“Keith,” Micah said. “His name is Keith.”
“Ah. I’m good with faces, but names take a while to stick and I don’t think I ever caught his,” Callum said.
“I may have waited too long to let him know he was important to us,” Justin interjected. Micah rested his head on Justin’s shoulder, his earlier anger dissipating.
“You gave him a collar,” Jack reminded him.
“It’s fine,” Micah said sadly. “He made his choice.”
Micah looked up at Justin and cupped his cheek in a surprisingly affectionate gesture. Justin looked back down at him with such fondness it stole Jack’s breath away.
“Even when I’m mad at you, you’ll still always be mine,” Micah promised. “You’re my choice. Always.”
“I’m sorry things didn’t work,” Justin whispered.
Jack turned away from them, taking Callum, who was still firmly wrapped around his waist, with him.
“That seemed private,” he said in way of explanation.
“I love you that much,” Callum said, looking up at him with bright eyes. “We don’t say it a lot because it’s new, but it’s not new, you know?”
“I’ve loved you for a very long time, kitten.”
“I love you too, Daddy.” Callum smiled and reached up to his tiptoes, pressing their lips together in a kiss that Jack quickly escalated. He dipped his tongue into Callum’s mouth with a groan, licking his way around the hoppy taste of his lips.
Callum’s cock pressed against Jack’s thigh and he sighed into Jack’s parted mouth. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
Jack pulled their mouths apart and reached between them, tracing his finger against Callum’s chest where he had that constellation of freckles.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to deserve you,” Jack promised.
“Save it for the ceremony,” Verity hissed in his ear, startling them both.
Callum stepped back, unsuccessfully shielding his crotch with his beer bottle.
“Don’t worry. I’ve seen erections before,” Verity assured Callum with a roll of their eyes. Callum’s entire neck and throat flushed red and he looked over his shoulder, embarrassed.
“Where’s Aaron?” Jack asked with a teasing edge in his voice, hoping to shift the attention off Callum’s growing erection.
Verity waved their hand in the air haphazardly. “Somewhere.”
“When are you going to admit that you like him?” Jack pressed.
“I’m gonna…go,” Callum pointed over his shoulder before walking away uneasily.
“He’s gonna go beat off in a bathroom is what he’s gonna do,” Verity said with a laugh.
“Oh, he’s not. I assure you.”
“You’re a malevolent thing, aren’t you?” Verity teased, resting their head on Jack’s shoulder.
Jack slid his arm around Verity’s waist and held them up with his hip.
“You can’t deflect with me. I’ve known you too long.”
“The things I told you about before are still there. Nothing has changed, Jack.” Verity sighed.
“Why are you being so stubborn?” he asked, turning Verity and pressing their foreheads together.
