22Dylan
Dylan woke up to an empty bed. He felt momentarily sick until he peered over the edge of the bed and saw that Callum was sat at the table, fully dressed, staring at his phone.
“Morning, baby,” Dylan said, trying to keep any kind of worry or tension out of his voice.
Did Callum regret what they’d done the previous night? Was he regretting everything? He told himself to calm down, but it didn’t help. His thoughts were going haywire. Of course, Callum would want out. The whole thing had been too good to be true. No one who got close to Dylan stuck around in his life for long. They always left him or sent him away.
Callum glanced up and smiled. “Hey.” He had dark circles under his eyes.
Dylan swallowed. “It looks like you didn’t get much sleep.”
“I didn’t.”
Dylan hated that he was trembling, but nothing could rid him of the fear that was congealing in the pit of his stomach. “Want to talk about it?”
“I’m working up the courage to talk to Mum.” Callum went back to staring at his phone. “I need to tell her about me. About us.”
“Ah.” It was probably wrong that he felt a surge of relief, when Callum was struggling. He climbed down the ladder and went to his wardrobe to grab some underwear and jeans. “You don’t have to.”
“I do.”
Dylan stepped into the boxer pants. “You don’t have to because of me. I’d understand if you never told your family.”
“You honestly wouldn’t mind if I kept you a secret from them forever?”
Dylan shrugged as he pulled his jeans over his legs. “From what you’ve said, they won’t be accepting and they’ll give you a hard time. Why would I want you to put yourself through that?”
Callum smiled sadly. “Thanks, but I’d feel like I was hiding you, and if Mum found out some other way, I know what she’d say.” He made air quotes with his fingers. “You didn’t tell us because you’re ashamed.” He stared at Dylan. “I’m not ashamed. I love you.”
Dylan froze, which wasn’t that easy considering he was balancing on one leg whilst the other was only halfway into his jeans. His heart felt like it was about to go supersonic it was beating so hard and fast. “You—?”
“I love you.”
Dylan abandoned his jeans and went to the table sitting opposite Callum. He was sure he was hearing things. Imagining the best, whilst the worst was actually happening.
“You—?”
“Love you!” Callum laughed, but then his expression dropped. “Sorry. It’s probably too soon. I—”
“Shut the hell up and say it again.”
“I love you?”
Dylan clapped his hands over his mouth.
“I love you,” Callum repeated.
Dylan was quivering like a feather in a breeze. “No one’s ever said that to me before.”
“It’s true.”
“I love you too.” The words were alien but natural. “I love you.” He moved to Callum, got on his knees, and hugged his boyfriend’s waist. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Callum cupped Dylan’s face in his hands and kissed him. “I kind of feel like I should be the one on my knees.”
Dylan rocked back onto his heels. “Why’s that then?”
Callum shrugged. “The amount I’ve dreamt about it, feels like that’s where I belong.” He blushed. “I—don’t know what that says about me.”
