AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And with that, he kisses me, and we set about ticking that particular item off my bucket list.
16
PJ
"This is a big step," I announce on an exhale as Branum steers his pickup into the driveway of his oldest brother's cabin.
He parks and turns to face me. "You'll be fine, baby. My brothers can't wait to meet you."
It's been three weeks since we had sex in his office. After we came, Branum asked me to be his boyfriend, and I said yes. I also double-checked the following day in case he had inadvertently blurted the question out as part of his post-sex haze.
He hadn't.
We're together.
It's all very new, and we're both aware of that. We both also realize that, despite it being very,veryearly days in our relationship, what we have is real.
Which is why meeting his brothers is nerve-racking as hell but also something I'm excited about. I'm hoping this might also be a chance for me and Eddie to become friends, since lord knows I could do with some of those.
"Can I do anything? Are youin balance?"
I love when he asks me that, even though as I explained, and he understands, my OCD isn't a switch I can flick on and off. It's, unfortunately, not that predictable. But we agreed that it's still a good way for him to check in with me anyway.
"I'm okay. Nervous, but only because this means a lot to me."
He nods. "It's a pretty big deal for me, too. Never brought anyone home to meet the family."
"I'm the first?"
Branum smiles, threading his fingers through mine. "You're the first." He raises my hand to his mouth and kisses my palm tenderly. "And hopefully last."
My chest explodes with happiness. "For someone who doesn't see himself as a romantic guy, you're doing a pretty good job."
"That's because I've got a pretty good partner."
I give him a quick peck on the cheek and then we get out of the truck, both sporting huge smiles.
A man who looks like an older, less solid version of Branum opens the door and greets his brother with a hearty hug. When they break apart, Branum does the introductions. "PJ, this is my older brother, Marsh. Marsh, this is the one and only PJ."
He eyes me up and down, giving me the big brother once-over before bundling me up in a big hug, too. "Good to meet you, PJ."
"Same," I sputter, because the guy has a seriously strong grip.
Branum notices. "Hey, that's enough. You'll break him."
Marsh lets me go. "Sorry. Got a bit carried away."
"It's fine," I tell him, then turn to Branum and poke my finger into his chest. "And just so you know, it'll take a lot more than that to break me, mister."
I head inside, and as I do, I hear Marsh whisper, "I like him already."
It's nice catching up with Eddie again, and Harrick seems great, too. Such a talkative guy. The conversation flows easily between all of us right from the get-go.
Before I know it, there's a knock on the door.
"Food!" Branum exclaims, raising a triumphant fist in the air. "Thank god. I'm starving."
I chuckle as we make our way over to the dining room because we ate before we arrived. Branum really does have a big appetite. And not just when it comes to food. Hard to believe that up until three weeks ago, I was a virgin. These days, I've forgotten what it feels like to walk without feeling the after-effects of our lovemaking.
