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He understood. It still hurt—that Cass had held back so much and had let things get so bad so quickly. But he understood how heavy and illogical emotions could be, how they could spiral out of control at the drop of a hat. He also believed Cass when he said it wouldn’t happen again. And more than anything, he had nothing but love for the man who now held him so carefully and kissed him so tenderly.
From the other side of the table, Bri squealed and clapped her hands. “Un-ca Ash wuv Cass! Kiss! Mwah!”
They broke their kiss as they both laughed, Cass still holding Ash tight.
“I do,” Ash said. He pressed another light kiss to Cass’s lips. “I love you.”
Cass laughed again and kissed him back. “I love you, too. Always.”
Dad (Wednesday, June 21, 2023 – 8:14 p.m.): Your mom is asking for an update
Dad (8:15 p.m.): Actually, it’s me. I’m asking for an update
Dad (8:15 p.m.): Love you <3
Dad (8:16 p.m.): Tell Ash and Bri we said hi
Chapter Fifty-Six
Cass
Warm hands slid slowly up Cass’s bare chest, and he groaned and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend, shifting so Ash lay on top of him.
“Good morning,” Ash whispered against Cass’s lips. Then they kissed, softly and tenderly, with no urgency at all. As though they had all the time in the world.
They didn’t; they had only a couple of hours. Ash had to drop Bri off at daycare and then be at school by eight thirty, and Cass’s flight back to Redding left in the early afternoon. But that didn’t send Cass into a spiral this time, not like it had when Ash had been getting ready to leave Redding just a week ago.
They’d stayed up late last night, talking more about so many things they should have already talked about—the future, eventually moving in together, career plans, Bri. They’d also made travel arrangements for the rest of the summer already. Cass was going to fly up for one weekend in mid-July, although it would just be a quick overnight trip, and then Ash and Bri would drive down to Redding for an extended three-week-long trip from late August to mid-September, during the autumn break before the next session of classes started up for both of them.
Knowing that and having those trips already planned had made Cass feel so much better, even if his heart would still ache when he and Ash parted ways today.
He tightened his arms around Ash and kissed him again. “Mmm, I can’t wait to have this every morning,” he murmured.
Ash smiled against his lips. “Soon.”
He nodded, but another of those deep stabs of guilt hit him.
He’d almost lost this. He’d almost let this slip away, all because he’d convinced himself there were no other options.
Closing his eyes, he leaned his head forward against Ash’s shoulder. “I love you so much,” he said quietly, fighting the urge to apologize again.
Rather than answer, Ash propped himself up on his elbows and then smiled softly down at Cass before lowering his mouth for another kiss. It was everything—warmth, comfort, reassurance. Ash then settled back on Cass’s chest with what Cass wanted to believe was a happy sigh.
“I need to get up and take a quick shower,” Ash said after another few seconds. He lifted his head off Cass’s chest and gave him a teasing smirk. “Wanna join me?”
Heat rushed to Cass’s cheeks, and he grinned. “That sounds—”
From across the room, Bri mumbled something incoherent as she shifted around in her crib and then stood, gripping Ollie the Octopus tightly in her arms. “Un-ca Ashhhhhhh,” she whined, clearly still sleepy and grumpy.
Ash groaned quietly, dropping his forehead back to Cass’s shoulder. “Never mind, I guess. Next time, maybe,” he grumbled.
With a light laugh, Cass kissed the top of Ash’s head. “Definitely next time. How about Bri and I make breakfast while you shower and get ready?”
Grumbling again in agreement, Ash rolled over off of Cass and climbed out of bed. He gathered Bri up out of the crib and cuddled with her for a few minutes before handing her off to Cass and disappearing into the bathroom to shower and get dressed.
By the time he was finished, Cass and Bri had the table set with a simple breakfast of fruit, mini blueberry pancakes, and scrambled eggs with spinach and peppers. Bri was wide awake and happy, and she stuffed her face, declaring “This is so good!” every few bites. When they were done eating, Ash whisked Bri away to get her dressed and ready for her day, while Cass did the dishes and cleaned up. At about seven thirty, they all headed out on the short walk to the daycare center together, Bri skipping happily as she held Ash’s hand.
They stopped outside of the daycare, and Cass tried not to get too emotional as he hugged Bri goodbye. She hugged him back tightly and then dropped a huge kiss on his cheek with her very dramatic “Mwah!,” like she always had.
