I’mnottoo much.
Together, Callum and I make sense. We fill each other’s cups and laugh at how much we overflow, instead of holding back and pretending we’re too cool for affection.
Man, I love him.
The next day, at some inhumane hour, my blissful, Callum-warmed slumber is rudely interrupted by my piercing, shrieking alarm.
Fine, it’s eight in the morning and my phone alarm is set to vibrate. Still, I shut it off to avoid disturbing Callum, who has a hand on my leg that’s drawing sleepy circles in my inner thigh. Light stubble appeared on his face overnight, and I run my fingers along his jaw, savoring the scratchy texture and contemplating a brazen theft of his razors. He always goes clean-shaven, even when he’d kill it with a little facial hair.
Callum can rock whatever look he wants to and still be hot as hell, and I’m the lucky guy who gets to enjoy him.
“Morning,” he mumbles, brushing my roaming fingers away and nuzzling into my neck.
Waking up with him always puts a silly smile on my face, even on days when he sprawls like a starfish and jolts me awake with an accidental backhand to the face. Him being next to me is what matters, and I’ll never get tired of him being the first thing I see when I open my eyes.
My alarm goes off again, beeping this time, and I stretch out to silence it. Groaning, I heave my heavy, tired body off of the plush mattress to get changed for today’s pre-game practice.
And because I’m me, I make a little show out of it for Callum. His soul-piercing gaze stays fixed on me, and he lets out a disappointed sigh when I slip a sweater on.
“Are you heading out already?” he asks, and I nod.
“I have to be downstairs at eight-thirty. We’re getting breakfast before practice, so I won’t see you until after the game.”
He stretches out his arms. “Alright then. Gimme a hug before you go.”
This man is gonna be the end of me, I swear. I oblige, sinking into the comfort of his body, letting him tighten around me.
“I still can’t believe you surprised me here,” I say, pulling back. “This is exactly what I needed.”
Callum shrugs, beaming at me with that adorable grin plastered over his defined face. “What can I say? I missed you.”
He said that before, but this time, it hits me harder. Warmth diffuses through my body, under every square inch of my skin. I sit next to him on the bed, holding his hand, and when he squeezes, I can’t take any more.
Sucking in a breath, I lock eyes with him.
“I love you, Callum.”
He blinks, his pretty lips parted in what looks like disbelief. His eyebrows are raised, his head is tilted, and he's…
Coming in for a kiss.
Yes, please.
I accept his mouth hungrily, flicking my tongue past his teeth and letting him return the favor.
“I love you too, Ian,” he murmurs. “My god, I love you somuch.” Callum dives back in, claiming my mouth again and drawing a heated moan from the depths of my throat. “You’re the first person who’s ever said that to me.”
Oh.My heart splinters, and I rest my forehead against his, holding back tears. “I'll have to make up for lost time, then.”
In the back of my mind, Iknew, but for me to be the first person ever to love him? That's downrightcriminal. He'stwenty,for crying out loud. I had to hold myself back from saying it to him too soon, yetnobody’sloved the easiest person on earth to love?
I wrap my arms around him and pull him close. “I know I’m a lot, but you’re gonna have to deal with that. I love you so fucking much, and I’mgoingto love you even more with every single day we spend together. I’m gonna make yousickof hearing those words with how often I’ll say it, but—” I bury my face in Callum’s chest and savor his addictive, masculine scent. “I love you, and I’m never. Going. To. Stop.” I jab a finger into his chest after each of those words.
He tightens his grip on me. “I’m never going to get sick of it.”
“Good.” My phone beeps again. “Now I’m gonna go to practice, and later today, I’m gonna score some runs for you, babe. Cheer me on.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
