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Breck crossed his arms to Tad’s left and nodded. “She’s right. You’re adorable.” His lips twitched. “Congratulations on moving in.”
The rest of the bunch chimed in with more of the same.
Scott thanked them. So did Tad, feeling awkwardly happy. This was all still so fresh, this new dynamic of sorts with his buds. They’d been so fucking accepting. He couldn’t’ve asked for better friends. Not that they didn’t razz him, but they razzed each other, too. It was just the way they rolled, and Tad had no qualms at all. They were his boys. His tribe. And he loved those fuckers fiercely.
Ned clapped his hands together a few seconds later. “So! Georgetown. Tonight. Bar-hopping. Scott’s driving.”
Scott’s lips quirked. “What time are we picking you boozers up?”
“Seven.” Ned beamed, not bothering to contest his little jab.
But as Jay and Marcie weighed in on what time worked best for them, Breck’s cell pinged with an incoming text. From Tad’s periphery, he watched his friend pull out his phone, then heard Breck exhale a wary curse. Without thinking, Tad glanced over, his eyes landing on Breck’s message.
Kai: Come by the dojo. It’s important. I’ll be waiting.
Tad’s brows lifted. Whoa. A text from Kai? He looked up to find Breck staring at the screen. Staring at it intently, with features tight.
“Everything okay?” Tad asked quietly.
Breck stiffened, then pocketed his cell. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Everything’s fine. Just gotta… head out. I’ll ring you later.”
And just like that, he was saying his goodbye, then melding into the throngs of graduation attendees. Tad watched him go, wondering what the fuck was up with Kai. Since when did Breck jump to his beck and call?
Max and Sean were next to depart.
Scott looked at Tad. “You ready?”
Tad smiled. “So ready.”
“Good,” Scott murmured. “Let’s go to your place.”
“To pack?” Tad drawled.
“Sure. That, too.”
Tad laughed and took his hand. “You’re incorrigible. Don’t ever change.”
FORTY-TWO
“So… the first boyfriend you’ve brought home in thirteen years, huh? You sure she’s not gonna faint or anything?”
Max slid Sean a smirk as he pulled up to his mom’s house. “Yes. I’m sure. That woman’s a friggin’ oak.”
Sean’s brows rose. “An oak?”
“Well… a really small oak.”
Sean grinned and undid he seatbelt, but in truth, he was kind of nervous. Being the first in over a decade? The second one total? He peered at her house and mustered up some confidence, along with a little bit of charm.
“Have you told her much about me?”
“Um… Yes and no.”
Sean looked at him. “Yes and no?”
What kind of answer was that?
Max shrugged and pulled his keys from the ignition. “You and me… We weren’t really together until just recently.”
Yes, they were. Where it counted they’d been totally together. Sexual fidelity. Hearts owned. Yup. No question.
“So to tell her a lot about you would’ve been—”
“Too telling?” Sean grinned. “Too revealing? Full disclosure?”
Max’s lips curved but his smile didn’t exactly look happy. “I was gonna say cruel. I didn’t want to get her hopes up.”
“Oh.” Yeah, okay. That made a lot more sense. Sean cleared his throat. “So um… When did you first tell her about me?”
“When she first asked.”
Sean stared at him, tamping a laugh. He would not be deterred. “Ah… And when was that?”
Max shifted awkwardly. “Um… I dunno...” He looked out the window. Scratched his cheek. Like he didn’t want to fess up or something. Fucking adorable. “Like a month and a half ago? Maybe? Give or take?”
Sean’s heart pitter-pattered. He smiled, genuinely surprised. “You told your mom about me that far back? Wow. That’s awesome.” He scooted over and got in Max’s grill. “I knew it,” he growled softly. “Admit it, I fucking knew.”
Max’s lips twitched. He shook his head. “Got no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you so fucking do.”
Max laughed and pulled Sean against him. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
Sean grinned. “You love me.”
“I so fucking do.”
They held each other’s gaze like they always used to, but then Max asked a question Sean honestly hadn’t been expecting.
“When did you tell your parents about me?”
The softer side of Max that wanted to hear how Sean felt. To hear about when Sean’s feelings took hold for him, too. Which, unlike Max, Sean had no issues divulging.
“Not long after I first met you.” He pressed his lips to Max’s cheek, then moseyed them over to the corner of his mouth.
Max’s eyes slid closed. He held Sean tighter. “But that was ages ago.”
“Believe me, I know.” Sean brushed his lips over Max’s. “I’ve been crushing on you for a ridiculously long time.”
Max smiled against his mouth. “You are pretty ridiculous.”
“Better get used to it,” Sean laughed, finally kissing him.
Their tongues met. Max growled and crushed their lips closer. “I think I’d rather take credit for it instead.”
Sean grinned, tunneling his fingers into Max’s hair. “Take it. You sure as fuck deserve all credit there.”
