Page 138 of The Price of Ice

The laugh burst out of him, and he was dragging Levy into another embrace. “Fucking hell, that’s amazing,” he whispered into his neck, only pulling back because he was aware his father was only three steps away and if he kissed Levy’s neck, he wouldn’t bet anything on being able to stop at that. “So when do you start?”

“On the 25th, if we can get all the paperwork to the solicitors in time. But they want me to come in and meet everyone anyway.”

If they’d needed a sign that they were going to take the house, there couldn’t have been a clearer one. But they went inside when the realtor arrived so Kallen could point out his favourite bits and they could argue good-naturedly about where they’d place everything.

HIS MOTHER WAS ALWAYSgoing to be an easy sell when it came to Levy, but she couldn’t quite hide her sadness when she saw the cottage video. “So you are taking it?”

“Yes,” Levy told her, gently, like he could read her somehow. “But we are only a half hour drive away.”

She shook her head. “I know, and after Jiro that’s nothing, I just...”

His dad surprised them all suggesting, “We could all have dinner on Sundays. Mikey and Paul sometimes make it, but now that you are back it could be a new family tradition.”

Kallen had only seen his brothers once since he’d been back, since Mikey had gone off on his adventure and Paul was busy with his new job, but he was willing to give it a chance.

He smiled at his dad, chest a little tight. “Yeah, I... I’d like that.” He glanced at his mother, who looked pretty stunned.

She recovered fast enough. “Perfect! And we will have you over for New Year’s, of course!”

“Um,” Kallen turned to Levy, but spoke to her, “Let me get back to you on that one. I mean, it’s last minute and all, but...”

They’d escaped to the garden while his parents cleared the table and got dessert sorted.

“What was that about?” Levy asked once their mouths were available for talking again.

Kallen blinked at him, still a little dazed. “What?”

His boyfriend laughed, clearly pleased at having fried his brain. “New Year’s night? Where else would we go?”

“Oh. Well, what about your family?”

Levy’s face softened. “It’s nice of you to think of them, but they know I’m moving here. They don’t expect me to get over to Veral in the next few days as well.” He traced Kallen’s earlobe, still smiling. “They are happy for me. They are happy aboutyou.”

“Oh.” For a moment, Kallen could only stare at him. He’d told his own parents about Levy, but somehow, he hadn’t thought about his boyfriend doing the same and hearing it, he found he had to blink fast to keep his eyes from tearing up.But I... he thought and barely held back. “You really... You are sure?”

Levy’s hand drifted lower until he was cupping his face. “About you? A thousand percent sure.”

Kallen leaned into the touch, feeling warm and stupidly happy, and if there was a part of him screaming that this was foolish... Well, he was smiling too hard to listen to it.

“I was hoping we could drive over for a visit sometime. Like, once we are settled?”

Veral wasn’t that far, but it would be a serious commitment. They’d have to stay there for a few days to make the trip worth it, for one. The prospect made him stiffen a little. It made no sense; this was the same family who’d taught their daughter how to use lure and their son to respect omegas. Maybe Levy’s mum was a bit intense about health matters, but there was no reason to be afraid of her.

Except if you were an omega who’d not been taught lure, or that you deserved respect and you’d gone and sold your body and soul to a team who gave you none. Levy had made it clear he didn’t care, but in a way he’d fucked up enough himself that Kallen could sort of believe it. Believe his own mistakes were forgivable.

But his family didn’t have any reason to be so forgiving.

“It’s just... we only—” He squirmed a little, breaking contact with Levy’s hand and immediately regretting it as the cold night air touch his unprotected skin. Levy dropped his hand to his forearm, and Kallen huffed, annoyed with himself. “We haven’t been together for even a month, isn’t it crazy? How fast we are going?” He risked a look up.

His boyfriend looked calm, as usual. “Depends on how you look at it.” He took Kallen’s hands until he could entangle their fingers. “We didn’t make it official, but back in Jiro, itfeltreal. To me, at least.”

The doubt in his voice made Kallen crash right through his fears. “Me too.” He squeezed Levy’s hands maybe a little too tight, and immediately eased his grip when Levy winced. “Sorry.”

But Levy was already shaking his head. “No, it’s fine. I want to squeeze you to bits sometimes too,” he joked. “And the other thing; I get it, really. Maybe itistoo fast. I’m just excited to be here with you, to meet your parents and...” He licked his lips, looking down. “And begin our life together.ButI can be patient.”

“I am excited,” Kallen tried to explain. “I swear, it’s just... I’m a little scared too because...” He leaned closer, hiding his face in his favourite spot between Levy’s shoulder and neck. “It feels too good to be true.”

“Yeah,” Levy whispered, and pulled his hands free to draw him into a tight embrace. “But it’s not, it’s real. And we already know you leave your shoes all over the place, and you drive way too fast.” Kallen lifted his face a little to huff a laugh against his neck. “And that I watch golf even though it’s the most boring sport alive. But I can live with that, if I get to wake up with you every day.”

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