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Cameron nodded. “Yeah, we’re going out later and getting a new cell and number for Rylan.”

Rylan dried his hands on the towel and turned toward Cameron, stepping against his side and sighing with relief when Cameron put his hand on his waist and pulled him into his body.

“I don’t want to cause trouble.”

The silence in the room was deafening as the three Hayes’s stared at Rylan.

“You’re important to Cam, which mean you are a part of this family. And we protect family.”

Rylan turned and caught Cameron’s smile, knowing the sentiment given by his friends and now his parents to the man Cameron considered his entire world meant a lot to Rylan. Rylan swallowed before he spoke. “Thank you.”

His mom reached out and grabbed Rylan’s hand. “You’ll be okay.”

The morning passed with Cameron holding Rylan close as he got to know his parents and vice versa. Before noon, they stood to leave, explaining they were running late for meetings they had scheduled in Denver over the weekend.

“But I promise we’ll be back soon.” His mother hugged Rylan.

He set the alarm for the front door after they waved his parents goodbye.

Cameron picked up Rylan, encouraging him to wrap his legs around his waist, and carried him back upstairs to take a nap before they went shopping.

“I’ll always keep you safe.”

Rylan kissed him, leaving him breathless. “Let’s put it out of our minds and have fun this weekend. I don’t have a project and we don’t have class until Tuesday.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

They both settled down, pulling up the covers, before Rylan snuggled his head on his chest. Within seconds, Rylan’s deep breaths puffed against Cameron’s neck and as soon as he closed his eyes, he drifted off.