Chapter 1
Chapter One
Chad
Ididn’t realize how much of a comfort college was to me, and now that it’s gone, I have that light panicky feeling in my gut. Like I might float away. The whole entire world is open to me now, and I just …
Nope. I’m not doing this again.
I swipe a hand down my face, expelling all my nerves on a long breath, then glance over at Bailey. The sight of his face anchors me, and as he pulls up in the driveway at my childhood home, I lean over and kiss his cheek.
His sly smile comes out. “What was that for?”
“That’s the joys of being boyfriends,” I say, unbuckling my seat belt, a fresh wave of nerves hitting me for an entirely different reason. “It doesn’t need to be for anything.”
“Except I know you. Are you anxious about us staying here for a few days?”
“Always. What if they scare you away? When you met them, it was a quick visit, and we left again before things got weird.”
Bailey pins me with a look. “The first time we met was by a stream of your piss. I have seen you puke far more times than I ever wanted to see anyone do that. Your frat brothers are vile and inappropriate—and that’s on their best days.
So, please. Tell me. How the hell will your parents scare me away when nothing you or your brothers have done has managed to do the trick? ”
Well. When he puts it like that … “I’ve puked, like, maybe five times.”
“In one week.”
“We graduated!”
He laughs and this time leans over to kiss me. “Anyone who wants to get between us will have to pry you out of my cold, dead hands. Just remember that.”
“Fingers crossed they love you, then, huh?” I bounce out of the car to Bailey’s jaw dropping.
“Wait. Why wouldn’t they love me?”
I close the door before answering, and yes, I am one hundred percent evil after Bailey took time reassuring me when I met his parents, but come on. For all I knew, they were rich, “you’re not good enough for my son” types, so I was shitting bricks.
My folks are not intimidatingly rich. They’re not intimidating anything. It’s what I love the best about them. He met them for the first time almost six months ago, and the visit went great then. Everyone was on their best behavior. I don’t see me getting so lucky this time.
Bailey climbs from the car as I grab both of our bags and carry them toward the house.
“You’ve made me nervous now, asshole.”
“Good.” I blow him a kiss. “About time you weren’t so damn sure and confident about everything.”
“Like you can talk.”
We walk inside the one-story house that looks like just about every other house on the street. My folks have renovated the inside since when I was a kid, so it doesn’t have that same fluffy feel of familiarity I’d like, but they worked hard for this. I’m proud of them.
As far as parents go, Bailey and I lucked out.
“Is that my little frat boy?” a booming voice calls.
I grin as Dad storms into the hallway, and I barely get my arms open in time for him to swamp me in a hug and attempt to haul me off my feet. The problem is that sometime over the years, I’ve gotten taller than him, and his muscles aren’t what they used to be.
“Fuck, you’re heavy now,” he huffs. “Can’t believe I used to throw you over my shoulder.”
I laugh and pull away. “Dad, you remember Bailey. Bailey, my dad.”
“Hey, Mr. Doomsen.”
“We’re basically family at this point, and I’m too young to be a dad.” He really isn’t. “Call me Brad.”
“Wait. Chad and Brad?”
“And Bailey!” Dad cries before hauling him into a hug too. Unfortunately, my boyfriend isn’t anywhere near as heavy as me, and Dad almost launches him through the roof.
“Jesus.” Bailey’s eyes fly wide as Dad sets him down again.
Considering Bailey’s parents are calm and snarky like him, this isn’t family like he’s used to.
“Baby!” Mom cries, coming in the front door.
She’s already sobbing, arms wide, when she gets to me.
A former cheerleader and model, with the biggest heart of anyone I know and a mind as chaotic as a hurricane.
“And you brought your beau! What a sweet little face.” She’s still crying as she squeezes Bailey, and when she steps back, mascara is ringing under her eyes.
“I’m going to bake some cookies! Oh, you boys can help.
Gah, my heart is so full to have two beautiful boys visiting me.
” She grabs both of our hands and leads us toward the kitchen.
“Do you like chocolate, Bailey? Who am I kidding, everyone loves chocolate. Put the coffee on, Chaddy, we have so much to talk about.”
“I’ll take the bags up,” Dad hollers.
Even without my sisters here, the house is so full of energy. This is what I’m used to, and I love it. If I’m lucky enough, I’ll have a home as loud and full as this one day.
Bailey and I have a huge apartment in New York waiting for us, and the thought of that is … terrifying. Will my parents visit us there? Will I be happy?
Who am I kidding? I could be happy anywhere with Bailey.
The day passes quickly, and it takes Bailey a few hours to warm to the huge personalities my parents have, but by the time Dad picks my sisters up from school, he’s settled in. I’m such a dope because seeing him fit in with my family is frat as fuck.
As soon as I think the words, I sober a little.
My frat-as-fuck days are over. My pranking days are over.
That’s going to take some getting used to.
“Hey,” I tell Mom as the twins raid our cookies. “Don’t forget to show Bailey all those embarrassing baby photos of me.”
“Already pulled the albums from the closet. Come on, honey, you should see how cute he was in his first football uniform. Oh, I cried so much. Reminded me of his daddy …”
They disappear into the living room, and Dad settles in next to me. He’s watching my face carefully.
“Hey, little dude. I’m worried about you.”
That’s a surprise. I’d been expecting the “make sure you wrap it” talk. “Why?”
“First up, it’s my job. Second … you really moving to the big city where your boyfriend’s family is paying for everything?”
“I know what you’re thinking, but you’d like them.”
“You’re just such a cool kid. Always been so happy. And yeah, you changed a bunch in college, but it feels like you just became more you there. I’ve gotta say, this move feels like the least you thing you’ve ever done.”
And there he goes, pulling the thoughts right from my brain. “I know. Honestly, it’s had me a bit worried too, but Bailey’s my everything. If he’s in New York, I’m in New York.”
“Have you told him you’re worried?”
“Nope. Talked to his dad though.”
“What’d he say?”
The memory of the conversation helps calm me slightly.
“You’d love Alistair. Bit of an obviously rich dude, but he’s levelheaded.
He told me that all the most successful people had a hand up at one point and that it makes him feel good to know that someone will be there looking after Bailey. It makes me feel good too.”
Dad squeezes my shoulder. “I trust you because you’re smart. And a smart-ass, but that’s not relevant to this conversation.”
“Still mentioned it though.”
He looks proud of himself. “I just worry about what happens if things go south? You’ll have to move out. You don’t have any friends in the city. Rent is pricey there.”
They’re all real concerns that have been on my mind as well.
“I’m not someone who thinks about the future too much.
I know that I should have a plan for those things, but I don’t see the point.
If they happen, they happen. I’m lucky enough to know that I’ll always have a room here if I need it, and I’d rather my energy was put into making sure Bailey and I have a fucking awesome life together. ”
Dad nods. Just once. “I’ll respect that, then. Probably not the best time to mention I want to turn your bedroom into a gaming room, then, is it?”
“If you knew how to turn a PlayStation on, I might be worried.”
Dad cuffs me on the shoulder. “I was thinking board games. For your mom and me. Chess, Uno, Monopoly—”
“Not Monopoly. I like bragging about the fact my parents aren’t divorced.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “Guess we’ll keep it as your room, then. Always there for you, dude. Always. Though, I still wanna meet these future in-laws of yours. Might make me feel better about knowing who’s got my kid’s life in their hands.”
“That can be arranged. We’ll have a housewarming party. Then you’ll have to come and see me in New York.”
Dad sighs, running a hand over his face the way I tend to do. “Guess we’re not getting out of that one.”
“Nope.”
“What if I fake a hernia?”
“I’ll reschedule.”
Bailey’s laugh cuts through the house, and Dad bends down to whisper, “Ten bucks she’s showing him that nakey pick of you covered in mud and wearing a cowboy hat and boots when you were three.”
I groan as I remember why I was naked. We’d visited a farm, and I decided if the pigs could roll around in the mud naked, then so could I.
“We’ll give them another minute,” I say, wanting them to at least get to one where I’m the chubbiest, rolliest baby in history and I went through a stage of just rolling everywhere instead of crawling.
Mom can try to embarrass me all she wants. I want Bailey to know it all.