Page 92 of Forgiven

Callum took a deep breath to steady himself. “At a gay nightclub.”

The line went dead. Callum pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it. “She hung up.”

“I’m sorry, baby.”

Callum leaned onto his thighs and clutched his hair with his hands. “She hung up.” He couldn’t quite believe it. He tugged on his hair. “If that’s how she reacts to where I work, what’s she going to do when I tell her I’m bi?”

Dylan wrapped his arms around Callum, holding and rocking him.

“I shouldn’t evencare,” Callum croaked. “I shouldn’t give a shit what she thinks.”

“But you do,” Dylan said softly. “Because she’s your mum and you love her.”

“I wish I didn’t.”

“I know, baby.”

“Do you love your dad?”

He felt Dylan stiffen around him.

“I haven’t seen my dad since I was taken into care. I don’t even know if he’s alive.”

“Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Dylan tipped his face up and kissed him. “It’s okay. Yes, I do still love him.” Tears trickled down his cheeks. “I always will. It hurts that he gave up on me, but I know he was really sick. Mum’s death shattered him, and he never recovered.” He sobbed. “I begged him to. I tried to make him see thatIwas still there, even thoughshewas gone, but I couldn’t get through to him. He became a zombie and he let them take me away.” He swiped at his tears. “But none of that changes the fact that he’s my dad and I’llalwayslove him, even though thinking about him hurts like hell.”

Callum kissed Dylan’s cheeks, brushing the tears away with his lips. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s in the past,” Dylan said in a determined tone. “All I care about now is my present and my future. I’m done with being the guy who gets passed around from pillar to post. I’m done with being the guy who won’t get involved with anyone because he’s too scared of getting hurt. Right now, I’mherewithyouand I’m not going anywhere.”

“Nor am I,” Callum promised.

Dylan smiled. “That’s useful, because I’m definitely getting used to keeping you around.”

Callum laughed softly. “Your flatiscosy.”

“Oh, it’s my flat you’re after is it?”

Callum nuzzled Dylan’s face with his nose. “The guy who lives in it is pretty awesome too.”

“I like cuddling up to you at night,” Dylan said.

“Yeah, that’s pretty awesome.”

“Move in with me?”

Callum blinked and straightened his back. “What?”

“You’re here every night anyway. Move in with me?”

Callum looked over Dylan’s head to the wardrobe. “Is there room for my stuff? You have alotof clothes.” That was probably the biggest understatement of the century.

Dylan shrugged. “And you don’t. Plus, everything you have is black, so you won’t miss a few T-shirts if we can’t squeeze them in.” He winked. “I’ll make room, baby. Move in with me?”

Callum kissed him. “I’d love to.”

It was the worst possible moment for his phone to ring. His stomach somersaulted as Molly’s name popped up on the screen.