Page 65 of The Deviation

He nods.

“Besides, Ned will kill me if I get you fired.”

Laughter bursts out of him. “It’s entirely possible. Also, I kind of like bossing you around.”

“I like it, too.”

There’s a comfortable pause as we lay in the darkness, wrapped in each other’s presence.

“I’ll have to tell Hannah.”

I snort a laugh. “Hannah already knows.”

“That we’re official,” he clarifies.

“She’ll be happy for us?”

He grimaces. “Disturbingly happy.” Turning my hand over, he traces his fingertips along the lines of my palm. The light tickle sends tiny sparks of pleasure skittering up my forearm.

“Your parents?” he asks.

My stomach swoops and I bite down on my bottom lip. I hadn’t even thought of them yet. This is all happening so fast. A couple of hours ago I planned never to tell them anything and now… “I think maybe I should hold off telling them.” My throat constricts as I say the words. Tendrils of shame weave their way into every limb. I want to tell everyone else. I want to scream my love for this man to all who will listen. But when it comes to my parents… “I don’t know how they’ll react, what will change.”

How will they look at me when they find out the truth of who I really am? When they realise how poorly the son they’re stuck with stacks up against the miracle child they imagined me to be.

“It’s okay if you’re not ready,” Calum says quietly, clutching my hand tighter. “I don’t want to come between you and your parents. Not ever.”

“I will tell them,” I assure him. “When we go public?”

He nods. “Wait until then.”

“Okay.” The relief of having a reprieve only makes the shame burn hotter and I latch on to a change of topic. “That leaves the band. I don’t know if any of them suspect. No one has said anything.”

“Toni suspects.” He reminds me about the iced tea incident.

“Holy crap.” Groaning, I cover my face with my free hand. “I was so convinced we were flying under the radar.”

“Not so much,” he says with a chuckle. “I didn’t confirm, of course. He swore he wouldn’t say anything.”

I sigh. This is more complicated than I thought it would be.

“Let’s wait with them, too,” he says after a while.

“Why?”

Rolling onto his back, he stares up at the darkened ceiling. “Because, despite everything, this is still new. What if it doesn’t work out? Now we’ve given in, you might realise you’re not as into me as you thought.”

I frown. “That’s not going to happen.”

“It could.”

“It won’t.” Lifting up on one elbow, I move closer, until I’m flush against his side. “Cal, babe, I know myself. I know the way my heart works and it belongs to you now. If this is to end, it won’t be me who walks away.”

He smiles at me, nods at my words, but there’s no hiding the doubt in his eyes. I’m not surprised. Why would he trust anyone to stay after what his parents did? I don’t bother belabouring the point. It would make no difference. The proof of my words will have to come with time. And time is what I plan to give.

TWENTY-SEVEN

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