Jason
I wake up late the next day to the smell of eggs and bacon, and step out of the bedroom to see Gabe sketching something while Linda cleans up dishes.
I take a seat next to Gabe, but Linda says, “No, no. Your plate’s on the kitchen table under a bowl to keep it warm. Hurry up and eat before it gets too cold.”
When I lift the bowl off the plate, the sight before me makes me drool. “Linda, you should have moved in sooner,” I say while sitting down to scarf down this amazing-looking omelet filled with cheese, veggies, and bacon on the side.
“Well, I have a feeling I’ll be a regular fixture around here nowadays.” She walks to the table and has a seat. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be,” I say through a mouthful of food. “I like having you here.”
Linda takes a sip of her coffee, a mischievous look in her eyes. “Gabe tells me you two are going to get your own place.”
I glance at Gabe. He’s focused on drawing, but I can tell by the look on his face that he’s listening.
“That’s the plan,” I tell her. “I’m making good money now. Besides, this is your place. You deserve to have your bedroom back.”
Linda waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t rush to move out of here on my account. I like seeing you boys happy. That was my plan all along.”
I drop my fork, and Gabe says, “What?”
Linda rolls her eyes. “I’m a Mom. I knew you two were in love long before you did. I’m just glad it all worked out according to plan. Well—” she takes another sip of coffee. “Doug didn’t work out according to plan, but I never did know how to pick the men in my life.”
“You should try girls,” Gabe says. “I can’t believe you knew and didn’t say anything.”
Linda looks at Gabe with a sad expression. “You wouldn’t have said anything if I’d asked you.”
That hangs in the room for a few beats, then Linda says, “It’s really nice to hear your voice again.”
Linda’s eyes never leave Gabe, and I glance over to see him looking at her, too. “Maybe it’s time for me to speak up a little more,” he finally says.
Linda smiles. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I think I’m ready.”
A tear falls down Linda’s cheek, and she rushes to kiss his forehead. “That’s wonderful,” she gasps.
I’m so fucking proud of him. Maybe finally speaking the truth about that night aloud helped him find his voice again.
“Well,” Linda says, breaking the moment. “I have to help Mrs. Thompson clean out her shed. You boys behave.”
Linda gets up to leave. Once she’s out of the trailer, I turn to Gabe and say, “Get that cute little ass of yours on my lap now.”
He giggles because he’s cute as fuck, but says, “I’m almost done—gimme a second.”
He finishes the last few touches of whatever he’s drawing, then approaches.
“What do you think?”
I gasp.
It’s a picture of me on my motorcycle.
And it’s perfect.
He’s captured every detail of the bike, and I look like such a freaking stud!
“Is this how I look on it?” I ask in awe.
“You look hotter. No drawing could capture how sexy you look on that bike, babe.”
My eyes trail up to Gabe, and I curl my finger to make him come closer. We kiss, and I pull him into my lap, his legs straddling me, while we make out.
“Thank you. It’s amazing,” I say when the kissing has settled.
Gabe just shrugs…then it hits me. “It’s not finished,” I tell him.
Gabe looks surprised. “Oh? Did I miss something?”
I kiss him again. “Yeah. You. You need to be riding on the back of it. Can you do that?”
His smile could melt the polar caps. “Yeah, I think I can do that.”
“Thank you.”
We kiss again, and I can’t help but knead his butt.
I’m obsessed with it.
“Do you have a job tonight?” he asks.
“I do.”
A worried expression appears, but he shakes it off and forces a grin. “Be careful.”
“Always.”