Page 40 of Strong Side

Tonight is the night.

I’ve decided.

I’m giving myself fully to Clay. I know he’ll protect this soul of mine, and I’ll do the same for his.

Stepping into the living room, my hands still full of snacks and drinks, I fill everyone in on the plan. “Hey, Momma, we’re going to spend the night at the hotel tonight.” No one even looks over at me, too busy watching whatever the hell is on the TV. Lil lets out a low chuckle like she knows exactly what we’ll be doing there, and I’m sure she does, especially after walking in on us in my room one too many times.

Clay comes out with both of our bags slung over each of his shoulders and the luggage rolling behind him. “I can’t thank you all enough for welcoming me into your home and your family this past week, but I’m going to steal him away for our last night,” he says with the biggest smile on his lips. Clay drops the bags he’s holding when my mom gets up to wrap him in one of her hugs. The kind that will bring tears to your eyes if you hold it too long.

She really knows how to make you forget everything else going wrong in your life when she wraps her arms around you.

Then he’s getting wrapped up in my dad’s arms, and dammit if that doesn’t pull on my heartstrings even more. Especially knowing his relationship with his own father is so strained. Lil follows suit, giving her goodbyes, but whispers something into his ear, causing Clay to gasp before they’re both cackling like a bunch of school girls.

I’m following behind Clay, doing my round of goodbyes as well. This is always the worst part. My family is truly some of the best pieces of me and leaving them, not knowing when I’ll see them again, causes my body to physically ache. But heading back to school knowing I have Clay by my side is making me feel better.

Wrapping my hands around my mom, and laying my chin on the top of her head, I whisper, “I love you, Momma.”

With the softest voice, my Mom replies, “I love you too, Rockwell.”

I feel her turn her head towards Clay, but I still have her wrapped up in my arms. “Clay, thank you for planning all of this and letting us see ourFilho. It means the world to us, and so do you. You will always have a spot in this family,Amor. Do you hear me?” Clay’s eyes fill with tears, and he nods his head.

“I’ll see you all soon,” he finally manages, his voice strained with emotion.

“Okay,Filho,you two be safe,” my mom says, throwing us a wink. It’s then that I know that she can clearly see that Clay and I are a lot more than we’ve been leading on, but she keeps her observations to herself.

Unlike my sister who yells as we’re walking out the door, “See you two lovebirds bright and early! Oh! And don’t forget to use plenty of lube!”

The last thing I hear is Momma smacking her on the arm as she scolds her in Portuguese. “Ready?” I ask looking at Clay, who’s practically buzzing with excitement.

“Oh, you have no idea how ready I am.”

1. Wicked Games - The Weeknd

26

Show Me What You Got, Garotão.

Clayton

Once Rocky pulls up to our resort, located right on the coastal shoreline, the two of us jump out at lightning speed, grabbing our bags and letting the valet park the car.

Neither of us takes more than five seconds to take in our surroundings; we’re too worried about getting checked in and up to our suite. It looks like a beautiful hotel; from what I’ve seen in passing. The lights illuminate the evening sky, a plethora of tropical plants are scattered around the front of the building, and youcan hear the Pacific crashing into the shoreline at the back of the hotel. But I couldn’t give two flying fucks about any of that right now. The only thing I’m focused on is the man in front of me as we power walk through the coastal-themed lobby, decorated in soft grays, blues, and yellows, toward the check-in counter.

Rocky gets to the counter before me, but I peek over his shoulder to speak to the small woman behind it, knowing the reservation is under my name. “Checking in for Clayton Aldrich.”

The woman tucks a strand of brown hair behind her ear and peers over her thick-framed glasses as she begins to type at her computer. A few moments later her eyes widen as she reads the notes attached to my reservation. I smile inwardly, knowing in reality that I checked in the day we got here not wanting to lose my reservation, just in case things went my way, and have paid for it every day since. I also had the front desk staff leave a note to pretend that I was checking in for the first time if and whenever Rocky and I showed up.

The last thing he needs is to feel guilty that I paid for a hotel we haven’t even been staying at.

“Here you are, Mr. Aldrich,” she says as she hands me a small envelope with two key cards. "Your suite is on the top floor. The snacks and mini-bar should be fully stocked and on the house.” No, they’re not. I had themsay that, too. I paid for every single one of those items. “The number for room service is posted in your room. Is there anything else you will need?”

“No, thank you.”

She smiles softly before nodding at both of us. “Have a good night, gentlemen.”

The two of us climb into the elevator, and as the door closes, I can’t help but realize we have barely said a word to one another since we climbed into the car to drive over here. Me, because I’m so fucking excited. I know that if I so much as speak one word, I’m just going to word vomit all over the place like I did in the bathroom at his parent’s house. And Rocky, likely because he’s nervous… and excited… and overwhelmed. But as I peer over at him as he stands in the elevator, shifting back and forth on the balls of his feet, hand gripping the handle of his bag so tight his knuckles are white, I’m not entirely sure which emotion is winning out.

Fuck this.1??

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