Chapter Twenty-Seven
Eric
T he past few weeks have flown by. Donovan went with me to my final checkup to get my boot off. The doc said my ankle healed nicely, and I must admit, it was cool to only have to pay my co-pay.
I haven’t found a new job yet, but I’ve been spending my time working on building my leg up again and studying for my contractor’s license. The test isn’t going to be easy. There’s a lot of stuff to remember. Donovan and I found a course I can take to help me prepare, so I’m signing up for that.
All I know is I’m really fucking happy. Part of me believes I should feel like shit being happy because I’m still unemployed, but I try to remind myself I have a plan.
I’m going to put myself out there, going to attempt to do something productive, and that will make me happy.
Something I can feel proud of because when I think about it, I haven’t let myself feel proud of much.
But now I’m going to make the right decision and build something of my own. Something I create and run. Something that will help me take care of Butterscotch and Donovan. Not that D needs me to take care of him, but maybe it will help me spoil him. That’s something I really fucking love to do.
I have Donovan, our cat, and soon I’ll have my own business. My life has never felt so complete—all because of a broken ankle.
I go to the counter to get my cell, and find Butterscotch curled up beside it. “You know Daddy D doesn’t like you on the counter.” Still, I just give her a pet and don’t make her get down. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
I grab my cell and shoot off a text to Donovan.
Me: Taking a study break. Are you on your lunch?
Donovan: Yeah, I’ll call you in a sec.
I smile. I can’t say why I’m smiling, really. Something about him just always makes me do that.
I lie down on the couch, and our cat comes over and jumps onto my stomach. “You’re the sweetest girl,” I tell her just as my phone rings.
“Hey, you,” I answer.
“Hey, how are you?” he asks as if we didn’t just see each other this morning. As if we didn’t climb out of the same bed, Donovan getting ready for work while I made omelets for breakfast.
“Good. My head was starting to spin from all the words, so I needed a break.”
“You don’t have to rush, babe. It’s not going anywhere, and you have the class coming up.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to be a deadbeat husband,” I tease, and he’s quiet for a moment.
He’s been doing that a lot lately, and I don’t really get it.
Sometimes he’ll just be quiet, and I can tell something is on his mind.
Others, it’s like he’s going to tell me something, but when I ask him about it, he says it’s nothing and changes the subject.
“You’re not a deadbeat husband. You literally wake up early just to cook me breakfast and pack me lunch. You’re making plans to start your own business and looking for a job.”
“And taking care of Butterscotch. Don’t forget that.” I give her scritches. “Hey, I’m basically a stay-at-home dad and husband.”
He chuckles like I hoped he would.
“Do you want more kids?” I tease.
“Only the furry kind.”
“Me too. I don’t want Butterscotch to get jealous, though, so we have to wait a while.” I grin, hoping he’s doing the same.
“You sound happy,” he says after a moment.
“No shit. Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, it would be better if you were home, but someone has to pay the bills.”
“Shut up. You do that to put yourself down. I don’t like it.”
I sigh. He’s right. “There’s a lot to remember. I can do it. I know I can.” Probably because he believes in me so much, but that’s beside the point. “But I wish I were smarter.”
“You’re smart. Don’t talk bad about my husband, or you’ll be in trouble when I get home.”
My dick perks up at that. “Oh really. Now I’m intrigued. What will you do to me? Will you…spank me? Not eat me out again? Because when you did that, it was fan-fucking-tastic. Not let me fuck you? It’s so lonely without your ass at home.”
He chuckles. “Just that part of me, huh? And be good. I’m in the breakroom.”
Ah, he must not be alone. “All of you,” I tell him.
He’s quiet for a moment again. Is there some unwritten rule that when you marry someone, you suddenly don’t understand them as much as you used to? “D…why are you quiet?”
“I’m not quiet. But I do have a surprise for you.”
“I like surprises.” I perk up.
“Don’t get too excited. It’s not a big deal. Rylan and Mads are home for a few days. Apparently, Rylan wants to go out, so Anthony was able to talk to his boss and got a private-ish table to hold for us at Lush tonight.”
I sit up. The cat gives me an annoyed meow and jumps down. “Fuck yes. That sounds fun. I haven’t been out in forever.”
“Do you miss going out? We can go out. Or you can go out without me.”
“Wait. What? Why would I want to go out without you? I just wasn’t real fond of the idea of being at the club in my boot, and these last few weeks I haven’t seen past being at home and naked with you.”
I get a snicker from him in return. “You have a one-track mind.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Absolutely not.” There’s a noise in the background, and then he says, “I should go.”
“Eat your lunch before you go back to work,” I fuss.
“I was planning on it, babe.”
“Good. Love you.”
“I love you too,” Donovan replies, and yeah, I can admit it makes me feel a little tingly.
We end the call, and I get up to find Butterscotch.
“Daddies are going out tonight, and then you’ll want to stay out of our room when we get home.
” I’m probably more excited than I should be, but Donovan and I haven’t been out as…
this, what we are now. I’ve been to a hundred gay bars with him over the years, but we were just friends then, and now we’re more .
Husbands. I get to kiss him, touch him, dance with him, and growl at guys who want what’s mine.
I straighten up the house and get food prepared that I just need to pop into the oven later for dinner.
The more time passes, the more excited I am about tonight. I send Donovan a text to see if I can invite Ana. When he confirms I can, I send her a message, and we make plans for her to come over after work to get ready and go with us.
Ana gets off at five, so she makes it to our house before Donovan. She’s got a bag with her, which I assume is filled with whatever she’s wearing tonight.
“Hey, you.” She gives me a hug and slips inside. “I totally needed this.”
“What’s wrong?” I close the door behind her.
“Nothing really. Justin is just being weird lately.”
“Ah, the best friend ex-boyfriend you’re in love with?”
“Yeah. We keep fighting, and I don’t know why.” She flops down on the couch. “Well, I do. It’s me. I’m the one causing the issues because I want him and it’s hard.”
I sit beside her. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“You’re lucky things are so easy with you and Donovan.”
I am lucky, even though our situations aren’t the same. “We’ll have fun tonight, though.”
“Absolutely. I need to paint my nails,” she says, then slides to the floor and opens one of her bags. She gets set up at the coffee table, using a pink color she brought with her.
“Hey, can you do mine too?” I’ve never painted my nails before, but it looks pretty. Why the hell don’t I do mine too if I like it?
“Sure. Same color? I have some others in here.” She eases the bag my direction. I choose a blue that I think will look good with my eyes.
When Ana finishes her nails, she gets started on mine.
I wonder what Donovan will think when he sees it. Does he like men with painted nails? I think he probably just likes men who do what makes them feel good.
“I like it,” Ana says when she’s about halfway done.
“I like it too. And I like you. I’m glad we’re friends. If I were moving, you would help.”
Her forehead wrinkles in confusion. “Of course I would.”
“Not everyone feels that way.” Donovan would too, of course, and the Jilted Exes and the hockey guys.
“You’re kinda perfect. Do you know that?” Ana gives me a soft smile.
I wink at her. “Donovan thinks so too.”
We finish up with my nails. I already popped dinner in the oven, so Ana and I sit on the couch together, talking and laughing, until Donovan gets home from work.
“It smells good in here,” he says when he comes inside.
“It’ll be done soon. Look what Ana did?” I hold out my hand, and Donovan comes over.
“I like it.” He grins. “It matches your eyes.”
“That’s why I chose this color.” I stand and kiss him. Donovan looks surprised but doesn’t say anything about my public display of affection. “We’ll eat dinner and then get ready for tonight. I think it’s gonna be a good night.”
I feel Donovan’s smile. “I think so too.”