He glares at me and frowns.
“It’s just something that’s been playing on my mind for some time now, but I know that I’d be way out of line asking you this.”
“Ask me what? Just spit it out, Dylan.”
“No, it’s okay, really I––”
“Dylan, don’t make me pound the shit out of you, as much as we’d both enjoy it. Just tell me what’s on your mind?”
I sigh, placing my head between my knees before angling it back up again to look at him.
“How much money are you actually worth?”
He scoffs. “Is that what’s on your mind, my net worth?”
“I know I probably don’t have a right to ask, I mean, we’re not married or anything.”
“There are no secrets between us, Dylan. I thought I made that perfectly clear when we started dating.”
“We’re dating?” I ask.
“Well, what would you call the other night when you swooned me off my feet? And don’t change the subject.”
“I’m sorry. I guess a part of me has always been curious. Like I told you, I don’t give a shit about your money, and I don’t want you to think––”
“Eighty-five billion,” he says, cutting me off.
My entire body goes numb. And to tell you the truth, I’m not sure what I was really expecting. I knew he had money, and lots of it, but I don’t think I was really prepared for that answer.
“I’ve shocked you, haven’t I?”
“A little––lot, actually. I don’t know why though because I don’t know what I was expecting.”
“Dylan, listen to me. I want us to be completely transparent with one another. No secrets, no lies, no awkwardness. Whatever is on your mind, I want you to know that you can always ask me anything. No matter what.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that,” I tell him.
“And on that note, I think we should head back to our room and make the most of our last night here,” he says, with a wink.
He gets to his feet, picks up his towel, sliders, and the tube of sunscreen. He holds out his hand for me, I reach out and grab it, and he pulls me up. I grab my towel and sliders and the two of us walk along the sand.
Although it’s still early, by the time we get back to the room, we’re both exhausted. The two of us decide to shower together, something we haven’t done yet since we started dating. When we’re done, we dry off and both crawl into bed. I pull up the covers, and after kissing Liam goodnight, it only takes a few moments for the two of us to fall fast asleep.
Liam
December 31.
New Year’s Eve.
What a whirlwind of a year this one has turned out to be. And the last couple of weeks have been incredible. My life has changed, and I know that’s so cliché and what most couples would say when they’re in love, but it’s true. When I made my New Year’s resolution last year, finding love wasn’t on my list. But fast forward twelve months and I’m living the high life with the one person who means the most to me in this whole world. Dylan Lewis. I know it’s only been a short couple of weeks, but you know when people tell you it feels like a lifetime? I can honestly say, that’s how it feels for the two of us. Since we arrived home from our vacation, Dylan has spent more time here with me than in his own apartment. With his dick back in full action, we wasted no time making up for lost sexy time in the bedroom. And let me tell you, when it comes to sex, that man never disappoints. Although we’ve known each other for fiveyears, our time alone together on Necker Island has definitely brought us closer together.
Today is Dylan’s fortieth birthday, and it’s a milestone that I want to make sure he won’t forget. After speaking with his family, they confirmed that they had no plans for his birthday, and he made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want to have a party. Something about not wanting to celebrate the fact that he was getting older and closer to fifty, which made me laugh, considering that milestone is another ten years away. I also spoke to my brother Dean and told him about my relationship with Dylan. He laughed of course, and congratulated us but not before he asked me, and I quote, “What the fuck took you both so long?” After I told my brother, we decided to tell our parents together, and they were just as supportive of our relationship as everyone else. All this in the space of only a few short days. Things are moving along nicely, and I can’t wait to surprise him with my gift tonight.
It's nearing midnight, and I’ve planned a nice evening for his birthday, just the two of us alone in my apartment watching a movie,Never Been Kissed,as we countdown to the New Year. I know it sounds really corny, and probably unromantic to some, but seriously, who really does all that sappy, romantic stuff nowadays anyway? Certainly not anyone I know.
I place a bowl of chips in the center of the coffee table and surround it with some cheese, crackers, soda, and some cookies that my parents brought back from Australia called Tim Tams. According to Dylan, they’re a decadent piece of chocolate cookie and best enjoyed when dunked in tea or coffee and then sucked. After I finish setting up the table, I hear the front door open and turn to see Dylan step inside. He removes his jacket and hangs it on the coat rack by the door, then he walks over to me and I present him with a kiss.
“Happy birthday,” I say.
