Gage leaned over and took a kiss for that. “I didn’t think you had, but I’m glad you were able to check.”
“I heard the heartbeat. It was loud. I didn’t really like the sound,” Fallon said. “He didn’t make me feel bad for that either.”
“Did you get a due date, or…?”
“Yeah. April. Spring baby.”
Gage looked at him. There was a softness to him—a sort of glow that hadn’t been there before. It was like this appointment had made everything real, but in a good way. And Gage knew it could have gone the other way too. It could have twisted Fallon up and made the next few months nothing more than a nightmare.
“So. What do you want to do now?”
Fallon bit his lip, then said, “Can we shop? I think I’m ready to get some clothes, and my doctor gave me some tips for stuff that’ll kind of hide my shape. So people won’t ask.”
Gage reached for his hand and kissed his palm. Maybe he was pushing it. Maybe that was too far. But Fallon just grinned at him and let his fingers gently brush the side of Gage’s jaw. “Just tell me where to go. My day is yours.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
GAGE
Gage noticedthat Fallon had a lot more energy now that he was this far along into carrying the baby, which was nice. They hit up the mall, and he managed to find several outfits that were more boxy and less formfitting than he normally wore.
Gage was going to miss seeing more of him, but it didn’t really matter. He had access to Fallon in ways no one else did. So what was under those heavy flannel shirts and high-waisted jeans with the elastic waists was his and his alone.
He felt possessive as they walked. Fallon was a gorgeous guy, and he turned the heads of too many people who passed by, which made Gage feel a little wild and possessive. He’d never been like that before. Not ever. But he found himself fighting the urge to wrap himself around Fallon to show the world that the man was his.
“I think I need food,” Fallon said as they passed the string of restaurants that lined the main parking lot.
Gage froze. “From here?”
Fallon bit his lip, then pointed. “Pizza?”
It was one of those build-your-own, wood-fire oven places. “Yes. Let me put your bags in the car, and you can go get in line.”
“Okay.” Fallon leaned in and kissed him, and then they both froze. “Oh. Oh, I’m sorr?—”
“No,” Gage said. Fallon’s face immediately went red, and Gage realized his mistake. He grabbed Fallon’s hand and pulled him close. “I mean no. I mean, yes. I…fuck. I’m not ashamed to kiss you in public. But I also don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Fallon’s other hand danced at his side, his nervous stim, Gage noticed. “I don’t know how I feel. Kissing you kind of felt…natural.”
“Then kiss me when you want to kiss me.”
Fallon licked his lips. “We’re not boyfriends.”
Gage took a deep breath. The words hurt. They threatened to make him bleed. But he also knew that Fallon didn’t do well with ambiguous, and it was time to say something. Even if that something was going to get him rejected.
He pulled Fallon to a corner, out of the biting wind, and lifted their joined hands, pressing them to his chest. “If you wanted to be my boyfriend, I’d like that.”
Fallon blinked at him.
“I mean, I like you. I’d like to be your boyfriend. But if that’s too much, we can stick to friends. I’m here no matter what.”
Fallon swallowed. “You…but.” His free hand moved to his stomach and pressed. “This.”
“I’m aware of that,” Gage said, lifting a brow. “That’s been kind of a whole thing since we reconnected.”
Fallon rolled his eyes. “I mean,” he stressed, “this comes with it. The—the boyfriend thing. It’s more than just me.”
Gage stepped in closer, their chests bumping together. He could feel Fallon’s heart racing against the back of his hand. “I know.”
