“Well, then, I need to do what the boss lady said,” he admitted. “She is in charge,” he added.
When he put down the phone, he moved closer, and lifted Alex’s chin. Then, he found his mouth with his, and kissed him.
Well, not for Elizabeth.
This was purely for him.
Why?
Because he liked it.
Corbin also wanted to start working on them. He knew what Alex needed, simply because he’d been in his shoes once before, and Will had gotten him through it.
With gentleness.
With tenderness.
With love.
As he deepened the kiss, Alex held onto him, caught off guard by it. He truly didn’t think any of this was real. It seemed too magical to be legit.
Could someone actually feel something for him?
Was it this easy?
When Corbin broke the kiss, Alex had to know.
“Why?” he asked.
Corbin was honest.
“Because when I’m with you, you silence the demons, Alex. That’s how I know it’s love, and that it’s only going to grow with time. I’ve loved before, so I know this feeling. Hey, want toget married?” he asked, amused that he was back at square one like he had been once upon a time.
At his words, Alex stared at him and blinked.
“Uh, that was fast.”
He laughed because that was how he moved, but he knew Alex would take time.
“Just checking. When you’re ready, let me know. I’m ready to marry you.”
Alex just sat there.
“I don’t know how to respond to that.”
Corbin smiled.
“When you know, you know. You’ll catch up. Now, we have a few choices. We can eat, or you can let me make up for last night. I’d prefer the latter, but I’m easy. You’re the one struggling right now, so I’ll let you decide. We can’t leave the room, so, we need to find something entertaining to do, and I can be very entertaining, Alex.”
He needed to know.
“So you still want me, even though I remind you of your husband, and that has to hurt?”
That was the best part.
He reminded him of the best parts of Will, and he reminded him that love could heal anything.
“I said goodbye to Will today. You don’t remind me of him now. You remind me of Alex, and how you suck at pool, can’t hold your liquor, and how you make me forget that life is a shitshow more times than not. You’re Alex—not Will. I like to think he led me to you, so I could have a good life. That’s what I’m bringing to the table, Alex. I’m bringing hope. All I’m asking you to bring is the same thing. Together, we’ll figure it out. If you trust in me, you’ll get a best friend who will never leave your side.”
