Page 148 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“Why did we buy from them if they’re shady?”

“Because they’re also really cheap.”

Great. “Okay, I’ll stand around and intimidate the delivery guys.”

He actually got a laugh from Gavin. Victory. Ben decided to seize the moment. He got up and went to him, wrapped his arms around Gavin’s waist.

Gavin tensed in his hold at first, but after a moment, he slid his hands up Ben’s chest and then clasped them behind Ben’s neck. He let Ben kiss him, but he didn’t deepen it, didn’t respond beyond allowing Ben to touch their lips together.

“Hey,” Ben whispered, pulling Gavin more tightly to him. “In case I didn’t mention it last night, I love you. Like, a lot. Just so ya know.”

He felt Gavin’s breath ease, felt the tension in Gavin melt away. “Okay,” Gavin whispered, a smile playing on his full lips.

“Okay? Not, I love you too and I’ll marry you?”

Gavin’s smile turned into a grin, teasing and playful. “How about I love you too and I’ll think about it?”

“How about you’re a pain in the ass?”

As Ben laughed, leaning in for another kiss, Gavin said, “I know you are, but I love you anyway.”

He smacked Gavin’s backside for that, but then Ben tightened his grip on him and lifted Gavin off his feet. Maybe they were both a pain in the ass, so maybe they deserved each other. Ben hoped so, at any rate.

Gavin squirmed and pushed Ben back, laughing the whole time. Ben let him go and nearly followed him out of the room until he remembered he was still completely naked.

“I guess I should jump in the shower.”

“And maybe put some clothes on? If you go into the kitchen like that, you’ll scare Tina into labor.”

Ben went through his morning routine with a smile on his face. He might’ve even whistled in the shower.

He found Gavin in the kitchen, putting a bowl of oatmeal next to a glass of juice and a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. Ben frowned but didn’t say anything as he sat down.

Gavin narrowed his eyes as he set a little dish full of grapes and blueberries in front of Ben’s seat. “It’s good for you. Don’t complain.”

“Who’s complaining? I didn’t say a word.”

“You didn’t have to. Your face said where’s the bacon for you.”

“I can’t help it if my face wants bacon.”

Gavin snorted a laugh and sat down across from him. “If you’re so worried about dying, I figure it’s time for us to start eating better.”

Ben could only grunt in response. He’d quit hard drinking a long time ago, only tied one on every year or so now. He’d quit smoking, quit doing drugs. Food was one of the few pleasures he had left. And coffee. He took a deep sip from his mug and then set it away from Gavin. “Why live longer if you can’t enjoy it?”

With a roll of his eyes, Gavin countered, “So we can have still have sex when you’re ninety?”

“Good point.” He tucked into his breakfast while Gavin ate a piece of toast and picked at the fruit between them at the table. Oatmeal was surprisingly filling, not too bad, even if it wasn’t, ya know, bacon. “Where’s Tina?”

“She’s sorting through another box of baby clothes from Anna.” Gavin hopped up when a timer went off in the kitchen. He pulled a pan of what appeared to be muffins out of the oven. “We should probably get her and the kids out here sometime so they can meet in person, ya know?”

Ben liked the idea. “Maybe wait until Ma heads home so there’s two rooms for them?”

“Yeah, maybe before school starts. Or on winter break or something?”

Summer was almost upon them, really. It was already the first week of June. “Thought about what you want for your birthday yet?”

Gavin’s cheeks pinked slightly and he bit his lip around a grin. “Yeah, actually. I think I finally decided on a tattoo I want…”

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