Creek managed the blanket, and then we settled against each other as I unpacked the prepackaged charcuterie trays. “I’m not really much of a chef,” I told him as he peeled some of the plastic away.
He grinned at me and stole a kiss before popping a mozzarella and prosciutto wheel into his mouth. “Neither am I. I never really gave myself time to learn. As a kid, I was busy with other stuff. Then, in the Army, it was easier to let them feed me. I think my brother was given better life skills than me.”
I’d almost forgotten he had a brother. “Do you see him a lot?”
Creek shook his head. “Not lately, but we talk all the time. He, uh…” He trailed off, then let out a small, huffing laugh. “He was the first gay person I knew. I think he thought I was gonna be a dick about it when he came out, but the two times I got suspended in school was for kicking the crap out of some asshole who was bullying him.”
My heart thumped. “He probably loves you a lot.”
Creek grinned and shrugged as he put a bit of cheese and meat on a cracker and handed it to me. “He does. He’s a real good guy, and I’m excited for you to meet him.” He took a short breath while I chewed, then asked, “You got siblings?”
My body immediately tensed. “Um.”
He stared at me cautiously. “You don’t have to tell me. I don’t mean to be nosy.”
I shook my head quickly and then fished out a bottle of water so I could soothe my suddenly dry throat. “No. No, it’s not you. My family’s just…” I searched for the kindest word that was at least a little accurate. “Complicated.”
He seemed to get it because he set his cracker down, then cupped my face with both hands. “Whatever kind of people they are, they raised an amazing man. Maybe in spite of them, but what matters is that you’re who you are today. And I really, really like that man.”
The words hurt in the best way, and I leaned in to take a kiss. It was sweet and easy, and when Creek bustled me between his legs so I could rest against his chest, I was pretty sure I’d never felt more content. We sat like that for a long, long while, just watching the ocean touch the shore, and I understood exactly what Kaleo had meant.
I traced the veins on the top of his hand, then tested a word that had been on the tip of my tongue since the night of our first date. “Boyfriend.”
Creek startled, then looked down at me and traced my eyebrow with the tip of his finger. “S’that what we are?” His accent was thicker, and I loved it.
“I’d like that,” I told him. “I know you want to take it slow, but?—”
“No,” he said, then rolled his eyes. “I mean, yes. But, Heath, this is all I need. I don’t need to date around and sow my oats or whatever. I like you, and I want this with you. So yeah.” He paused for a kiss, then spoke right against my lips. “Boyfriend.”
If this was falling in love, I never wanted to land.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CREEK
I did a last check, making sure the house looked perfect, and did another spray-and-wipe of the table. Nash was watching me with incredulity, which, I will admit, was totally deserved since I’d never given a crap about crumbs on the table before. Funny what lo—…having a boyfriend did to a person. Or a partner, possibly, since I might’ve felt the same way had I brought home a girl.
“You satisfied?” Nash asked.
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Dude, you made me clean the fucking bathroom, and it wasn’t even due yet for another three days,” Bean complained.
“It was nasty,” I said.
Bean shrugged. “Yeah, so? He’s a guy, not some dainty girl. A few piss stains on the toilet bowl ain’t gonna kill him.”
“It’s a goddamn miracle you’re still single,” Nash said with a sigh. “Enough with the whining. This is a big moment for Creek, and we’re all gonna be on our best behavior, hard as that might be for some of you.”
The latter was said with a narrowed-eyed look at Bean, who immediately stood straighter. “Yes, Top.”
“It’s funny that you’re worried about us when before, it was always Creek’s cranky-ass attitude that would be the problem,” Tameron said.
I flipped him the bird, though he wasn’t wrong.
Then the Ring alarm signaled we had motion in the driveway, and I hurried to the front door to open it before Heath could ring the bell.
The smile on his face when he saw me made my stomach swoop. He was so pretty. Or was that not a word I should use for a man? He was, though. “Hi.”
