Page 56 of Before It's Too Late
“Because, being with you makes me happy. Last night and this morning, you made the world fall away. It was just us, together. It was perfect.”
Zach paused and tilted his head back, letting his eyes slip closed. Cael reached over the console and covered Zach’s hand with his.
“But then I remember Abbey, and how any time, we could lose her. I feel like I should spend every moment possible with her because any day, she could be gone.” Deep breath. “I sometimes forget about her and I feel guilty for being happy in those moments. I’m just so… conflicted.”
“Pook.” Cael caressed Zach’s hand with his thumb. “Nobody’s judging you, and Abbey would want you to be happy.”
“I know.” His head leaning back against the headrest, Zach rolled his head and frowned at Cael.
“If it helps, I feel the same way.”
“Fucking sucks, doesn’t it.”
“Yeah. It definitely sucks.” Cael leaned over the center console as Zach started the engine. “Hey, come ‘ere.”
Zach turned his head and leaned in. Cael brought his hand up and wrapped his hand around the base of Zach’s neck, pulling him in closer. His lips brushed over Zach’s, and he softly kissed him. The tender, brief connection sent a blaze of warmth zipping through his bloodstream all the way to his toes and made him momentarily forget the world around him.
“Jesus, Cael,” Zach breathed quietly. “This is exactly what I was talking about.”
“I feel it too, but I think, if anything, Abbey would be encouraging this. I hate that there’s nothing we can do about Abbey and I’m worried about her, but at the same time, I’m in absolute heaven when I kiss you.”
“Me too,” Zach whispered.
“Besides, haven’t you heard? Kissing helps heal.”
“It does, huh?”
“Yep,” Cael said and he kissed him again.
Zach’s eyes fluttered shut and Cael’s followed. Their lips nipped and tugged at one another’s gently, and Zach let out a soft sigh. The content sound went straight to Cael’s heart and, as it had the first time they’d kissed and every time since, the world fell away, time stopped, and all that was left was him and Zach and the crazy, intense, wondrous things Zach’s lips on his were doing to his heart.
Mere seconds felt like an eternity.
Cael softened their kiss, breathing hard but quietly as he eased his lips away.
“You’re fucking killing me,” Zach panted softly, his forehead tilted to Cael’s.
Cael chuckled. “I barely kissed you,” he teased, trying to get his own heightened emotions under control. Kissing Zach was something he never wanted to stop doing. Ever.
“I know, but fuck, man… I’ve never had the fucking nerves in my spine light up and tingle and render my brain and practically every muscle in my body fucking useless from a barely-there kiss before.”
“I can kiss you again, if you like,” Cael laughed softly, struggling to rein in the same crazy wonderful sensations coursing through him and filling his heart and soul to the brim.
Zach shook his head. “Later. Two’s enough for now. Besides, we need to get going, and I need proper motor function and hand-eye coordination right now.”
“You’re no fun.”
Zach smirked and sat back, adjusting himself in his seat, but said nothing.
***
After a quick stop for some fresh-baked bread, they arrived at Zach’s parents’ house. Cael carried Taylor and followed Zach inside, closing the front door behind him. He sniffed the air, and his stomach rumbled.
“Mmm. Smell that Tay-tay?” Cael said as they wandered into the large, eat-in kitchen. “Smells like Lito made his famous enchilada casserole.”
“You would be correct,” Zach’s mom said as she looked up from her magazine, her smile wide and doing a decent job of hiding her pain, but Cael knew better. Amy sat in her electric wheelchair at the round oak table near the window.
Zach set the bread on the counter and the diaper bag on the floor in the corner as Cael went straight to Amy and passed Taylor into her lap. She took her with slightly trembling hands.