Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Spencer

“How you been, man?” Morgan asked when he arrived at the restaurant. Corbin was having lunch with Marcus today, so I took the opportunity to message Morgan and touch base. I’d been a bit of an absent friend since Corbin and I started dating. Not that Morgan wasn’t busy with his own life and boyfriend, but I missed hanging out with him more.

“Good. How about you?”

It had been a hectic few weeks. Corbin had weekly sessions with Imani, the day before having been his fourth. I’d gone with him once, something he and Imani had discussed when he told her I was looking for someone to talk to about the best ways to be supportive to him. It was a conflict of interest for Imani to see me without him, but it had been productive when the three of us spoke because we could sort things out with Corbin’s thoughts and Imani’s knowledge.

Apparently, Corbin was struggling with the thought that I would eventually get tired of him and leave him, something that would never happen. And there were also times when he felt I pushed too hard, or he worried he was letting me down if he skipped a meal or posted to social media. I couldn’t pretend that was easy to hear, but the last thing I’d ever want was to make Corbin feel bad, so knowing that helped me catch myself when I was about to do those things.

“Eh. It’s been better, but it’s been worse too. Things are hectic with my family back home, and we’re dealing with a PR nightmare at work. I need a vacation,” Morgan replied, and I frowned. We talked about his life, of course—work, men, day-to-day stuff, but I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t curious about his life back home and why he was so private about it.

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“Don’t you know me better than to ask that?” When I gave him a frustrated look, he added, “Family relationships are complicated…mine even worse because I left in the middle of the night and never returned home.” Morgan shrugged.

“Um…do I get anything more than that?”

He grinned. “You’re lucky you got that much. I’d rather talk about you. It feels like you have a lot going on. You and Corbin are doing well?”

“We are.” I couldn’t stop the stupid, cheesy, ridiculous smile from spreading across my face. My feelings for him were indescribable. I thought I’d been in love with DJ, and maybe I had, but it was still not even close to how I felt about Corbin. Nothing and no one could ever feel as good as him.

“I would say so, if that smile is any indication.”

“I’m not even embarrassed about it either. It feels different from any relationship I’ve had before. Like we’re on the same page, working toward something together.”

“I’m happy for ya, man,” Morgan said, his deep voice full of sincerity.

“Thank you.” We finally looked at our menus then, and when the waitress came over, we ordered.

“How’s work?” Morgan asked.

“Busy. Things are really kicking into high gear for the center’s annual gala in April. It’s our biggest event every year and brings in a lot of much needed money.”

“Is Corbin going with you?”

“Yeah. I had my plus-one, of course, but I worked my ass off to get tickets for his friends and their partners so last-minute. You know how these things are—the guest list is usually finalized in advance.” It was silly, but that made me proud. I wanted to get to know them better, wanted to be involved and wanted them involved in my life with Corbin, because I did want that—a life with him. “I’m bummed you and Rob can’t go.”

“I know, but I kinda need to limit my social events. I often find them overwhelming.”

I could understand that.

The waitress showed up with our food just as we finished our conversation about the gala. “I’d really love for you to meet Corbin. I don’t want this to be something we say and don’t make time to do.”

“I know. I’ve just been keeping busy lately. I know I haven’t been an active friend, but I’ll do better.”

“I haven’t been the best friend either.”

Morgan shrugged. “I get it, though, ya know? That’s life. We get busy with work and partners, and things like that happen. I know who you are to me, and I hope you know the same.”

I did. Even if Morgan didn’t open up to me, I knew I meant something to him. “Always, man…though I can’t pretend I didn’t wish I knew a little more about you.”

“I’m a man of mystery.” He winked.

Once we finished eating, I gave Morgan a hug, and we said our goodbyes.

As if he was on the same schedule as me, Corbin texted when I got into the car.

Corbin:We’re done. Do you have plans for the rest of the day?

Me:I’m spending it with my boyfriend.

Corbin:Wow…lucky you.

I chuckled.

Me:Meet me at home, and then we’ll go do something fun.

He deserved it. He’d been working so damn hard and had some rough days after therapy.

Corbin agreed, so I headed to the apartment. We pulled up at the same time, and he jogged over to my car and got in.

“Hey, CB. What are we doing?”

I looked down to make sure both of us were dressed appropriately. “Hike?”

“Sounds good to me.”

We went to Will Rogers State Park. They had eight trails there, and we chose the Inspiration Point Trail, which was an easy trail, since we weren’t there to get a tough workout. I just wanted to enjoy the outdoors with him.

We grabbed water bottles from my trunk, tossed them in a backpack I kept in my car, and headed out.

“Have you talked to anyone in your family?” I asked. He hadn’t spoken much about it—maybe to Imani, but not to me. He hadn’t mentioned them, and I knew this was something else weighing him down, something I would take the weight of if I could.

“No. No one has tried except Mom. I don’t even know what I would say to her or how I feel.”

I threaded my fingers through his, lifted his hand, and kissed it. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“It’s not your fault.”

No, but his family thought it was.

“I’m still sorry.”

“You make it better. Also, when your mom calls, she loves talking to me, so that helps too.”

I snickered. He was so silly.

We chatted while we hiked, then sat at the top for a while, simply enjoying the scenery. I loved simple days like this, and I had to admit, I was impressed that Corbin hadn’t pulled his phone out the whole time. No posts on social media or anything.

That made me think about the fact that he hadn’t posted us on there either, which I was fine with. If it wasn’t for the center, I wouldn’t be on social media at all. But a quiet voice in my head wondered if there was a reason Corbin didn’t share me there, one that wouldn’t feel so great.

“Do you want to go anywhere else?” I asked when we got back to the car.

“Just home.”

So we went back to my apartment, cooked stir-fry together, and ate while we watched a true-crime docuseries.

“Oooh! I have an idea. Let’s do a skin-care routine together.”

“I don’t do skin-care routines.”

“Yes…I know.”

“Hey!” That didn’t sound good.

“I didn’t mean like there’s something wrong with your face. I love it. But skin care is important for everyone. Let’s go.” He stood, took my hand, and forced me to my room.

My bathroom counter was full of skin treatments I’d never even seen before Corbin started staying with me.

“Sit.” He pointed to the toilet.

“Wow. You take this very seriously.”

“Skin care is serious.” Corbin winked, which did funny things to my gut. It was silly, really, how the simplest thing from him could make me react.

He put a headband on to hold my hair back, ignoring me when I quirked a brow. He was too busy and in his element.

“First, we cleanse.” Corbin turned on the water, got a washcloth, and pulled a couple of bottles forward. “Close your eyes, CB.”

“You’re lucky I love you,” I teased, but then closed them. He wet my face, then lathered it with the cleanser.

“You have really good skin.”

“Can’t say I’ve heard that one before.”

I sat still while Corbin worked. He rinsed my face, then pulled out another bottle. “Toner.”

I nodded and let him do his thing. Corbin concentrated, biting his bottom lip as he worked, which was ridiculously adorable.

“I used to do this with my mom,” he said softly. “It was a little too gay for Dad and Blaine, but Mom would always let me join her. It was our time, and I loved it. Like…I don’t know. It made me feel special. Now that I’ve clicked in on the diet stuff from when I was a kid, I second-guess everything. Did she do that with me because it was a special time for us? Because she enjoyed it? Or was it because my skin was something else about me she thought needed to be fixed?” He rubbed a cotton ball soaked with toner over my face as he spoke.

“Baby…I’m sorry.”

“Me too. It helps to talk about these things now, though. Imani seems to think spending my life holding it all in wasn’t healthy.”

“Imagine that.” I smiled. “You miss them?” I asked, more seriously.

“Yes and no. They’re my family, so I do, but I’ve spent less and less time with them the older I got, so it’s also hard to miss something you didn’t really have.”

My heart hurt for him. I grabbed his waist, holding on to him and pulling him forward. Corbin came easily, straddling my lap. “I’m sorry they aren’t who you deserve. Maybe if you talked to them?” When he shook his head, I changed direction. “I’m glad you have the Beach Bums. And now you have the Poddies and me.”

Corbin wrapped his arms around me and answered with a kiss. My hands traveled up and down his back, while Corbin’s tongue took possession of my mouth. “I love you.” He pressed his forehead to mine.

“I love you too.”

“Good. Now let’s moisturize, then it’s my turn for you to clean my face, and then I want you naked in bed.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”