Chapter 28
Bo
“I did this.”
“You did not.”
“Um, they’re in bed naked with the sticky scent of sex in the air. I did this. I am a matchmaker. Maybe I should quit the library and open a business.”
“Again. No.”
“We can hear you!” Cam groans, rolling over and regretfully off me. He’s so warm. I’ve cuddled Cam most of my life, and naked is definitely my preferred method from now on. “What’s happening?”
“Ah, a good ol’ sex coma. I remember those days.”
“Those days—Noah, we just started dating . . . you know what? No. You’re not baiting me. Dinner is ready downstairs. Looks like you both could use some nourishment.”
I hear Noah laugh.
“Do you need anything else? Water? Condoms? I always make sure to stock plenty of lube.”
“Why are you here?!” Rubbing my eyes, I realize it’s dark now. Shit, how long have we been asleep?
“We want to open presents. We let you guys sleep for a while, but it’s almost seven. So, are you two finally done pushing each other away? Do I need to put a cleaning order in?”
“You mean have me wash their cum-soaked sheets? No thank you. Like you said, you did this, you clean up after our guests.”
“You know I don’t know how to use a washer!”
“Noah.” I blink up at him.
“Uh . . . yes, sweetie.”
“Get the fuck out.”
“Fine, but bring those blankets with you. I may need to bleach them after what they’ve seen last night.” Noah leans in, kissing my forehead, and I can’t help but smile. Then he whispers in my ear. “You go bestie.”
The door thankfully closes, leaving us in silence, and I roll over, seeing Cam’s head stuffed under his pillow.
“Are they gone?” Instead of answering him I smooth my palm over the wide expanse of his back.
His skin is warm, and I can’t help leaning in and kissing his bicep, dragging in the sweet, sleepy scent of him.
Slowly he pulls his head out of the cocoon he’s built.
The erratic set of his curls makes me smile.
There’s some drool pooling across his cheek, which he quickly wipes away. “Bobo.” He beams.
My chest ignites. “I love making you smile.”
He pulls me against his warm body, kissing the top of my head. “You’re the reason I smile.” He kisses me again, this time on my cheek, before cupping my jaw and running his thumb along it. “We should go downstairs. I’m starving.”
I’m sure he is. Cam pushed the limits of his stamina today, and my body is happily sore as a result of it.
“Noah’s going to tease us. He doesn’t have inside thoughts, he just jumps over boundaries like he’s running high jump in track.”
I laugh. “He’s harmless, and if he makes you uncomfortable, just tell him. He’ll stop. He just likes to play around.” A slow smile spreads across my face. “I kind of like it. I think I kind of love him.”
“Well, as long as it’s platonic, that’s fine.” Cam nods. “It took me nearly twenty years to get my head out of my ass. I won’t give you up now.”
I hug him tight. I know we should go downstairs, but I love this. I love this feeling. “I don’t want to move. You’re warm and you smell so good.”
Cam holds my face in his hands, leaning down to kiss me, and the warm hum of his kiss is felt in every molecule I have. It wakes me up and holds me still. “This is how it will be every day. I mean it. I’m not going anywhere, Bo. I always find my way back to you.
This is my dream, but still there’s something I need to ask. “Do you want to find another apartment? Closer to your job?”
Cam looks at me a moment, something flashing behind his golden eyes.
“Bowen, I’ve waited all this time to be with you.
I’ll be sleeping in your bed every single night.
Naked. Some nights buried deep inside you.
I told you I’m clingy as fuck. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
My love language is hugs and kisses and the opposite of whatever personal space is. ”
I laugh. “I just mean it’s small, even for two people. I think we need a bigger place, so we’re not tripping over each other.”
“I would love to trip over you.” He kisses my neck.
While this all sounds amazing, I place a hand on his chest, pushing him back slightly. “Don’t break my heart, Cam. Please. No more flings. No more dating.”
Shaking his head, Cam leans in and kisses me hard. “There’s only one person for me. And maybe everyone else I dated could sense that my heart was somewhere else. There’s only ever been one person, Bo, and it’s you.”
Voices erupt the second we step off the stairs and into the living room. Everyone is sitting on the couch in various types of Christmas pajamas. The room is dim, but the Christmas lights on the tree are glowing brightly and a fire is roaring in the fireplace.
“Look at them! They’re glowing.” Noah swoons.
“Let them breathe.” Jamie tugs Noah onto his lap, arms instantly going around his waist. Jamie’s wearing a large ugly Christmas sweater and boxers.
Mark and Hunter are wearing Christmas pajamas bottoms, but while Hunter is shirtless, Mark is wearing a white T-shirt.
Bri’s wearing another one of her creations—I assume—of Christmas-light pajamas that actually light up.
Xavi has a matching pair. And Noah is . .
. well, Noah’s wearing a pair of red Santa-themed shorts and a white crop top that says I put out for Santa.
“Sorry about waking you guys. We were thinking of opening presents tonight because Bri has to be back early tomorrow for a client.”
“This close to Christmas?”
“They’re hosting a party and want me to do their makeup for them and their guests. It’s too much money to pass up. Sorry, guys.”
“No worries.” I look at Cam’s present under the tree. I’m excited even more now to give it to him.
“Yeah, that’s fine with us.”
“So . . .” Noah grins.
“Noah, come on.”
“What? Please, we all heard them.” Noah turns to us. “I don’t even know how Bo is walking after all those noises that echoed around the house.” My face burns.
“You love him. Remember you love this man so fucking much.” Jamie sighs.
“I tried to stop this, Jamie,” Mark says. “I was trying to save you. It’s not a hell I’d wish on my worst enemy, and up until then, that was you.”
Jamie smiles, taking a sip of his tea while Noah glares at his friend. “Well, are you going to defend my honor!?” Noah asks him.
Jamie grins, leaning down to kiss him. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Noah sticks his tongue out at Mark. “So what happened? Give us details!” Noah sips his iced coffee.
“I fucked him.” I choke on my muffin. “Is that what you want to hear, Noah? I fucked him, okay? I fucked him, and I liked it. A lot. Probably going to do it again tonight. Happy?”
Noah blinks at Cam’s outburst. “I uh, meant did you two talk, but uh, good for you both.” Cam’s face brightens with warmth. “Unrelated. Is the plaster in your guest room okay? Because it sounded like—”
Jamie slaps a palm over Noah’s mouth. “Stop licking me! I won’t let go if words come out of your mouth.
Remember what we talked about?” Noah’s shoulders sink.
“Now, I’m going to let go and you’re not going to ask any of our friends about their sex lives, or their penises, and no more picking on Mark. ”
“Fine!” Noah folds his arms over his chest.
“So is everything good, then?” Jamie asks us, but he’s looking at Cam. I don’t know what’s going on with them, but I love it. I love Cam so much, but there are parts of him I will never understand. I don’t know what Jamie’s been through, but I can tell they share similar pain.
Maybe it’ll bring him the strength he needs to set boundaries with his father. Cam has always searched for people to love him, and now he has a roomful of people ready to do just that.
“We’re amazing.” Cam looks down at me and kisses me between the eyes.
“So cute! You guys have the cutest trope too.”
“Trope?”
“You know. If you were a romance novel your trope would describe what you are. Best friends to lovers.” He swoons. “Jamie and I have grumpy sunshine. Ugh, and size difference. Love a good size difference.”
“What’s ours?” Mark asks.
“Why? Why ask?” Hunter groans.
“I don’t know. Blackmail dating?”
“Nerd and jock.” Bri smiles. “My favorite trope is enemies to lovers.”
Mark tugs Hunter against him, running his fingers through his beard.
“You’re the sweetest man alive. I don’t give a shit about our trope.
” He kisses him and I look around. At Noah on Jamie’s lap, leaning into his hold.
At Bri sitting with us, and Xavi. We’re surrounded by so much love, and right next to me is the person I love the most.
“I love you, Camden Marcella Alemida.”
He laughs, leaning in to kiss me. “Nope. Not my middle name, Bo,” he whispers.
“What?” Hunter laughs. “What is your middle name?”
“It’s just a thing we do,” Cam says. “Neither of us have middle names. So we just say random names back and forth.”
“Generally, in my culture we don’t really have middle names.” I say.
“I don’t have one either. My last name, Almeida is my grandmother’s last name.
I had it changed legally when I turned eighteen.
” I watch Cam swallow, I remember when he made that decision.
He wanted as much spaced removed between him and his father.
“She died when I was seven. She lived with us until then. She basically took care of me.” Cam is downplaying it.
That woman raised him until she passed away.
“It’s actually how we met. I mean just after. ”
I look at the soft set of his beautiful eyes.
“I’d just joined the school year, and I hated it.
I wanted my mom and didn’t understand why she needed to work full time.
I was angry. The kids were awful. They made fun of me, my glasses, the food I’d bring to school.
One day I got so mad and left the cafeteria to eat in the bathroom.
” I can’t help but smile. “I heard crying when I got in there.”