20. Chapter 20

WYATT

Life has been perfect. Almost too perfect since Reggie’s nonsense was dragged out of our life a month ago. We haven’t been able to speak to or see Reggie since he was arrested and he must have used his one phone call on someone else. Not that I’ve minded. His five-year sentence will give him the time to truly think about all the damage he’s caused.

Waking up to Jameson in my bed every morning and then perfecting my craft is all I truly care about.

Movie nights with Axel and his now fiancé have been just the additive I need, rounding out the peace that I have so desperately craved. And the walks along the boardwalk with Jameson’s hand in mine or the quick lunch dates in the back of an empty diner are everything. He smiles so wide for me, radiating a happiness that I think we’ve both been missing.

And then at night when he slowly takes me apart and demands my submission, I can’t help but fall more in love with him.

Tonight though, there’s something different.

Something I’ve been waiting for a long fucking time to do.

My phone buzzes on the table and I grumble about having to share my attention with the cream boiling on the stove and my device.

Axel

Did you do the deed yet?

You make it sound like I’m about to have sex for the first time

Maybe you are. I don’t know. We don’t discuss these things.

Laura says I shouldn’t be texting you but I’m nosy.

Then go focus on her

This is Laura and that’s what I said. Have a great night, Wyatt.

I steel my nerves as I continue to stir the cream and then pour in the chocolate. All of this has to be perfect. Once the chocolate and cream are fully mixed, I pour it into little molds, making sure that each one is filled just so. Jameson says he doesn’t care but I do. It means everything to pour my heart and soul into my craft.

Especially for a night like tonight.

A stupid grin takes over my face as I set it in the fridge and then turn back to my masterpiece on the table. For me, it’s full of imperfections and failures, the bits of cake, chocolate, and other delicacies that didn’t work. I’ve been saving them for the past few days, reconstructing them into a cake of their own.

It’s perfectly imperfect and it’s everything we are.

The door opens and I look up to see Jameson standing there, his eyes comically wide as they meet the sweets on the table. Then they move to me, absolute love staring back at me. “It’s not Valentine’s Day, is it?” He checks his phone and then sighs before moving farther inside. He kicks off his shoes and drops his bag as if it’s a weight off his shoulders.

Jameson ignores the sugar, approaching me first with a full-bodied kiss that leaves me panting for more. I chase his lips even as he pulls away, his attention returning to the table. I don’t mind warring with sugar for his attention. “I wanted to do something special. You always enjoyed the bits and pieces that I called mistakes.”

The cake is bent into a little heart, different colors and shapes making it the most eccentric delicacy I’ve ever made.

“It’s gorgeous.”

He moves a little closer and then gasps as my true intentions become clear. Jameson reaches to remove the small metal piece from the middle and holds up the key to my apartment. “You want me to move in? I’ve basically been in your bed every night since you asked me to date you.” We both share a chuckle at that haphazard confession. It was rushed but perfect.

“And I want more than that. I want you here permanently, Jay. No traveling between apartments. No driving all over the goddamn city to make this work. Whether it’s your apartment we’re keeping or mine, I don’t care. I want all of you.” There. I said it.

Jameson smiles up at me, a joke I’m not privy to dancing in his eyes. “And if I told you that I found the perfect place to live?” He retrieves his bag and pulls out a small folder. “For everything Reggie did, he did one thing right.” He hands me the paperwork and I slowly flip through the pages.

There’s no way.

“Why are Axel and I’s names still on the deed for our parent’s house?”

“You might have made a deal with your brother about your portion but he never updated the deed. The house is yours and Axel’s and your younger brother already agreed that it’s yours if you want it. We’ll take care of the legal papers later but I thought that it might be nice to cherish the one place you truly loved with a kitchen that needs the kind of care only you can give it. You loved baking in that kitchen, Wyatt. I’ve seen you flourish over the last month but growing up, seeing you beside your parents while you created masterpieces out of nothing? Those smiles were second to none.”

I don’t even know what to say. Here I was thinking Jameson would say no. His apartment is closer to his job but here he is once again thinking of me.

“And you? What about the firm and everything else? The commute is going to suck.”

“Knowing that you’ll be around when I get home makes it all worth it. Wyatt, yes, I'll move in with you. Let’s take back your family home. How’s that sound?”

“It sounds perfect.”

Jameson drags me down for another kiss, this time not letting me go. I know I’ll be second on his mind when he remembers there’s an entire cake waiting for him to devour. I don’t mind. Not when it’s Jameson.