Calen
Dinner was going so well, Calen thought that he and Brent would be able to escape without having to explain the details of their new relationship. He wasn’t trying to avoid it, but he liked the idea of having more time with Brent before they had to discuss it. But as Garrett and Wyatt came back in from the kitchen carrying dessert, that quickly changed.
“So how long have you two been seeing each other? I don’t remember anyone mentioning it.” Wyatt’s curious expression seemed open and innocent. He obviously had no idea what he was stepping in.
“They’re not seeing each other.” Garrett paused and really looked at the two of them. “I mean, I didn’t think they were. Are you?”
Brent coughed, trying to unsuccessfully cover a laugh, and Bryce wasn’t having a much better time controlling his delight. But Calen shrugged and nodded, trying to keep it from getting out of hand. “Yes, we are. It’s new.”
Garrett looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment. “How new?”
“Very,” Grant broke in, not willing to be left out of the conversation.
Calen looked at Garrett calmly, ignoring everyone else. “Since Monday, officially.”
Sitting up in his chair, Garrett had one of those lightbulb moments because his eyes got wide. “That’s the reason you’ve both been so nuts lately.”
Brent nodded. “We were trying to figure things out and there was a bit of a misunderstanding. It’s good now. I think we’ll both be in a better place when we go back to work.”
Wyatt watched everything play out as he sliced a chocolate cake. He looked upset that he’d started the conversation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that it was that new.”
“No. It’s fine. You had no way of knowing. And it wasn’t like we were trying to hide anything. We’re still getting our bearings and figuring things out.” Brent tried to soothe Wyatt’s worries because it was obvious he was afraid he’d made things awkward.
Kneeling back beside Garrett after the cake was passed out, Wyatt seemed to be mollified a bit, but it was clear he was still concerned. Calen noticed that he wasn’t worried about the kneeling any longer, so maybe giving him something else to think about wasn’t all bad.
“So what kind of lifestyle have you guys discussed, or is that something you’re still figuring out?” In any other family, Garrett’s question would probably have been weird, but Calen loved the fact that for their family it was a perfectly normal question.
He shared an amused look with Wyatt, glad he wasn’t the only one to think it was at least a little humorous. Brent simply swallowed his bite of cake and answered as if Garrett had asked him about work. Calen found it all too funny, but he was careful not to let it show.
For the most part.
“Less lifestyle than you guys but not terribly vanilla either. We spent the afternoon going over limits and putting together a contract.”
“Wow, a full contract already?” Garrett seemed surprised, but not in a bad way. His gaze went back and forth between them, like he was finally realizing how serious they were.
“Calen didn’t want to give me the chance to realize how crazy he is and make a break for it.” Brent’s words were teasing and laughter filled his eyes, but to Calen, it wasn’t that far off base.
“We’re both kind of in the middle when it comes to where we fall lifestyle-wise, so getting everything spelled out and discussed made the most sense.” Calen shrugged and tried not to worry about what Garrett would think.
He shouldn’t have worried about his friend because Garrett smiled and leaned back in his chair. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad you’re both happy.”
Reaching out, Garrett absently ran his fingers through Wyatt’s hair, and it was clear to Calen that his friend was thinking about his own relationship. He might have had every intention of taking things slowly, but it was easy to see a more permanent relationship coming quickly for them. Calen couldn’t blame him.
When you found someone who was perfect for you, why would you wait?
Glancing at Brent, Calen stretched out a hand and let it rest on his leg. Giving Brent a gentle squeeze, he tried to let him know how happy he was. The last couple of weeks had been incredibly stressful, bordering on painful, and Calen was glad they’d put it behind them.
Now if they could just get dinner behind them, so they could head back to his house, that would be wonderful.
Brent must have been thinking the same thing because as he finished up his cake he looked over to Wyatt. “Thank you very much for dinner; it was wonderful.”
“I’m glad you liked it. I love cooking.”
Brent smiled. “Thank goodness, because Garrett’s terrible. Now maybe we can put him in the rotation for something else at the barbecues. I might not be any better than he is, but at least I can put together a halfway decent salad.”
Garrett snorted. “It wasn’t that bad. Was that the reason I got banished to desserts permanently?”
“You didn’t even realize the lettuce had gone funny and the dressing you brought was six months out of date. You almost gave us all food poisoning!” Brent was shaking his head and looking at Garrett like he didn’t know what to do with him.
