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“We photoshopped you in,” Elliott said. “We’ll have to take a photo of all of us today.”
I was stunned quiet for a moment. That had been really thoughtful of them. Corbin squeezed my hand, and the smile he sent my way told me how much this moment meant to him too.
“Yeah,” I said, “we’ll have to do that.”
Everyone got busy chatting and hanging out again, before we decided to go into the hot tub. Marcus apparently had two of them, one downstairs and one upstairs.
We all changed into swim trunks or boxers. For just a moment, I had a flash of fear that Corbin would be embarrassed of me. Again, I had no issues with my body, but because of his struggles, would he be ashamed for others to see me shirtless? Would it be something else Corbin beat himself up over? I fought to keep those thoughts at bay.
“I’m actually going to head back in and go to the restroom real quick,” I said when we were all outside.
“I’ll show you where it is,” Kai said.
“I’ll do it.” Marcus’s words stopped everyone in their tracks.
“Be good,” Kai told him.
“Baby boy, I’m always good.” Marcus winked, and everyone watched us as we went inside. They all knew what this was about—Marcus wanting to speak to me.
“I love him,” I said, as soon as we were out of view. “I get that you might not trust me, but he’s mine and I love him. I won’t let you or anyone else scare me off.”
Marcus crossed his arms and cocked a dark brow as if I’d amused him. “Is that what I’m doing? Scaring you off?”
“I don’t know, but I’m letting you know it won’t work. I fucked up. I get it. I judged him. I said terrible things to him, but I’ve apologized. I can’t go back in time and change it, but there’s not a damn thing I wouldn’t do for him now. His happiness is my happiness. Jesus, when he told me he would see a therapist, I—”
“He’s seeing a therapist?” Marcus cut me off.
Shit. I should have kept my mouth shut. I had no right to share Corbin’s business. “I assumed he told you. Fuck. I can’t talk to you about that. It’s not my—humpf.” The last word fell out of my mouth when Marcus basically lunged at me, pulling me into a hug and squeezing me so tight, I could hardly breathe. “Um…I thought you didn’t do this?”
“I don’t. It’s weird. I can’t believe I did, so don’t tell anyone.” But still, he didn’t let go. “He’s starting therapy for his eating?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you…thank you,” Marcus said over and over again.
“You don’t have to thank me. He did it all on his own.”
Marcus nodded but still had his arms around me. “This is getting awkward now. I’m gonna let go.”
I chuckled. “I think that’s a good idea.”
He did, and we stood there staring at each other.
Marcus broke the standoff. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to. I understand who you are to Corbin. I would never come between you. But you need to know he has me now too. And whatever happens, I’ll be there for him.”
A beat of silence stretched from one, to two, to three, Marcus just standing there and staring at me before he held out his hand. “Friends?”
I shook it. “Friends.”
He pointed me toward the restroom, and I went. Once I took care of my business, I made my way back outside. They were all in the hot tub, laughing at something Corbin said. He gave me a smile that felt better than a million bucks, like this beautiful man thought I hung the moon, and there was nothing like that feeling.
“I’m reminding them how awesome I am, and that this day is about celebrating me.”
“Just today?” I walked over.
“You’re right. Every day should be Corbin Erickson Day.”
I sat on the edge of the hot tub, with Corbin between my legs. “I agree.”
“See? My CB is fucking great.”
“But you’re boyfriends. I thought CB stood for cuddle buddies?” Parker asked.
“Cuddle Boyfriends,” Corbin corrected. “We’re cuddle boyfriends now.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Corbin
“Do we have to get out of bed today? Can’t we just stay here all day? As you’ve seen, I’m an excellent cuddler, so this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. Going once…going twice…”
Spencer chuckled, then bit my pec. “I thought I was the excellent cuddler?”
He had me there. “Well, that too. All the more reason we should stay in bed and never leave. We can have food delivered. I don’t have a plan for the work situation, but we’re two smart guys. We can figure something out.” I started kissing my way down his body. “I’ll suck you off…”
Spencer held on to me and didn’t let me disappear beneath the blanket. Damn it. I had a feeling he was onto my plan.
