Chapter Twenty-Nine

Theo

Icall Mom while Perry is with his dad and update her on everything that's happened—the heart attack, Perry deciding he's ready to try and have a relationship with his dad, and even the vision thing. I'm excited to explore that possibility. If that's not the answer, I'll get through it, but I'm anxious to hear what they say. Mom is on board with helping me in any way she can, but she also lets me know she's there for Perry too.

"I'm going to text him to send him my love. Should we come down? Is there anything we can do?"

Her words don't come as a surprise, but they fill me with joy all the same. I love knowing that Perry will have them in his corner too because my man deserves the world.

"You don't have to come down, but I know he'll appreciate you letting him know you're thinking about him."

"I'll do that, then," Mom says, a smile in her voice.

We talk for a few more minutes before ending the call.

I pull out my laptop and try to get some schoolwork done, but my mind is wandering. Every time I try to focus, Perry's smile pops into my head, or his whiskey-colored eyes, how he told me he needed me, the way his hand feels in mine.

I've got it so bad for him, it's ridiculous. I hope things work out with his dad. I know how bad it'll hurt Perry if they don't. He's been holding in for so long this need to be a part of his dad's life that I can't imagine what it will do to him if something messes that up.

It feels like a lifetime passes before my phone buzzes with a text.

Knight in Shining Armor: Hey, I'm done. Can I come over?

Me: Yeah, absolutely. Did everything go okay?

Knight in Shining Armor: It was awesome. I'll tell you about it when I get there.

Weight I hadn't realized I'd been carrying falls off my chest. Today was good for him, and that's a start.

Casey and Jack are downstairs playing video games when I get there, Jack's gaze darting up to ask, "Wanna play?"

"No, I'm good. Perry's on his way over."

"Be sure to leave the door open. You're too young to be in the room with your boyfriend without adult supervision," Casey teases, making me roll my eyes.

"You're an idiot."

"It's why you love me—oh fuck. I can't believe I missed that shot," he complains at the game, and I chuckle before heading outside.

I mean, it's nice for a guy to wait outside for his boyfriend, right? I'm not overeager at all. Well, yes, it's me, so I am overeager, and the thing is, I don't even care.

Time drags, and it feels like a hundred years before Perry's car is pulling up to the curb. I head straight for him, and before I can say anything, he throws his arms around me and pulls me to him. "God, I'm so fucking happy, Puppy."

"I'm happy for you too."

"I don't know if I would have done this without you."

I don't doubt he believes that, but I don't think it's true. Perry would have wanted a relationship with his dad no matter what, and he would have made it happen with or without me.

"Yes, you would have. Come on. Let's go inside so we can talk."

I take his hand and head back to the house. Jack and Casey shout hellos, but I keep pulling Perry with me.

"I'm keeping him to myself for now. We'll talk to you guys later."

Perry laughs. "Aw, my man is staking his claim. Sorry, guys."

"Are you complaining?" I toss the question at him.

"No. Absolutely not." Perry grins.

When we get to my room, I close the door behind us. "Tell me all about it."

He pushes me to my bed and climbs on top of me. "Can we make out first?"

"Make out afterward. I've been stressing out all day."

He cocks his head, studying me. "Yeah, yeah I know you have." Perry rolls off me, and we lie on our sides, looking at each other, his hand on my hip.

"It was a little awkward in the beginning. The first thing he did was offer to buy me a new car."

"Well, that was a mistake." Most people would love the idea of someone offering them a vehicle, but I know how Perry feels about things like that. He wants to do things on his own.

"Right? He doesn't know me at all, which is sad, but I think that's going to change. I told him I didn't want him to try to buy me, that I don't want our relationship to be about him giving me things to make up for the past and trying to show he loves me. He said he'd work on it, but that I also need to work on accepting help."

"He has a point." I reach up and finger a lock of his soft, chocolate hair.

"Yeah, I know. I agreed to work on that too. We spent a lot of time just talking and getting to know each other, making plans for things me, him, and Ty can do together, but I also told him about me and the tech. I swear his eyes lit up. It's like he was so fucking proud, so ecstatic to hear I'm into it the way he is. We definitely connected over that. I told him about the progress I'm making on my app, and he seemed really impressed. He asked me to move back to Boston…to go to school there and work for Langley Enterprises."

I freeze, a sudden hollowness in my chest. Perry keeps going, rambling on about the things his dad wants and how they could work together, him getting close to his little sister and being with his mom again. I smile and nod as he talks, the gaping hole in my chest growing, only to be filled by guilt. Why the hell am I thinking about myself at a time like this? This is an incredible opportunity for Perry—not just when it comes to his future, but for his family. What kind of boyfriend would I be to only be thinking about the fact that I'm going to lose him?

"Wow. That's incredible. You deserve that so fucking much." My muscles twitch. I feel too angsty, so I pull away and sit on the edge of the bed.

Luckily, Perry doesn't notice that I'm being a total asshole and sits up behind me, wrapping his legs around me, his chin on my shoulder.

"It felt good to be wanted that way by him, ya know? Yes, the tech stuff has something to do with it, but…I don't know, Puppy. He likes me. Respects me. I can tell. I thought he was going to squeeze the air out of me when he hugged me before I left."

I swallow down my fear, do my best to fight it off because this is what's important. Perry and his dad. Even if he didn't admit it or didn't realize it, he's been dreaming about this his whole life, and…what? I expect him to stay because some guy he's only been dating a few weeks is in love with him? He's not responsible for my feelings, and…maybe I could go with him? Would he want that? Could I afford that? And why the fuck am I getting so damn ahead of myself? As far as I know, the guy isn't even in love with me, and here I am, wanting to run away with him and live happily ever after.

"Then he's a smart guy," I tell him. "I've already said you're my favorite person. Anyone who doesn't feel the same is an idiot."

Perry chuckles, his breath warm on my cheek. How much longer will we have this? Will I have him? Would he be willing to try a long-distance relationship?

"No one makes me feel as good as you." He presses soft kisses to my neck.

Yes. We have to try the long-distance, or…I'll hide in his bag if I have to. I can sneak to Boston with him, live in his closet, and eventually when he finds me, he'll be like, well, I guess now I have to keep you.

He lifts his hands and starts playing with my pecs.

"When…when are you leaving?"

Perry's hands stop moving, his lips stop kissing while I sit there trying to figure out what I said wrong.

"Theo…I'm not moving. I told him no."

"What?" I whip my head around, slamming into his. Perry shoots backward on the bed, while I jerk my hand up and touch my throbbing head. "Shit. That hurt."

"You're telling me. You rang my bell pretty good." He's massaging his head too.

We both stop…look at each other…then burst into laughter. My stomach cramps, I'm losing it so much, and when we finally calm down, I turn and drop my head to his pec. "I'm so sorry I'm me."

"Don't ever be sorry about that. I love you because you're you."

My head jerks up again. This time, Perry foresees my move and leans back just in time.

"Even if you are dangerous." He chuckles, but I don't have it in me right now.

"Love me?"

He hesitates for a moment. It doesn't happen often, but now it's Perry's cheeks that turn slightly pink. "Yes. I wanted to tell you after I fucked you, but then I worried it wasn't the best time to say it, and you fell asleep, and then all hell broke loose."

"You love me?" I ask again. "I just want to make sure I'm hearing you right."

Perry reaches over, holds my face in his hands. "I'm crazy in love with you. I never expected a hookup mix-up to be the best thing that ever happened to me, but it was. I love you, and I'm really fucking scared here that you haven't said it back yet."

I want to jump to my feet and do a little dance. My heart is about ready to explode in my chest, but then I'd die, and I don't want that. "I love you too. Oh my God. I'm sorry. Dude, I'm pretty sure I totally loved you first!"

His nose wrinkles. "How do you know? What if I loved you first?" Perry snickers, and I lean in, kiss his laugh, which he immediately shares with me.

"Is that why you're not going to Boston? I can't let you make that decision for me. That's not right. Perry, you have to do what's best for you. This is your family. Maybe we can try the long-distance thing for a while, and then…I don't know. I'm willing to try and go out there, but only if you want me to. I was only kidding when I imagined hiding in your closet until you were stuck with me."

"Wow. Your head has been very busy since I mentioned moving."

"I'm serious. I love you too much to let you make that decision because of me."

He shakes his head. "Which is exactly why I love you, but that's not the only reason I'm doing it. I like California, and I like being close to Ty. I love my mom and I miss her, and I want to get to know my dad, but I want to do those things from here. I want to try school here. I agreed to let Dad help me pay for it, but I also don't want to be completely dependent on him. I'm too independent for that. He doesn't love it, but he understands."

I smile.

Really fucking big.

"Someone is happy," Perry teases.

"I am, but if you change your mind, please tell me. I just want you, baby. I don't care if I have to go there. I'll do whatever it takes to be with you."

"And I won't have you turning your world upside down for me either. Your happiness is just as important as mine. The good thing is that it keeps us both right where we are…only I have to admit, I'm a little upset that you were willing to let me go so easily."

"I was literally going to live under your bed."

"I thought it was in the closet?"

I kiss him. "I don't care where it is. As long as you're mine."

"I agree with that. Can we make out now?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely."