he didn’t even sit out a game or tell anyone other than me and Rylan.
“Well, at least now I know she agrees with me and maybe she can get you to tell your coach when you’re hurt.”
“We’re on a winning streak!” he argues.
“Your safety is more important,” both May and I respond, before looking at each other and laughing.
“Great. I’m going to be in trouble with the two of you.” He walks over, grabs my face and kisses me. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning.” I point to one of the chairs with my spatula. “Now sit. We’re almost done.”
“I’ll go get Dad,” Kason says.
“I’m right here. Did I wake up in another house? It smells delicious,” he jokes.
“You brat.” May swats his arm, and then the two of them kiss good morning, the way Kason always does with me. He learned by example what it’s like to love and be loved, how you should treat people you care about, and he might not know it, but he’s taught me the same thing.