“Does that mean you haven’t done it yet? You’re taking it slow because you’re so in love…” Theo sang, blowing air kisses.
Kaj threw an empty beer can at him, rolling his eyes as he laughed even louder than before. “Idiot.”
Noah couldn’t contain his grin anymore. The fact that their friends were so accepting of their relationship. That they didn’t care at all whether they were gay or not. That they felt so comfortable with this conversation to make jokes—and risk their lives. That Kaj felt confident enough in who he was to share this piece of him with the world...
If happiness looked like anything, this had to be it.
Nine
“Are we sure thisis a good idea?” Trine asked, crossing her arms and leaning back against the kitchen island.
Noah and Kaj were finishing packing, pretending they couldn’t hear the last-minute debate about their getaway.
Too late, Mom.
They were still surprised their parents had not only paid for the festival’s tickets but had also agreed to let them spend the weekend in Copenhagen under Jesper and his roommates’ supervision. Sure, they were twenty-two, but from what the teens had seen and their conversations with Kaj’s stepbrother, they liked to party.A lot.
“Don’t worry about them, girl,” Katja said. “They’re young and wild, but I promise Jesper is responsible. Besides, he cares so much about the boys. He won’t let anything bad happen to them. Right?” Her tone was demanding.
“Yes, yes. I won’t let anyone breathe near them.” Jesper huffed, exasperated.
He was probably annoyed after driving almost three hours straight from uni classes, only to have his mother nag him about his extra responsibilities for the next two days. He had been the one to help the teens convince their parents to let them come to Copenhagen in the first place, so he knew what he was signing up for.
Trine sighed. “Okay…”
“I get it, though. They grow so fast. It’s hard to let them go.”
“How do you do it?”
“I just suck it up, honestly. I miss my boy every day. But he’s gotta live his own life, too.”
“True.”
Nikolaj rushed into the house, almost out of breath. “Glad you haven’t left yet!” He hadn’t even changed out of his uniform, coming straight home from a twenty-four-hour shift. “I would’ve hated not saying goodbye.”
“We’ll be back on Sunday, you know?” Kaj said, zipping his backpack.
“Still.” Nik hugged him.
“You should take a shower, Dad.”
He chuckled. “Yes, sorry.”
“Don’t worry too much about us. We’ll be fine.” Kaj patted his father’s back, making him laugh.
“I know. And you better listen to everything Jesper says or you’re not leaving this house again until you’re thirty.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Nik grinned, pure devotion shining in his eyes as he looked at his son.
“Okay,” Jesper said, grabbing Kaj’s backpack and walking toward the front door. “We should get going or we won’t make it to watch Parkway Drive.”
“Yes! Bye, Dad!” Kaj fist-bumped him and followed his brother. “Bye, Katja! Bye, Trine!”
“Can I do anything to convince you to not go to Copenhell?” Noah’s mom asked.
“Sorry. Not happening.”
