Zach nodded, even though Cael couldn’t see him. “Yeah.”
His answer came out hoarser than planned, but Zach couldn’t help it. The sudden swell of his heart had pushed the air from his lungs as it crammed into his throat. Of all the girlfriends he’d had before, none had ever made him feel the way his best friend now did. Zach couldn’t imagine ever going back to the way things were. He’d gone beyond falling in love with the man, and that was all there was to it.
Chapter 18
“I think he’s afraid I’m gonna say no.”
Gripping the faux granite rock, Cael lifted his leg and placed his foot in a nearby crevice. He shifted his foot around until his footing felt secure and glanced at his sister a few feet to his side.
It had been several months since Chloe had come bouldering with him. Most of the time, Cael came alone. He preferred it that way. It gave him time to think. Chloe was the exception, however. She kept him company without being a distraction and often challenged and pushed him to his limits, sometimes beyond.
Cael had taken up indoor rock climbing, specifically bouldering, shortly after his parents up and abandoned him and Chloe in order to return to their former lives as missionaries. That’s where their true passion had always been. Having kids had never been part of their plan.
Kelly and John weren’t the most loving or attentive of parents, but Cael gave them credit for at least sticking around for as long as they had. Even so, he remembered them traveling a lot without them. Cael and Chloe had practically lived with Gramms and Gramps more often than not until his grandparents relocated to Oregon for work.
He was barely eighteen when his parents left, leaving him to care for his sixteen-year-old sister alone. Well, not completely alone. Fortunately, he’d had Zach and his family for support. Then, when they’d heard, Gramps decided to retire, and he and Gramms moved back to the mile-high city and took them both in until each was ready to be on their own.
At least his parents had had the decency to leave them some money too. Enough to get by for several years. They’d never said it, but Cael had always felt that part of the reason they left for good was because he was gay, and they didn’t approve.
“Why would he think that?” Chloe asked, scaling the boulder alongside him.
“Never mind why.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s stupid.”
“Spill it, bro.”
Cael sighed. “I heard him talking in his sleep one night. All he kept saying was, ‘Abs, he said no. He said no.’”
“Seriously?” She rolled her eyes. “So, because of that, you’re going to ask him?” Chloe raised both eyebrows.
“Well, because of that, and because I love him.” Cael pulled himself up about a foot using handholds barely big enough for his fingertips. “And, it’s what he’s always wanted, Chloe.”
Cael pulled himself to the top of the boulder and sat to rest, waiting for her to join him. He flexed his right knee, massaging it with his hand. Twelve years after breaking it and it still ached to this day anytime he strained the muscles around it.
“He’s talked about getting married and starting a family for years. I’ve always wanted to be the person to give that to him. Now I can.”
“You guys should have been married a long time ago, but I suppose better late than never.” Chloe pulled herself up the last few inches and sat down beside him. She panted softly, catching her breath. “Whew. That took more effort than I thought it would.”
“You’re out of shape.”
“Am not,” Chloe retorted.
“Are too,” Cael shot back.
Chloe punched him in the upper arm.
“Was that supposed to hurt?” he teased.
“Shut up.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, back to you asking Zach to marry you… when were you thinking of proposing? And where? Oh, are you gonna get him a ring? Do guys do that for guys? I’ve always wondered—”
“Chloe.”
“—if that was just something guys did for girls. Hmm. I think Zach would like a ring though. Oh, maybe you should get an engagement set for both of you. That way he’ll see you wearing yours and maybe he won’t worry that you aren’t serious about staying with him.”
“Chloe.”
