Me: I am. More serious than I’ve ever been about anyone.
Cedric: I must admit, I was nervous at first, but as long as he treats you well, that’s what matters. I’m happy for you.
Me: Thanks, Ced. That means the world to me. How is he today?
Cedric: In a bad mood. Who knows why. I’m trying to avoid him. Hey, do you know where our birth certificates are? I need to get my passport. Dad’s pissed I’ll be taking time off, but I’m going on a trip to Europe with friends in the fall.
Cedric never does anything for himself, he’s always in Dad’s pocket, so I love the thought of him doing something that’s just for him. He deserves a trip with his friends. It’ll do him good to have some distance from Dad and his expectations.
Me: I think he keeps that shit in his office. Good luck! And good for you. The trip sounds fun.
I stick my phone on the charger, then join Miles. He kisses me as soon as I’m in the shower with him, pressing me against the wall, rutting his cock against mine and jerking us off. I’m not proud to admit it only takes me about two point five seconds to come, Miles teasing me about being a quick trigger this morning, before I get on my knees and blow him. It’s not long before he’s giving me a nice shot of morning protein, and then he’s washing me and taking care of me in this way I never knew I liked and that I never expected from him.
“So…I might want to kick your dad’s ass today,” he says when we’re in his car, heading to Atlanta.
I laugh. “Can’t say I’d blame you. He deserves it, but maybe we can try and refrain from violence.”
“Hey, you’re the one who wanted me to come,” he jokes.
I know he’s only teasing. Miles is a lot of things, and yes, he struggles with his temper, but I’ve also seen the changes in him, seen him letting this lighter side out to play more often. He’s kind and bighearted and wants so much to feel loved.
“Why are you being all weird today?” he asks.
I chuckle. “Is wanting to spend time with my boyfriend and having him meet my brother and asshole father weird?” Though I’d told Cedric about the fire and what went down last year,and there’s overlap between his time at Peach State and Miles’s, they’d never met. Heard about each other, sure, but they don’t know one another.
“When your boyfriend is me? Yes.”
“Stop talking about my boyfriend that way. Let’s play a game.”
“Are we twelve?”
“No, we’re fun.”
He humors me, and we play silly car games while we drive to my father’s house. I feel less tense than I have coming home in a long time.
When it comes to my dad, I always feel confusion and frustration, and while I’ve accepted this is the way things are, I still wish I could understandwhy. What is it about me that makes it so hard for him to love me?
“You okay?” Miles asks, reading my mood.
“Yeah. Just always dread going home. It’s easier this time, though.”
“I have that much power, huh?”
“You do, but I’ll never admit it again.”
We pull off the highway, and I give him directions to my father’s house. “Holy shit,” he says when we pull out front.
“Ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“I thought I came from money, but this is on another level.”
“I try not to act like a spoiled douchebag.”
He cocks a brow. “Only a douchebag would use the worddouchebag.”
“Good point.”
I go to open the car door, but Miles stops me. “You good?” he asks, and I feel the smile in my chest before it makes its way to my lips.
