Page 75 of Before It's Too Late

Zach pulled out of Cael’s hold and leaned against the counter opposite him. Zach bracketed his hands on the edge of the granite. “I already know what they’ll think of us.”

“And that bothers you.”

“Well.” Zach scrunched his face. “I’m more worried what will happen between my dad and them, especially if they find out he’s okay with us. Plus, there’s Taylor. Can you imagine what they’ll say about us taking care of her if they know we’re a couple? They’ll ream Mom and Dad for sure, especially Dad.”

“There’s a simple solution, you know?”

Zach gave him a doubtful look. He folded his arms over his chest and crossed his ankles. “Yeah? What’s that?”

“We just pretend we’re only friends whenever we’re around them.”

“You would do that?”

“For you, absolutely.”

Zach stared at him, thinking.

“Don’t burn out the motor,” Cael teased, hoping to lighten the mood. Apparently, it worked, because Zach gave him a wry, even if small, grin. A heartbeat later, the moment passed, and the frown returned, marring Zach’s face.

“I couldn’t ask you to do that, and you shouldn’t have to. We shouldn’t have to.”

“No, we shouldn’t, but under the circumstances, maybe we should.”

“Cael—”

“No, hear me out. I’ll follow your lead. Around your grandparents, we’ll just be friends, until you decide otherwise. Okay?”

Zach regarded him for a quiet moment. “I don’t like the idea of pretending that you aren’t more to me than that.”

A surge of warmth invaded Cael’s chest. He pushed off the counter and went right to Zach, not slowing his momentum as he framed Zach’s face with his hands and pressed a kiss to his lips. With tender nips and tugs, Cael kissed his best friend. The man with whom he intended to spend the rest of his life.

God, how Cael loved him. Even more so after he said things like that.

Cael ended the kiss but didn’t pull away. He slowly dropped his hands from Zach’s face, down his arms, and rested them on Zach’s hips.

“What was that for?” Zach breathed against Cael’s lips.

“Marry me.”

The whispered words fell out before Cael could stop them. He’d planned on waiting until another time when they were surrounded by family and after he’d had a chance to find rings, but the moment just felt too right. He needed Zach to know that no matter what happened, Cael loved him and was with him for the long haul.

Zach looked up at Cael, his eyes searching for what felt like an eternity. Cael held his breath, waiting, hoping to God once again that Chloe was right. Hoping Zach would say yes.

Chapter 19

Marry me.

Cael’s words left Zach speechless, and he lost himself in Cael’s hopeful gaze. Tears threatened as a rush of emotions hit Zach square in the chest, knocking the proverbial wind out of him. Zach never imagined he would be on this end of that question, but the all-out joy and love flooding Zach’s heart knowing Cael wanted this with him to the point he was willing to put his heart on the line only solidified what Zach had come to realize.

Zach was in love with Cael to the point of no return. From the moment Cael first kissed him, there had been no going back. He recalled how he’d worried about Cael falling in love with his perfect man, but this time, he saw himself and Cael. Sneaking kisses in the kitchen. Playing with their kids—their kids. Making love in the middle of the night.

How could he ever say no to any of that? It was everything he’d always wanted, with the man he loved most in the world.

“Pook—”

“Yes.”

Cael sucked in a sharp breath. He looked at Zach with such reverence and affection that Zach could no longer hold back the tears.