Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Boo!” Strong hands grabbed my waist, and I jumped about ten feet in the air.
“You scared the shit out of me.”
“I can see that. I said your name a couple of times, but you were staring into the Tupperware cabinet like it held the meaning of life.”
Well, that’s because he couldn’t hear what had been going on in my head. I was thankful as fuck about that. “We’ll just say you don’t want to know.”
He kissed my nape, tightened his arms around me, and rested his chin on my shoulder. “Is something wrong?”
“Absolutely not, but we do have a lot of work to do before your friends arrive, so chop-chop.”
“Our.”
“Our what?” I asked.
“Friends.”
He kissed me again, and I managed to turn around to face him without melting into a puddle of mush. It wasn’t easy. “Okay. Our friends.”
“You’re nervous.” He brushed his thumb over my cheekbone. “You don’t have to be.”
“It’s so weird. I don’t know why I’m freaking out. I’m not usually like this, but I think it’s just…this is your first time with a man, and we’re spending the day with your friends, and I want it to be perfect for you. I don’t want you to feel like it’s not worth it.” Oh, shit. I hadn’t even realized that was how I felt until I said it. I’d also called them his friends again, but I wasn’t sure he noticed.
“Hey.” Knox tilted my head up so I looked at him. “You don’t have to try and make anything perfect. The whole point of today is to have fun. To cut loose and be around friends with you. The last thing I want is for you to feel like you have something to prove. Nothing that happens today could ever make me feel like you aren’t worth it.”
“When you say it like that it does sound silly.” He was tying me in knots, though. I’d never felt the way I did about Knox, and I wanted to do everything I could to hold on to him.
“It is. I want you, Cal. That’s not going to change.”
I nodded, feeling a little ridiculous. “Even if I put you to work all day before they arrive?”
“Even then.”
I winked. “Remember you said that.”
So that’s what we spent the morning doing—cleaning a house that didn’t really need to be cleaned, marinating meat, cutting vegetables, making potato salad and finger foods for before the meal was ready. We cut a watermelon, cleaned out half of it, and used it as a fruit bowl. I also made this alcoholic punch I loved. Frankie Blue followed us around the house the whole time, like she knew something exciting was happening.
Knox didn’t complain, and he did everything. We only took one break to make out when he jokingly rubbed a piece of cantaloupe all over my face to get it sticky and I bit his finger trying to eat it. We laughed, and kissed, and it was great.
We got everything finished with enough time to shower together and get dressed before the first knock came at the door.
“Relax.” Knox swatted my ass.
“Oh, I liked that. You should do it more often.”
Chuckling, he shook his head and went for the door. I wasn’t surprised to see it was Lawson and Remington who arrived first, Bear stumbling in behind them.
“Hey, brother. How’s it going?” Lawson said.
“He’s been working me like crazy all day, that’s how it’s going,” Knox teased.
“And you listened very well,” I joked back. “It’s good to see you again, Remington.” I still couldn’t get over the fact that he was famous.
“Remy,” he reminded me.
“And Law,” Lawson added.
Remy and Law. I appreciated the fact that they were trying so hard to pull me into the fold. “Thanks, um…you guys want a drink? There’s sweet tea, water, beer, and this fruity vodka punch I love.”
“Just sweet tea for me, thanks,” Law replied.
“I’ll take the fruity vodka punch,” Remy said. “Here, I’ll help you.”
“Thanks.” We went into the kitchen together, and I grabbed two glasses from the cabinet.
“This was me last year.”
“Huh?” I looked at him.
“Law and I had a barbecue at the house. There’s apparently no other way to introduce your boyfriend to your friends in Havenwood,” he teased. “I wasn’t out. No one knew I was gay except for Law and my friend Brit. My anxiety was really bad back then. I thought I was going to lose my mind, but it was great. They’re all really good guys. Knox is one of the best men I know. Even though this is new for him, he’ll do right by you. If you’re nervous, I thought I’d let you know you don’t need to be.”
I exhaled a deep breath, one that came from the bottom of my lungs. “Thank you. Sometimes you can know something inside, but you still need to hear it from someone not involved in the situation, ya know? I might have always known I’m gay, but this, what I feel for Knox, I’ve never had that before.” He was my family. I wanted his kids to be my family too.