isn’t easy. I’ve managed the business when Bev was out of town. Maybe, I wanted to be spoiled and pampered like a starlet, but you’re the only one who ever saw what I was capable of.”
“Well, Bev did too,” Avery said.
“Really? I’m getting it right, and you’re going to correct me?” Ken asked.
Avery smiled. “Sorry but a lot of people at the club know how talented and smart you are. You don’t see it. You hide your depression well, and I never had a clue that’s what you were battling.”
“Dreamers don’t let it keep them down for long.” Ken hugged Avery. “I swear, if you give this another chance, I’ll never screw up like that again. I’ll never cheat and never spend a night without you—no matter what you say. Even that night, I knew I shouldn’t have left.”
“I was mad. You did the right thing, but you should’ve stayed at Bev’s.” Avery nodded.
“Sleeping on the couch is as far away from you as I’ll ever get again—if I’m sick or we have a fight. I may not be an expert in myself, objectively. But I know you. I’ve loved you so long that I can’t go back. No one else can fill that void in my heart. I love you now. Tell me I can stay.” Ken kissed Avery’s shoulder.
Avery pulled Ken into a kiss. He meant to keep it brief, but it seemed like an oath. It felt like a seal fixed on their relationship. When he came up for air, he pressed his forehead to Ken’s. “You’re moving in here. We’re packing up that crap apartment and bringing your stuff here tomorrow.”
“Not today?” Ken asked.
Avery smiled. “Today, you’re not getting out of bed once we eat and I drag you back there.”
“You love me? Forgive me? Fresh start?” Ken asked.
Avery grinned. “Yes to all. I love you. No secrets, no tiptoeing around to spare each other’s feelings, and no out. This is it forever. Agreed?”
“Yes.” Ken kissed him. “Yes to all of it. Come on. Let’s get dressed.”
“Dressed?” Avery wanted him naked and in bed all day.
Ken smiled. “I want to be seen with my smart, hot boyfriend going out to breakfast. We’ll burn off the waffles. Don’t worry.”
“Out in public and carbs? Ken, you’re scaring me a little.” Avery took Ken’s hand.
“Please, for the first time in my life, I have exactly what I want. I’ll call Bev later and take the job. I have a guy who knows the real me, all the good and bad, and still loves me. I don’t have anything to be afraid of.” Ken pulled Avery toward the bedroom.
“What about your dad?” Avery asked. He wanted to ignore the issue, but he needed the air cleared totally.
Ken grinned. “He didn’t like having a gay son. How do you think he’ll feel about my bringing home a black boyfriend?”
“See, we could’ve been having great sex and making your father nuts at holidays for years. So much time to make up for.” Avery liked Ken’s new positive spin. If his guy grew depressed again, Avery knew he could handle it.
* * * *
After waffles and a long walk holding hands, Avery pinched himself as they walked back into the house.
“You’re supposed to pinch my ass, not your arm.” Ken winked at Avery.
“I can’t believe it’s real.” Avery shook his head.
Ken kissed Avery. “It’s real. It’s not going to change. I’ve been mulling our stupidity since you took me to the ER. Our lives are linked, and they should be. We were young, stubborn and stupid. We’re not any of those now. Well, maybe stubborn.”
Hugging Ken tight, Avery inhaled the smell and took in the form. He’d dreamed of it so many times that it felt surreal. “Screwing around with you this last week was like a weird dream.”
“That’s better than a nightmare.” Ken grinned.
Avery checked the time. “We have to go to work later. You can talk to Bev in person. You better get naked and in bed. I’m not going to work without having my way with you.”
The men rushed to the bedroom, undressing frantically as they did. Ken
“Well, Bev did too,” Avery said.
“Really? I’m getting it right, and you’re going to correct me?” Ken asked.
Avery smiled. “Sorry but a lot of people at the club know how talented and smart you are. You don’t see it. You hide your depression well, and I never had a clue that’s what you were battling.”
“Dreamers don’t let it keep them down for long.” Ken hugged Avery. “I swear, if you give this another chance, I’ll never screw up like that again. I’ll never cheat and never spend a night without you—no matter what you say. Even that night, I knew I shouldn’t have left.”
“I was mad. You did the right thing, but you should’ve stayed at Bev’s.” Avery nodded.
“Sleeping on the couch is as far away from you as I’ll ever get again—if I’m sick or we have a fight. I may not be an expert in myself, objectively. But I know you. I’ve loved you so long that I can’t go back. No one else can fill that void in my heart. I love you now. Tell me I can stay.” Ken kissed Avery’s shoulder.
Avery pulled Ken into a kiss. He meant to keep it brief, but it seemed like an oath. It felt like a seal fixed on their relationship. When he came up for air, he pressed his forehead to Ken’s. “You’re moving in here. We’re packing up that crap apartment and bringing your stuff here tomorrow.”
“Not today?” Ken asked.
Avery smiled. “Today, you’re not getting out of bed once we eat and I drag you back there.”
“You love me? Forgive me? Fresh start?” Ken asked.
Avery grinned. “Yes to all. I love you. No secrets, no tiptoeing around to spare each other’s feelings, and no out. This is it forever. Agreed?”
“Yes.” Ken kissed him. “Yes to all of it. Come on. Let’s get dressed.”
“Dressed?” Avery wanted him naked and in bed all day.
Ken smiled. “I want to be seen with my smart, hot boyfriend going out to breakfast. We’ll burn off the waffles. Don’t worry.”
“Out in public and carbs? Ken, you’re scaring me a little.” Avery took Ken’s hand.
“Please, for the first time in my life, I have exactly what I want. I’ll call Bev later and take the job. I have a guy who knows the real me, all the good and bad, and still loves me. I don’t have anything to be afraid of.” Ken pulled Avery toward the bedroom.
“What about your dad?” Avery asked. He wanted to ignore the issue, but he needed the air cleared totally.
Ken grinned. “He didn’t like having a gay son. How do you think he’ll feel about my bringing home a black boyfriend?”
“See, we could’ve been having great sex and making your father nuts at holidays for years. So much time to make up for.” Avery liked Ken’s new positive spin. If his guy grew depressed again, Avery knew he could handle it.
* * * *
After waffles and a long walk holding hands, Avery pinched himself as they walked back into the house.
“You’re supposed to pinch my ass, not your arm.” Ken winked at Avery.
“I can’t believe it’s real.” Avery shook his head.
Ken kissed Avery. “It’s real. It’s not going to change. I’ve been mulling our stupidity since you took me to the ER. Our lives are linked, and they should be. We were young, stubborn and stupid. We’re not any of those now. Well, maybe stubborn.”
Hugging Ken tight, Avery inhaled the smell and took in the form. He’d dreamed of it so many times that it felt surreal. “Screwing around with you this last week was like a weird dream.”
“That’s better than a nightmare.” Ken grinned.
Avery checked the time. “We have to go to work later. You can talk to Bev in person. You better get naked and in bed. I’m not going to work without having my way with you.”
The men rushed to the bedroom, undressing frantically as they did. Ken
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