“Of course not. It’s been your dream forever.”
“That’s how I know you’re worth it. Despite how much you wanted me to stay, you supported me. You’re the person I want to build a life with, Liam. Baseball will never make me as happy as you do.”
“Can I kiss you? Please?”
Coury leaned in and captured Liam’s lower lip with his. Liam’s hand cupped the back of his head and he kissed him fiercely. The joyous energy it unlocked made Coury lightheaded.
When they broke, he saw his emotions mirrored in Liam’s face.
“You never have to ask to do that again.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Liam
“Whose car is that in front of your house?” Coury asked. “I thought you said Pop was out.”
“Stop worrying. He has a date with Helen. It’s probably her car.”
Even if they didn’t go out, Liam didn’t care. It had been hard to focus at work after Coury’s visit. The only thing that kept him going was the knowledge he’d meet Coury after baseball practice.
Now workandpractice were over.
“She’s drives to your house and they leave from here?”
“Umm . . .” That wasn’t right. “No.”
They pulled up just as Pop and Helen were leaving. They stopped on the steps and both looked guilty.
“Oh my God!” Coury sounded far too amused. “Do you think we—”
“No!” He’d need an industrial-size barrel of bleach if he saw or eventhought. . . “Helen must be picking Pop up.” He was sticking with that no matter what.
Coury opened the door.
“What are you doing?” Liam hissed, reaching across Coury to pull the door shut.
“They’ve clearly seen us.” He pushed the door wide open. “We’re going to make them feel less awkward by pretending we think they’re just going out to eat.”
“Which they are. Totally. No pretending.”
Coury belted out a laugh. “Don’t get so funny about this. They’re adults. Just like us.”
That might be true, but Liam didn’t need to know the details. Coury got out, taking away Liam’s ability to hide until Pop and Helen left.
“Coury?” Pop shifted his surprised gaze from Coury to Liam and back.
“Hi, Pop,” Coury said, as if the last ten days hadn’t happened. “Ms. Helen. You look lovely. Make sure he takes you somewhere nice.”
The compliment got a smile from Helen. “Thank you, Coury. I’m treating Albert tonight.”
“Not that I don’t enjoy seeing you . . .” Pop raised an eyebrow.
“Liam and I talked. I expect you’ll be seeing more of me until he graduates.”
Not much flustered his grandfather the way Coury’s answer had. “I will?”
Nodding, Coury reached for Liam’s hand. Twining their fingers together already felt so natural.
