Chapter 28: Calvin

“You know you’re going to have to smile again someday, right?” Gage asked, propping himself up against the front counter of the bookstore as he thumbed through a fitness magazine. “I think your depression is starting to rub off on me. I haven’t even had a protein shake in two days.”

“Those things are vile,” Calvin said, crinkling his nose. “You can’t blame it on me if your body is finally staging a coup.”

He made a point of ignoring the rest of what Gage said, though. Because no, he actually didn’t have to smile again someday. Not until he had a reason to smile again, anyway.

Although seeing Gage pretend to pout in the corner was close to doing the trick.

But no.

Calvin didn’t care if nobody else understood why he was so upset. He didn’t blame them for mistakenly thinking that he couldn’t have possibly fallen for Jack in such a short amount of time, or that the time they had shared hadn’t changed Calvin’s whole outlook on life and love.

He wouldn’t have understood it, either, if it had been someone else.

But it wasn’t just the two weeks he’d spent with Jack. It was the eighteen years they’d spent as friends. It was the lost decade they’d already spent apart.

It was Calvin’s whole life and the only man he had ever loved, so while he could objectively understand why his friends didn’t get it, he also didn’t feel like he should have to indulge anyone by smiling if he didn’t want to.

Calvin sighed. But he couldn’t say all of that to Gage, of course. Not when Gage was just trying to help.

“Do you wanna go out this weekend?” Gage asked, quirking an eyebrow over the top of his magazine. “Dinner, maybe a movie? Hit the bars? My treat…”

Calvin snorted, then smiled in spite of himself. Dammit. “Are you asking me on a date, Gage? Because I hate to tell you, but—”

“Oh lord,” Gage rolled his eyes. “You wish. You know I’m saving myself for Mr. Right, and I know you’re saving yourself for Mr. Roberts—” Gage clapped a hand over his mouth. “Sorry, Calvin. I didn’t mean to make fun…”

“No worries,” Calvin said, feeling bad for a moment that he’d made Gage feel bad, not to mention that he’d somehow left his friend with the impression that he was too frail to even take a little joke. “And you know I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll stay in this weekend. Darren is gonna pop any day now, I think.”

It was the excuse that Calvin had been relying on ever since Jack had gone back to Boston, and even though it was legitimately true, Calvin wasn’t sure what he was going to fall back on once his cat finally did pop out those kittens.

Then again, he’d turned enough friends down over the past few days that they would probably just stop asking completely pretty soon.

Which was… fine, really.

Gage sighed and put the magazine away, then walked toward the door. “Fine, but if you change your mind, you should give me a call. I’ve really been feeling like dancing lately, and I hate to go out to the bar by myself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Calvin said, grinning again. Damn Gage and his irrepressible personality. Calvin turned back to the bookshelf he’d been stocking before Gage came in to hide the evidence of his soft heart. “I’ve got a ton of work here, though… and Darren…”

Calvin thought he heard a gasp behind him, but it could have just been the wind as Gage opened the door. Or maybe Gage had seen his new gym-crush walk in next door. Or maybe they were having a sale on kale and quinoa down at the farmer’s market. It was hard to tell with him.

“I do know you’re busy,” a deep voice that definitely was not Gage said, making Calvin freeze in place. “But I thought maybe we could talk?”

Calvin didn’t dare turn around. He didn’t dare get his hopes up.

It definitely wasn’t Gage, but it couldn’t be who Calvin thought it was… could it? God, had his mind finally gone? Was this the way people went insane?

“Babe?” the voice that was definitely not who Calvin wanted it to be spoke again. “Calvin?”

But it had to be. It had to be.

There was nobody else in the world who called him babe. Nobody else who had that voice except—

“Jack,” Calvin whispered, finally turning around as tears immediately sprang to his eyes. “Jack, but… you’re here? I don’t… what?”

He was crying and laughing and babbling incoherently all at the same time, but it didn’t matter because Jack was standing right there in front of him, too sexy and too real to be a figment of Calvin’s imagination.

And when Jack crossed the short distance between them and scooped Calvin off his feet and kissed him hard and deep and long, like only Jack could do, there was no doubt in Calvin’s mind.

“You’re really here,” Calvin said. “You came back.”

“I am,” Jack said, pulling back just enough to look Calvin in the eyes. “And I did come back.”

“But… why? For how long?” Calvin couldn’t stop the questions. “I mean, I’m really happy you’re back, of course. Oh my God, I’ve missed you, but… why?”

Jack laughed. “I came back for you, babe. And I’m going to be here for as long as it takes to prove that I love you.”

“I… you… what?” Calvin stumbled over the words, then felt his eyes go wide. “You love me? Is, um… is that what you said? Oh my God, is this real life?”

Calvin couldn’t believe it, but it had to be real, right? Jack had really walked through that door and taken Calvin in his arms and then said that he loved him. There was no way Calvin had made all of that up.

“I love you, Calvin,” Jack repeated. “And I’m more than happy to keep telling you over and over again if you’d like me to. I’ll tell you every day, all day, until you’re tired of hearing it.”

“I promise you I’ll never get tired of hearing it,” Calvin said, his voice shaking. Or maybe his whole body was shaking. He wasn’t sure anymore. There was one thing he was sure of, though. “I love you, too, Jack. With all my heart.”

Another gasp from behind Jack made Calvin peer over his shoulder and laugh as he saw Gage swiping at his eyes. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you guys it’s rude to be so damn adorable right while I’m going through a single phase?” Gage said, huffing out a short breath before breaking into a big grin. “But seriously, welcome back, Jack. You got here just in time. Calvin was starting to drive us all crazy.”

Calvin glared at his friend over Jack’s shoulder, but neither of them seemed to notice. Which was fine, really, because Calvin just reminded himself that he was still in Jack’s arms and that Jack had really, really just told Calvin that he loved him.

Besides, he really had been driving Gage crazy. There was no point in arguing that fact.

“I’m here now, babe,” Jack said, turning his attention back to Calvin. “And I’m not going anywhere this time. I’m done with Boston. I want to stay here in Silver Lake. I want to be with you, Calvin. I want you to be my boyfriend if you’ll have me.”

“Of course, I will,” Calvin said. “I can’t believe it, but… I don’t even want to ask any questions yet. I just want to kiss you.”

It felt like it was Calvin’s birthday and Christmas and Valentine’s Day all rolled into one, like he had finally been granted every wish he’d ever made in his whole life. It was too good to be true, but… there was no denying it was really happening.

He wasn’t dreaming. He wasn’t crazy.

He was in love with this gorgeous man, this man who wanted to be his boyfriend. This man who had come back for him, just like he’d said he would.

Jack loved Calvin, and Calvin couldn’t be happier. After a whole lifetime of waiting, after all the doubts and all the obstacles and all the lonely nights, love had finally won.

###

“You’re sure you don’t need to spend a little time with your parents tonight?” Calvin asked, looking back over his shoulder as he unlocked his front door. “I mean, I don’t want you to go, but… I don’t wanna be greedy, either.”

“I’ll see them later,” Jack said, circling his arms around Calvin’s waist as they walked through the door together. “This is where I want to be right now. And tomorrow. And the day after. Until you get tired of me.”

“That’s never going to happen,” Calvin said, meaning it. “I’m never going to get tired of having you near me, Jack. I promise.”

It felt so good to know that Jack was here to stay. That their time wasn’t limited, their days weren’t numbered. There was no dark cloud hanging over their heads this time.

Just blue skies.

Smooth sailing.

The hope Calvin had held onto for so long had finally paid off better than he could have ever imagined.

“Good,” Jack said, closing the door behind them and pulling Calvin close to kiss him. “Because I’m not going anywhere ever again. I’m home now for good.”

Darren ran between their legs, nuzzling against both of them as they stood in the hallway. “Looks like I’m not the only one who missed you,” Calvin said. “I haven’t seen her this happy since… well, since you left.”

“Oh, babe,” Jack cupped Calvin’s face with his hands and leaned in to touch their foreheads together. “I’m sorry I had to ever leave like that. I should have stayed right here and told Boston to fuck off that morning when I had you in my arms.”

“You’re here now,” Calvin said. “We’re here together, and we love each other. That’s what matters.”

“That is what matters,” Jack agreed. “But I still feel like I should make it up to you.”

“Oh yeah?” Calvin tried and failed to suppress a smile. “I might be persuaded to let you make it up to me tonight. In bed.” He gave Jack a quick kiss and stood on his toes to whisper into his ear. “Naked.”

Calvin could see the heat flare in Jack’s gaze, could feel it rolling off his body in waves as those intense brown eyes drank him in.

“That’s exactly the kind of making up I was hoping for,” Jack said, shifting his hips so that his hard length throbbed against Calvin’s thigh. “Can we, ah… start on that now?”

“It feels like you already have started,” Calvin said, laughing as he took Jack’s hand and led him into the bedroom. “But if you’re really going to make it up to me, you have to do whatever I say tonight.”

“Done,” Jack said, without hesitating. “Anything you say.”

Calvin lifted the hem of Jack’s shirt up over his head, helping him shrug out of it before tossing it aside. He ran his hands down Jack’s chest, tweaking one of his nipples and grinning up at him as Jack sucked in a sharp breath.

“Damn, babe,” Jack hissed. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“I am,” Calvin admitted. “But don’t worry. I’m gonna make sure you enjoy it, too. He reached down to unfasten Jack’s belt then took a step back. “Pants. Off.”

Calvin watched appreciatively as Jack made quick work of his jeans, dropping them and letting them pool at his feet before stepping free and kicking them to the side. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his boxers and paused to quirk an eyebrow as he met Calvin’s gaze.

“Underwear, too,” Calvin said, grinning as Jack shoved those down as well, then zeroing in on the beautiful, delicious cock that was jutting straight out at him. “Looks like you’re already enjoying it,” Calvin observed, reaching out and giving Jack’s cock a quick stroke. “So hard,” he murmured. “So hot.”

“What can I do for you now?” Jack asked, moaning softly as Calvin cupped his balls and gave them a gentle squeeze. “Fuck, babe, you’re killing me.”

“Help me undress?” Calvin asked, holding his arms out as he stood still in front of Jack.

“Yes, finally,” Jack moved in closer, leaning in to nip at Calvin’s neck before stripping his shirt up and over his head. “This is the part I’ve been waiting for.”

Jack quickly removed the rest of Calvin’s clothes, pausing after each garment to place a kiss on his forehead, his mouth, his neck.

Only when they were both naked together did Calvin give another order. “Now, lie on the bed… on your back.”

Jack raised an eyebrow but didn’t question him. Instead, he slowly stroked his cock while he watched Calvin move around the bed to the nightstand to retrieve a condom and lube.

Moving back to the foot of the bed, Calvin climbed up and straddled Jack, rocking back on his heels as he took Jack’s cock in his hand and unrolled the condom over it.

“I have to admit, babe,” Jack said, his eyes tracking each movement Calvin made. “This punishment is pretty fucking hot. I might have to find more things to ask forgiveness for.”

“Well,” Calvin nibbled at his lip as he slathered Jack’s cock with lube. “This isn’t technically part of your punishment. I just want to be able to look in your eyes when you’re inside me.”

Jack’s cock throbbed at Calvin’s words, and he reached for Calvin’s hips to hold him steady as Calvin positioned himself over Jack’s cock.

“This is the part where I make you feel good,” Calvin said, lowering himself until he could feel the thick head pressing against his entrance. “Gonna make both of us feel…” He winced as Jack’s cock breached the tight ring of muscle, then sucked in a sharp breath as he rocked back, taking half the length in one steady push. “So good,” he finished, finally smiling down at Jack as his body stretched to accommodate Jack’s thickness.

“Fuck, babe,” Jack tossed his head back as he slowly began to thrust his hips upward. “You’re so… fucking… tight.”

Calvin opened his mouth to speak but could only moan as he fucked himself on Jack’s cock, his eyes rolling back as it brushed against his prostate with each long thrust.

Jack was the perfect length, the perfect thickness to fill Calvin completely, as if their bodies had been made to fit together. And maybe they had. Calvin wasn’t a big believer in fate or destiny, but after all the ups and downs, he fully believed that he was meant to be with Jack.

It was just too right.

Too perfect.

“Oh my God,” Calvin gasped, reaching down to stroke himself with one hand while he steadied himself against Jack’s chest with the other. “I love the way you feel inside me.”

Calvin bounced up and down on Jack’s cock faster, taking control and making Jack fuck him harder, making him hit that spot over and over and over again until Calvin could feel his orgasm building from the inside out.

“I’m not gonna last much longer, babe,” Jack said, reading Calvin’s mind. “You’re just feel too good wrapped around my cock.”

“I’m ready,” Calvin panted, nodding as he stroked even faster, pinning Jack with his gaze and sucking in a ragged breath as he felt himself start to come undone. “Come with me, Jack.”

Jack groaned and Calvin could feel his cock swell even thicker, stretching him even more as the Calvin’s own orgasm overtook him, spilling over his fist and streaking across Jack’s stomach and chest.

“Fuck, babe,” Jack ground out through gritted teeth. “Fuck…”

Calvin let Jack hold him in place, then felt him thrust one last time before pulling Calvin down on top of him and kissing him long and deep.

“Babe,” Jack said, his voice low and thick as his eyes drifted shut. “So good… so… beautiful.”

Calvin smiled as he nestled in next to Jack, again marveling at how perfectly he fit in the crook of Jack’s arm.

No doubt about it, they were made for each other.

It had taken ten long years, but the man of Calvin’s dreams—his best friend, his amazing lover—had finally come back home, and he was here to stay.

He was Calvin’s everything. His soul mate.

His heart’s triumph.