Page 74 of Hello Forever
He kissed me on the lips and straightened. “Not this time. But I promise to think of you later while I’m soaping up my dick in theshower.”
“Wish I could bethere.”
He pulled me to a sitting position with my good hand. “Now get under the covers. I’ll call youtomorrow.”
“Okay.” I let him tuck me in. “Loveyou,Cax.”
“Love you more,”hesaid.
I doubted that could be true. But I sure likedhearingit.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Cax
Ten daysafter I came out to my brothers, I stood in a courtroom listening to the judge appoint me temporary emergency custody of all three of them. The judge banged his gavel once on the bench—just like in the movies—and I felt my eyesgetwet.
Too bad the boys weren’t there to hear it. They were back in school. And my father wasn’t there to hear it, because he wasinjail.
But Axel was there. When I turned around, I saw him waiting in the back of the room, his smile bright on his face—the bruises were fading,thankGod.
My lawyer babbled at my side as I walked toward the exit doors. “Temporary custody is just a formality. He won’t get the kids back,” hepromised.
“Thank you,” I mumbled. All I could see was Axel’s smile. When I reached him, hehuggedme.
It took me a second to hug him back, because old habits die hard. I didn’t know how long it would take me to forget to be afraid—to forget all the years I’d hidden myself. But after a moment, the good times won out over the bad. I hugged him hard, because his ribs weren’t hurting him much anymore. And because I didn’t care whosawus.
“I want to take you out for coffee,”hesaid.
“All right,” I agreed. “Can we swing by my library carrel? I need my books if I’m going to blow off theafternoon.”
“Anythingyouneed.”
Smiling, I took his hand and walked him toward the parking lot. Because all Ireallyneededwashim.
When we got to the graduate library, Axel came inside with me. Again, I had to fight off a shiver of worry.It doesn’t matter, I reminded myself.Anyone can know. It’s okay. I held the door for him, then put a hand to his back as we walked down the hall. I was sick of hiding. I was donewithit.
And when Jason appeared in the atrium, walking toward us, that was okay, too. “Hi,” Axel said, my palm still at the small of his back. “How’veyoubeen?”
Jason looked from me to Axel and back again. “Justfine.You?”
“It’s been a rough month,” Axel said with a chuckle. “But things arelookingup.”
Jason cleared his throat. “I canseethat.”
“Hey,” I broke in. But then there was silence, because I didn’t know how to proceed. He’d asked me if I was gay, and I’d lied about it. “I,uh.It’s…”
Jason shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I read the papers.” He winked. “Seems like you were in atoughspot.”
“That’s one way to put it,” I said, and Axel laughed. “We’re getting some coffee,” I added. “Care tojoinus?”
Jason’s lips twitched. “You two go ahead. Maybe another time.” He walked awaysmiling.
“We have to find a nice guy for him,” Axel said when hewasgone.
“Totally.Andsoon.”
When we got outside again, I asked Axel where he wantedtogo.
