Of Love (7 page)

Kent grinned. “It’s just like Italian dressing.”

“Well, that sounds good.” He nodded and handed over the tomatoes.

Kent built the sandwiches and sprinkled dressing on. Still wielding the knife, he cut them both in half and plated them while Kent got them a couple bottles of water. They worked well together.

“Looks good, honey.” Kent bumped hips with him.

“We do good things together.” He bumped back, feeling nicely warm, inside and out.

“We do. We really do.”

“Yeah. Hey, I’m racing on Wednesday next week, about an hour away. Would you like to come and cheer me on?”

“I’d love to.” The immediate response felt amazing. “Text me all the details and I’ll schedule it in. Do you need a ride?”

“I’d love one. I can make it on my own, but if you’re going to be there, we might as well travel together. It’ll mean a little extra waiting around, but if you don’t mind….”

“I will bring my Kindle,” Kent suggested.

“Cool.”

They sat together in the breakfast nook, and Dex started in on his sandwich. “Mmm. That dressing trick makes a ton of difference.”

“Isn’t it good?”

“It is. You really know your food.” Hell, he’d call Kent a foodie.

“Oh, I like eating, you know that. Wait until I tempt you into the horror that is chocolate-covered bacon.”

“Chocolate-covered bacon?” That did sound kind of horrific. Candied bacon was bad enough.

“Yeah, you cook the bacon and then dip it in melted chocolate. It’s amazing.”

“That’s so wrong.” He meant it too.

“Uh-huh.” Kent looked totally unconcerned.

Chuckling, Dex continued eating his sandwich. The dressing was decadent and spicy and good. He dragged his foot up along Kent’s leg. “So what did you want to do when we finish eating?”

“Hmmm. We could go swim. We could play cards.”

“We could watch a movie and make out,” Dex suggested.

“Oh, that sounds fun.” Kent grinned at him. “You have the best ideas.”

He liked that Kent just agreed with him instead of calling him a perv or a horn dog or something. It meant Kent was right there with him. They were perfectly matched, both of them. Perfect enough that it was a little unnerving, honestly.

He leaned over the small table, taking a kiss.

“Mmm.” Kent kissed him back, then rubbed their noses together.

“What kind of movies do you like?” Maybe they were incompatible there. Somehow he didn’t think it would matter even if they were.

“I just love to watch. I have movies I didn’t like, but not a whole genre, you know?”

“Cool. I’m kind of the same way, although I don’t like gore fests, really.” Dex didn’t have much time for blood and gore, not when there was so much else out there.

“I haven’t seen many of those. My favorite scary movie is
Poltergeist
.”

“I like the
Shining
for scary. Hey, if we watch a scary movie, we can grab onto each other—it’ll promote the making out.”

“So
Saw
is out.
Paranormal Activity
is scary but not gross. Uh. I have
Deep Blue Sea
. Shark movies can be cool,” Kent noted.

“Rock on. I haven’t seen that one before, I don’t think.”

“This one’s more camp than scary. Come on. We’ll grab some blankets and turn the lights off.” Kent bounced up to get the blankets.

Dex didn’t bother to point out it was still light outside.

Kent had a great setup for watching movies—a big TV and an extremely comfortable couch. It already had soft pillows on it, and the addition of blankets was perfect. Dex toed off his shoes and took his watch and phone and put them on the little sofa table. Then he settled with Kent, immediately pulling his lover into his arms so they could cuddle up.

Kent handed him the remote. “Everything is electronic, just dial it up.”

“Not a remote hog?” That worked well because he liked having control, honestly.

“Nope. I know how to say if I don’t like something.”

“That works well. I like having the remote in hand.” Dex turned the TV on and scrolled through the various menus to find the movie.

Kent chuckled and settled against him, heavy and warm and lazy. He rested his hand on Kent’s thigh, fingers stroking.

The movie started and it wasn’t bad, but the best part was the quiet, the connection, the periodic soft laugh. They actually watched the whole thing, cuddling and touching, but not getting heavy with it.

“Mmm. That was fun, love.” Kent sounded totally at peace with the world.

“It was. What a crazy movie.” Turning toward Kent, he grinned, arms slipping around his lover.

“You ate my bird.” Kent winked, quoting the movie.

Laughing, he slid his hand down to cup Kent’s good-sized package. “Feels like it’s still there to me.”

“Ha!”

God, he loved to hear Kent laugh, loved the pure joy in it. Grinning, he squeezed Kent’s cock through his jeans.

“Mmm. You want to go soak in the hot tub, honey? Enjoy the evening?” Kent asked.

“Oh yeah. I do.”

“Cool. Me too. You put on some music, and I’ll get her bubbling.”

“Yes, boss,” Dex teased.

“You want a glass of water? Maybe a glass of wine?”

“Oh, wine is good. Bring the water too—we’ll be able to stay in longer.” They shouldn’t get dehydrated.

“White, yeah? Something light?”

“Sounds perfect. Like you, hmm?” Dex kissed Kent softly.

“Flatterer.”

Dex didn’t deny it. “Yeah, I’m hoping to get some from the hottest guy I’ve met in a long time.”

Kent gave him a slow smile, obviously pleased. He took another kiss, hands coming up to cup Kent’s face. He could do this forever. Literally, forever.

“God, you make me happy, Kent.”

“Ditto. Seriously.” Kent gave him a soft, warm kiss.

“Good.” He just stood there, smiling goofily.

“Come on. I’ll pour the wine.”

“Sorry. I was basking.” Still grinning, he followed Kent to the kitchen, helping out by grabbing wine glasses from the cupboards.

“Thanks, honey.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

“Dollbaby.”

Oh God, that was hilarious. Dex kept it going. “Snookums.”

“Sugarbutt.”

“Sweetie-pie.”

“Studmuffin.”

“Oh, I like that one.” Dex made a show of making muscles for Kent. Then he added another nickname to keep the game going. “Love Doctor.”

“Love Doctor? That’s a little boom-chicka-wow-wow. I approve.”

That had him hooting like a loon, and Kent grinned at him.

“Boom-chicka-wow-wow.” Dex sang it, bumping hips with Kent. “Is that what we’re headed to the hot tub for?”

“Possibly. In fact, probably.” Kent smiled, eyes alight. “You’re the best kind of porn.”

“Ditto, babe.” He took another kiss from Kent, feeling the lazy arousal he’d been experiencing all afternoon slowly increase.

“I could get used to this, spending days with you.”

“Me too. I’ve never known anyone I got along with and found as attractive as you.” Never. It was like Kent had been made for him.

“Thank you, honey. That means the world.”

Dex gave Kent’s hand a squeeze. “Let’s get this hot tub show on the road.”

“Works for me.” Kent gave him another happy kiss and poured the wine. “Let’s go play.”

KENT LOVED
his job. He loved coding and computers and design and apps and figuring workarounds and…. His phone rang, and he tapped his headset. “Kent, here. Speak and be heard.”

“Kent, honey? It’s Elizabeth. I have news.”

He stopped, pushed back from his desk. Oh. Oh God. He hadn’t thought about his surrogate in weeks. He’d been working and totally over the moon with Dex.

“Are you still there, honey?” she asked.

“Yeah. Yes. Just shocked. News. You had news.”

“I do! I’m pregnant, honey. I caught first try!”

“Oh. Oh my God! Liz!” Kent couldn’t breathe.

She laughed. “I’m about five weeks along, almost six, really. They’ll have me in for an ultrasound in a bit. You want to be there?”

“God, yes. Of course. Yes. I wouldn’t miss it, not for the world.”

His baby. Oh God. He was going to get to see a picture of his baby before it was even born.

She laughed softly. “I have a good feeling about this one, Kent.”

“Oh, how do I tell you thank you, lady?”

“You let me crush your hand during the delivery, and then you take the best care of your baby anyone has.”

“I swear. I promise you, I will.” His baby was going to be the most loved child on earth.

“I believe you, honey. I’ll call as soon as I’ve got any more news or have an appointment day or time, okay?”

“I’ll be waiting with bated breath. Do you have a due date yet?” A birth day for his baby?

“Not from the doctor, but I mean we know what day it happened, right? It’s the beginning of June next year.”

“A late spring baby. Oh wow.” Oh wow.

She laughed again. “Congratulations, Papa.”

Tears filled his eyes. “Oh wow. Say it again?”

“Congratulations, Papa. You’re going to be a daddy.”

“Oh damn.” The tears slipped out, and suddenly he couldn’t breathe. He was going to be a daddy.

“Kent, honey? Are you okay?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m so very more than okay.” He was going to explode from it.

“Okay, then. Like I said, I’ll call you. Go celebrate. Bye, honey.”

“Bye, lady.”

He hung up the phone and just sat there, staring. A baby. His baby was growing inside Elizabeth. This time next year he would have been a daddy for months already. He knew which room he’d turn into a nursery. How long until he’d know whether he was having a boy or girl? He’d have to look it up. He wanted to make sure he knew what questions to ask at the first ultrasound.

He was going to be a daddy.

He needed to call his folks. Like magic, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed it was Dex.

“Hey, honey!” Kent spun in his chair, so excited.

Dex chuckled. “Hey, sweet. You sound even happier than usual.”

“I am. I just got amazing news!”

“That’s great! What?”

“I’m going to be a dad!”

Dex laughed. “A dad?”

“I know, crazy, right? How are you?” He was going to take the room that got the morning sun, make it the nursery.

“Are you adopting a dog?” Dex asked.

“What?” He liked dogs, but he needed to plan for the baby. Unless, of course, having a dog would be good for the baby….

“You said you were going to be a dad—so is it a pup? A kitten? One of those pot-bellied pigs?”

“No. A baby. I have a friend that offered to be a surrogate before I met you, and she actually caught pregnant!” He couldn’t believe it.

“You’re having a baby? Like a little person?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, in June.”

“Are you bi? Is she your girlfriend?” The words shot out at him.

“What? What? Me? Are you… what? No. No, I hired her. I mean, she’s a friend of mine, she’s married. She likes being pregnant, and she has kids of her own to raise….” He wasn’t a cheater. He’d never. Not ever.

“So she’s giving you the baby, and you’re going to be a father. On purpose?”

“I….” Yes. Yes, he was. He was going to be a great dad. He was going to be the best dad, wasn’t he?

“So you like kids that much, huh? Congratulations?”

“I’ve always wanted to be a dad. Always. I… I think I ought to go. I hope…. Bye.” He hung up the phone and took the headpiece off. They hadn’t really been seeing each other at all when this whole thing happened. They hadn’t been serious.

Had he fucked up? Oh God. He…. His gorge rose, and he bolted to the bathroom, losing his lunch. It was all just too much—too much news, too much good and bad and worry.

The phone began ringing again.

“Just a second. Just a second.” He wiped his mouth, pulled his phone from his pocket.

Dex again. Calling him back. Okay. Okay. Be an adult. “’Lo?”

“Kent? Don’t just hang up, okay? I just… can I come see you?”

“I threw up. I might be sick, and you have your race. I think it was just nerves, but I can’t be sure.”

Dex sighed. “How sure are you that it was nerves?”

“Pretty sure. I don’t like being in trouble.”

“I’m sorry I upset you. I’ll come see you. Give me fifteen.”

“Are you sure?” He didn’t want to see Dex if Dex didn’t want to see him.

“I’m sure. See you soon, sweet.” The line went dead.

Kent brushed his teeth, wiped down the bathroom, and sprayed Lysol.

It didn’t seem very long at all before there was a knock at the door. He had coffee made, and he found himself shaking as he went to the door. Dex had a warm smile for him and opened his arms. He went, because they might not be partners yet, but they were lovers and friends.

Dex hugged him tight. “Did we just have our first fight?”

“I think so.”

“I’m sorry. You just surprised me,” Dex told him.

“I didn’t…. I wasn’t hiding it from you. We weren’t together when I did it. Into a cup. Not her.”

“So you’re having a kid. I just… I’m trying to wrap my head around it, you know?” Dex sounded sincere.

They moved to the couch, Dex sitting close with an arm around his shoulders.

“I… I know. I mean, I want a family, and I hadn’t had a relationship with anyone for a long time….” He had everything he needed to provide for a child.

“Wow. Bringing up a kid on your own. That’s a huge commitment. Like, eighteen years and a ton of money huge.”

“Yeah, I know, but I have it, and I… I don’t know how to explain.”

“I can’t say I understand wanting a rug rat underfoot full-time,” Dex admitted.

Oh. Well, better to know now than to get deeper than he was and break his heart. “That’s understandable. Not everyone wants to have kids. I get that.”

Dex didn’t let go of him, still cuddling. “It’s just not something I’ve ever thought about. I mean… I’m gay, you know?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. Me too. That’s why I went the turkey baster way. I’m going to be a good dad.” He was. No matter who didn’t get why.

“Yeah, actually, I can really see that you will be.” Dex seemed genuine about the compliment.