Page 48 of Love in Unexpected Places

“When Evan and I had lunch?—”

I cut him off, grabbing his hand. “We need to talk about Evan. Tonight. We need a plan and we’ll tell him as soon as we come back. Talking to my stupid fucking ex tells me I want this to last for a long time. We’re good for each other, right?”

“Very good,” Keith says, kissing the back of my hand. “Yeah, we can figure out how to tell Evan. I just want to be with you, Derek.”

My smile is wide as I lean over and kiss his cheek. “I want to be with you, too. For as long as you’ll have me.”

chapter eleven

KEITH

Instead of going home when we get back from the restaurant, Derek stays the weekend with me. Since he doesn’t have to study anymore, he says he has more time to spend with me. I won’t object to that one bit.

When I wake up, I find him in the kitchen, putting on some tea and heating a pan for eggs. I watch him for a while, listening to him hum as he moves around. Knowing he’s comfortable here and treats it like his home warms my heart. I’d like Derek to think of my apartment as his, too. He helped me unpack and decorate it, for fuck’s sake—he has a claim on this place just like I do.

He jumps when he notices me, then smiles sweetly. “Did I wake you?”

“Nah. It was time for me to get up, anyway. Did you sleep well?”

“Always when you cuddle with me,” Derek says as he sends me a wink.

I walk up behind him, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Want to make today a lazy day? We can sit on the couch all day and watch?—”

The banging on my front door stops any more conversation. I look at Derek quizzically before I drop a kiss to his neck and go to answer the door.

I’m shocked when I come face to face with a red-faced Evan. “Where is he?” he blurts out before he pushes past me. He stops fast when he sees Derek in the kitchen, clad in only a pair of briefs and one of my shirts. With how long my shirt is, you’d think he only had that on with nothing under it.

“Evan—” Derek starts, but my son, face contorted in anger, cuts him off.

“What the fuck, man? You’re fucking my dad?” Evan’s voice rises and he puts his hands on his hips.

“It’s not like that,” Derek reasons, looking at me with wide eyes. “We’re… together.”

With a scoff, Evan walks deeper into the apartment. “Together? Yeah, right. He’s twice your age! What could you possibly have in common?”

I step up to Derek, putting my hand around his waist. “What’s so wrong with us being together?” I ask, really wondering what Evan will say.

Sputtering, he waves between us. “He’s my age, Dad! And my best friend! Why him?”

“It’s not like we meant it to happen,” Derek says in a quiet voice. “We didn’t want to hurt you.”

“But you did. I had to find out from fucking Atlas that my dad is fucking my best friend, who’s twice his age, and you two went out in public.” Evan’s voice twinges in disgust and Derek draws in a sharp breath.

“That is enough!” I shout, moving my hand from around Derek’s waist. “You may be my son, but you don’t get to dictate who I see or have an opinion on it! Derek is an amazing man, as you’ve been telling me for years. What difference does it make that he’s younger?”

Evan opens and closes his mouth, like he didn’t expect me to defend Derek or he’s almost out of gas.

Before Evan can answer, Derek steps around me. “No, don’t argue. It’s okay.” Derek turns to face me. “I told you I’d bow out if he can’t accept us. I don’t want the two of you to lose your relationship because of us.” He turns to Evan with a sad look. “I’m sorry about this. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I met your dad and enjoyed the time we spent together. I fell in love with him. But I won’t stick around if you don’t think you can handle it. I’ll leave you two to talk. Hopefully, we can all figure something out. If not, you two need your relationship.”

I open my mouth to stop him, to tell him to stay and we can all talk like adults, but Derek holds up his hand. “No, it’s fine. You two talk. I’m sorry this happened like this.” He kisses me quickly, then grabs his things and breezes out the door.

Rounding on Evan, I point to the couch. “Sit.”

He starts to object, but then goes over and sits down heavily. “Why him, Dad?”

“Why not him?”

“He’s my best friend! You know what people will say about me when they find out you’re dating him?”

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