Page 9

Chapter nine

Clayton

Clayton woke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, Sawyer curled up in his arms, their breaths slow and even. He brushed a strand of hair from Sawyer’s forehead, smiling as his sleepy eyes fluttered open. “Morning,” Clayton murmured, his voice low and warm. “Today’s the big day.”

Sawyer stretched, a small yawn escaping him. “Lodi Pride Camp,” he said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “I can’t believe it’s finally here.”

“Me either,” Clayton replied, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. “Weather’s perfect for it too. You ready?”

Sawyer nodded, though Clayton noticed the faintest trace of hesitation in his eyes. “Yeah, I think so. Just…nervous, I guess.”

Clayton leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to Sawyer’s temple. “You’ll be great. And I’ll be right there with you, okay?”

“I’m going to shower and dress, then I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” Sawyer jumped out of bed and raced down the hallway.

Clayton stretched lazily, savoring the quiet of the house before padding to the bathroom. The hot water from the shower rolled over his skin, waking him fully and washing away the last remnants of sleep. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he moved back to the bedroom and rifled through the neatly folded clothes on the dresser he had laid out the night before. He chose jeans and a comfortable shirt before heading for the kitchen. In the kitchen, he started frying up bacon and eggs and toasting bread for breakfast while Sawyer made the coffee beside him. He handed Clayton his coffee and was thanked with a tender kiss on his lips.

“I love kissing you, Sawyer.”

A wide grin stretched across his face as he pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. Clayton placed a plate of toast on the table.

Clayton leaned against the counter, his eyes fixed on Sawyer, who was carefully spreading butter on his toast. There was a quiet focus to Sawyer’s movements, a kind of intensity Clayton found endearing.

“Excited?” Clayton asked as he slid into the chair across from Sawyer.

Sawyer nodded, though there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “Yeah, I am.”

Clayton reached across the table and placed his hand gently over Sawyer’s. “It’s a big step. But you’ve got me by your side the whole time. I’m not going anywhere.”

Sawyer’s eyes met Clayton’s, searching his face as if looking for reassurance. “I know. That’s what makes it easier.”

Clayton gave his hand a gentle squeeze, letting the quiet warmth of the moment linger between them. But something weighed on his mind—something he knew they needed to discuss before leaving for camp.

“Hey,” Clayton began softly, his voice steady but thoughtful. “Can we talk about something?”

Sawyer set his toast down and leaned in slightly, curiosity on his face. “Of course. What’s up?”

Clayton took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “I’ve been thinking about us—about how things have been going. And I just…I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Sawyer tilted his head, watching him closely.

“I care about you so much,” Clayton said, his voice filled with emotion. “And I’m so proud of everything you’ve been doing—not just for us, but for yourself. Having you here, sharing all of this with you…it means everything to me.”

A small smile touched Sawyer’s lips, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in his expression.

“But I also know this is all new for you,” Clayton continued, his hand still resting over Sawyer’s. “And I don’t want us to rush. I don’t want to overwhelm you or push us into something too fast. I don’t want to lose you because we didn’t take the time to let things happen naturally.”

“Is that because I don’t turn you on?”

“I’ve wanted to make love to you since I saw you behind the counter, but I didn’t know you enough to make an attempt. The thing is, I can wait and dream about you.”

Sawyer’s eyes softened, and he nodded slowly. “I’ve been thinking about that too,” he admitted. “Everything with you—it feels right, Clayton. But sometimes it’s…a lot. Not in a bad way, just…new.”

Clayton smiled, his heart aching with love and understanding. “I get it. That’s why I think we should take things slow. There’s no rush, Sawyer. We have all the time in the world to figure things out together.”

Sawyer exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For understanding. For being patient with me.”

“Always,” Clayton replied, his tone warm and reassuring. “I’m here for you. No matter what.”

Sawyer smiled then—a real, genuine smile that lit up his entire face. In that moment, Clayton knew they were exactly where they needed to be—together, aligned, and ready to face whatever came next.

Their bags were already packed and waiting by the front door ready for the trip, so after breakfast, they headed out to Clayton’s motorcycle. Clayton had taken the larger items earlier in the week. Sawyer climbed behind him, his arms wrapping tightly around Clayton’s waist as the engine roared to life.

“Hold on tight,” Clayton called over his shoulder, a playful grin on his face as they sped off toward the campground.

When they arrived, the place was already buzzing with activity. It was a poignant moment for both of them, but Clayton knew it was an even bigger step for Sawyer. This would be the first time he had fully embraced such an open, affirming space. Joy swelled in Clayton’s chest, mixed with a touch of concern. Clayton took charge of checking everyone in, his confident demeanor putting people at ease. Sawyer stayed close, handing out name tags and helping with the equipment checklist. At one point, Sawyer fumbled with a clipboard, dropping it clumsily. Clayton caught it mid-air, handing it back with a teasing smirk. “Smooth,” he said, chuckling.

Sawyer rolled his eyes but laughed. “Shut up. I’m still waking up.”

Once the check-in was done, Clayton grabbed Sawyer’s hand. “Come on, yoga’s starting. You’re going to love it.”

They unrolled their mats side by side, then the instructor guided them through the first few poses. Clayton moved with ease, his body fluid and relaxed, while Sawyer struggled a bit, wobbling during the downward dog. Clayton glanced over, stifling a laugh. “You good over there?”

With a playful, mock glare, Sawyer’s eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m fine. This is just…harder than it looks.”

Clayton shifted closer, gently adjusting Sawyer’s stance. “Here, bend your knees a little. It’ll help.” Sawyer followed his lead, and Clayton grinned. “See? You’re a natural.”

After the session, they grabbed coffee and found a quiet spot under a tree. Sawyer sipped his drink, his expression thoughtful. “That was…actually kind of fun. Even if I looked like a baby deer learning to walk.”

Clayton laughed, bumping his shoulder against Sawyer’s. “You did great. Seriously. How are you feeling about everything so far?”

Sawyer hesitated, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup. “I don’t know. It’s a lot of people. I guess I’m just worried I won’t fit in.”

Clayton set his coffee down and turned to face him fully. “You’re here because you belong. And I’m not going anywhere, okay? You’ve got me,” he said, his tone firm but gentle.

Sawyer looked up, meeting Clayton’s gaze. “You promise?”

“I promise,” Clayton said without hesitation. He reached out, lacing their fingers together. “I’m thrilled we’re doing this together. You make everything better, you know that?”

A small smile tugged at Sawyer’s lips, and he squeezed Clayton’s hand. “Yeah, I know. You’re not so bad yourself.”

Clayton grinned, pulling Sawyer into a quick hug. “Come on, let’s go see what’s next. This week’s going to be amazing.”

As they walked back toward the group, Clayton kept his arm slung casually over Sawyer’s shoulders, his touch steady and reassuring. Sawyer leaned into him, the earlier tension in his shoulders gone. For Clayton, there was no place he’d rather be—right here, right now, with Sawyer by his side.