Chapter Twenty-Two

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Spencer

“You pretended you still didn’t know Spencer or that we’re in love when I was talking to you earlier,” Corbin told Marcus while still holding my hand.

I said, “It wasn’t like we hung out or I said hey…did you know I love your best friend.” But I had to admit, I was curious about what had gone down in the studio. “He basically showed up at the center and grumbled something about a surprise party, and I told him you already know we’re hanging out for your birthday, and then he grumbled something about it being Kai’s idea that I should come earlier, and got my phone number for Kai.”

There was no doubt in my mind that Marcus still had concerns about me, and that didn’t bother me at all. I liked that protecting Corbin meant so much to him, but I also wasn’t going to back down or not give him shit.

“Baby…” Kai said to him.

“What? I did what you asked and he’s here, isn’t he? Everything worked out,” Marcus countered, and everyone laughed.

“So, there was a discussion about Corbin being in love?” Sebastian asked. “We miss all the good stuff being banished to the living room.”

“We want all the Beach Bum secrets! Poddies unite!” Kai cheered.

“I still think it sounds like someone is going to the bathroom,” Elliott said.

All three of them had been great to me since I arrived. They made me feel at home, and again, it was nice to be around people who cared about Corbin so much. I loved the family they’d created, and now, despite the strong bond between the Beach Bums, their significant others were completely accepted as well.

“Shut up, Elliott,” Kai said, then looked at me. “You’re a Poddy now too.”

“Um…thank you?” Elliott was right. It did sound like someone was going to the bathroom.

“I don’t think I like your tone.” Kai let go of Marcus’s hand and crossed his arms.

I chuckled. I could see why Corbin loved these people so much. They were great.

“Can we get to the celebrating-me part now?” Corbin asked.

“Yes, baby. We can.” I nuzzled his throat, and he moaned.

“Wow…this is so weird,” Declan said.

“Good weird,” Parker added.

Marcus turned on music, songs I recognized as ones Corbin listened to, so I assumed it was some kind of Corbin playlist.

Everyone mingled, talking and joking, telling stories about each other and laughing. While I wasn’t a part of their tales, I didn’t feel left out. Corbin couldn’t have surrounded himself with a better group of guys. At one point, he got me and Parker talking about the romance-books drive we’d discussed the first time he came to the center, so Parker and I made plans to organize that.

“I’ll get us a plate.” I kissed Corbin’s cheek while he was telling Sebastian all the things he hoped would happen in Sebastian’s upcoming show.

I made a plate for myself and one for Corbin, not putting a ton on his but making sure to select the things I knew he ate the most. While I got some of the pork in the crockpot, Corbin’s was a wrap and mostly fruit.

I felt Marcus’s gaze on me the whole time, studying me, and I couldn’t help wondering if I was passing whatever test he had for me.

When I got back to Corbin, I gave him his plate. He thanked me, then continued talking, without eating. Mine was finished when Sebastian excused himself, and I picked up a strawberry and held it up to him. He took a bite of it out of my fingertips, then said, “Mmm, this is kinda hot.”

It was Corbin who picked up the next strawberry, holding part of it in his mouth. I leaned forward and bit a chunk, then licked the juice that ran down his skin.

“Get a room, you two,” Declan teased.

Corbin finished the rest of his food without me.

“Did you make everything?” Corbin asked Kai.

“Of course.”

“Kai loves to cook. He started culinary school this month.” Corbin gave his attention to me as we all discussed Kai’s plans.

“Are you excited for the wedding?” I asked Parker and Elliott.

“Oh my God, yes. You’re invited,” Parker said. “I know we’re already married, but I’ve been looking forward to this day my whole life. We have so many plans!”

“And my perfect boy always gets what he wants,” Elliott said before kissing Parker.

“My husband is the best,” Parker added.

He told me a little about the ceremony in June and how they were planning a honeymoon in Hawaii afterward.

We hung out for a while before Kai brought out a projector. “I’ve been collecting photos with the help of Elliott and Sebastian, and we made this for you guys.”

They turned the lights down, and the slideshow began to play. It was the Beach Bums when they were kids, photos before school dances, and playing in the water, laughing and wrestling, and just being happy. There was one where Marcus carried Corbin on his back, and one where they’d buried Parker in the sand. They went up through the ages, middle school, high school, young adulthood, until recently. The last one was a photo of all four of them, along with Elliott, Sebastian, Kai, and…me.

“We photoshopped you in,” Elliott said. “We’ll have to take a photo of all of us today.”

I was stunned quiet for a moment. That had been really thoughtful of them. Corbin squeezed my hand, and the smile he sent my way told me how much this moment meant to him too.

“Yeah,” I said, “we’ll have to do that.”

Everyone got busy chatting and hanging out again, before we decided to go into the hot tub. Marcus apparently had two of them, one downstairs and one upstairs.

We all changed into swim trunks or boxers. For just a moment, I had a flash of fear that Corbin would be embarrassed of me. Again, I had no issues with my body, but because of his struggles, would he be ashamed for others to see me shirtless? Would it be something else Corbin beat himself up over? I fought to keep those thoughts at bay.

“I’m actually going to head back in and go to the restroom real quick,” I said when we were all outside.

“I’ll show you where it is,” Kai said.

“I’ll do it.” Marcus’s words stopped everyone in their tracks.

“Be good,” Kai told him.

“Baby boy, I’m always good.” Marcus winked, and everyone watched us as we went inside. They all knew what this was about—Marcus wanting to speak to me.

“I love him,” I said, as soon as we were out of view. “I get that you might not trust me, but he’s mine and I love him. I won’t let you or anyone else scare me off.”

Marcus crossed his arms and cocked a dark brow as if I’d amused him. “Is that what I’m doing? Scaring you off?”

“I don’t know, but I’m letting you know it won’t work. I fucked up. I get it. I judged him. I said terrible things to him, but I’ve apologized. I can’t go back in time and change it, but there’s not a damn thing I wouldn’t do for him now. His happiness is my happiness. Jesus, when he told me he would see a therapist, I—”

“He’s seeing a therapist?” Marcus cut me off.

Shit. I should have kept my mouth shut. I had no right to share Corbin’s business. “I assumed he told you. Fuck. I can’t talk to you about that. It’s not my—humpf.” The last word fell out of my mouth when Marcus basically lunged at me, pulling me into a hug and squeezing me so tight, I could hardly breathe. “Um…I thought you didn’t do this?”

“I don’t. It’s weird. I can’t believe I did, so don’t tell anyone.” But still, he didn’t let go. “He’s starting therapy for his eating?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you…thank you,” Marcus said over and over again.

“You don’t have to thank me. He did it all on his own.”

Marcus nodded but still had his arms around me. “This is getting awkward now. I’m gonna let go.”

I chuckled. “I think that’s a good idea.”

He did, and we stood there staring at each other.

Marcus broke the standoff. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to. I understand who you are to Corbin. I would never come between you. But you need to know he has me now too. And whatever happens, I’ll be there for him.”

A beat of silence stretched from one, to two, to three, Marcus just standing there and staring at me before he held out his hand. “Friends?”

I shook it. “Friends.”

He pointed me toward the restroom, and I went. Once I took care of my business, I made my way back outside. They were all in the hot tub, laughing at something Corbin said. He gave me a smile that felt better than a million bucks, like this beautiful man thought I hung the moon, and there was nothing like that feeling.

“I’m reminding them how awesome I am, and that this day is about celebrating me.”

“Just today?” I walked over.

“You’re right. Every day should be Corbin Erickson Day.”

I sat on the edge of the hot tub, with Corbin between my legs. “I agree.”

“See? My CB is fucking great.”

“But you’re boyfriends. I thought CB stood for cuddle buddies?” Parker asked.

“Cuddle Boyfriends,” Corbin corrected. “We’re cuddle boyfriends now.”