Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I frowned. Did he not want me to go?
“We’ll meet you guys at home,” Connie said.
“Yeah, see you crazy kids who totally aren’t feelin’ each other over there,” Garrett added when his parents walked away. “I can’t wait to bust your balls all night.” He waggled his brows at Houston.
“Leave his balls alone, please. I like them.” Houston groaned, telling me it was probably the wrong thing to say. I couldn’t blame him for not wanting them to know we’d hooked up recently. “Or I assume I would…if I’d seen them…which I haven’t…ever…like not even once.”
Tucker, Garrett, and Ramsey all laughed.
“Enough. Let’s get out of here.” He tugged me away.
We started making our way to the vehicles, which sucked because mine was parked in a different lot. “I can see it’ll be difficult for you to keep your hands to yourself if you’re around me today, so I can just go home. I know how football turns you on. I’d hate for you to struggle with controlling yourself at your parents’ house and sneak me into the bathroom again.”
“You went first. I followed.”
I shrugged. “Semantics.” I tried to walk away, but the fucker grabbed my coat and didn’t let me move—not that I tried real hard.
“Shut up, you idiot. You have to go,” Houston told me.
“You don’t want me to.” I could see he was feeling weird about it.
“I didn’t say that.” He didn’t have to. “It’s just that…” He hesitated a moment, then added, “My mom’s being…well, a mom. She said something to me earlier—nothing bad about you, but yeah. If I didn’t want you there, I’d tell you.”
If he insisted… “It’s not like I can say no to my boyfriend’s mom.” Or like I wanted to.
“Your family is in Texas, right, Cullen? Are you guys close?” Connie asked while we were at the table eating that evening. Houston’s family were great. They lived in an older part of Denver, in the same house that Houston and Garrett grew up in. His dad had warmed up to me the more I talked football with him. It was clear how much he loved the sport and how proud he was to have had both of his sons play.
“No, ma’am. I mean, my family is there, but I’m not close with them except for my twin, Charity.” I scooped some baked potato into my mouth so I didn’t have to talk more.
“They don’t deserve him,” Houston said. It was all he needed to say because everyone knew what that meant. If you were queer and not close to your family, it was likely because they were homophobes.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Sometimes I don’t think,” Connie continued.
“Is that where Garrett gets it?” Ramsey asked, likely trying to lighten the mood. I laughed because it was a good fucking joke, and thankfully, Connie and Dale did, too.
“Anyway, no need to apologize. My dad passed away. I’d come out to him not long before, and he did exactly what I expected—my brother, too. My mom talks to me a little more now that he’s gone, but she can’t see past her religion. Caleb is a lot like my dad. My sister is great, though. She’s my best friend other than this dumbass.” I pointed to Houston, and oh, had I just called Houston my best friend? He had been back in college, but that wasn’t a title we’d claimed for years.
“Well, you’re always welcome in our home, Cullen. We have enough love for everyone.”
I wasn’t surprised by her response. They treated both Tucker and Ramsey like family, but it was even different with Ramsey. He was truly like a son to them. They knew Garrett loved him, and that made them family. “Thank you.” I took another bite.
When Houston placed his hand at my nape, I looked at him with a cocked brow. He just shrugged and didn’t move it. The comfort meant the world to me.
We finished eating, then ended up in the living room, shooting the shit. I was quieter than usual, sitting back and watching Houston with his people. What would it have been like if he’d ever brought me home in college? Introduced me as his best friend or his boyfriend? I shook that thought from my head. There was no reason to think about that shit.
Their house wasn’t big, and they didn’t have a ton of seating. When we had dessert and Houston tried to sit on the floor with his plate of pie, I said, “I don’t think so, McRae.”
“My mom’s right here. I don’t need another one.”
“I think it’s very sweet that he’s worried about your knee,” Connie said, and Houston winced. Great job putting it out there, Mama McRae. “Listen to your boyfriend,” she teased.
“Mom…you know it’s not real.” Still, when I stood, Houston took my seat, and I sat on the floor but between his legs.