Page 51 of Unscripted Love
“I hired movers to box and move what I was taking, and the furniture store will deliver and set up the furniture I ordered. All I’ll have to do is unpack the boxes. You know what’s scary?” I asked Gabe.
“A thirty-year mortgage?” he asked.
I laughed because it was partly true. “There is that, but I was talking about how little I’ve accumulated in almost forty years. I didn’t take much with me when I moved to Florida and didn’t bring much back. Do you think it’s odd?”
“I think you’ve never felt settled and kept things light in case you needed to move again,” Gabe said. “I don’t think you’re odd; I think you’re cautious.”
“Hmm,” I said, turning that over in my mind. “I think you’re right. The rental house on Bay Street never felt like home, so I never felt the desire to drag a bunch of stuff home.” My relationships in the past had always been safe also. I never really put myself out there the way I wanted to do with Chaz.
“I bet that changes now that you and Chaz are moving to the new place,” Gabe said. Chaz and I never talked about moving in together, but I didn’t bother correcting Gabe. I thought maybe I should take Chaz on a real date first before I asked him to move in with me. We’d been flirting with one another for so long that people thought we were a couple longer than we were.
“How’s the expectant mother doing?” I asked Gabe. I still couldn’t believe he and Josh were a few months away from having twins. They’d both been a little nervous about making a good impression on the young lady, but I wasn’t at all surprised when she chose Gabe and Josh as the adoptive parents.
“Renee and the babies are all doing well. She’s having an ultrasound next month, and we’re going to fly down to be there. It’s that 3-D or 4-D technology so you can see the little details of their faces. We can’t wait,” Gabe said. I could see his excitement in his expression and hear it in his voice. He and Josh were going to be phenomenal parents.
“I heard there was another break-in at the pharmacy last night. Do you guys think it was the same person who broke into my animal hospital?”
“It looks like the same person,” he answered. “They couldn’t get what they wanted so they trashed the place. We’re investigating both break-ins, but so far there are no leads or witnesses.” Gabe shook his head. “I can’t believe the small businesses in this town don’t have security cameras.” He pinned me with a look because I didn’t install one until after my break-in.
“We’re still operating under the false ideal that a small town equals a safe town,” I replied. “This town looks identical to the one I grew up in, yet, I hardly recognize it.” We just had to do a better job of adapting to the changing times.
The new part-time waitress, Alice, set Gabe’s large carryout bag on the countertop in front of him. “Here you go, Detective.”
“That’s a lot of food for two people,” I remarked.
“We’re eating for four now,” Gabe said teasingly. “I picked up a few things for Adrian and Sally Ann too. Adrian and little Adrianna both have a terrible cold or respiratory infection, and Sally Ann could use a break.” Gabe had loved his partner and wife from the first moment they met. Adrian had become like a brother to Gabe, and I knew Adrian felt the same way. “We’re expecting an invite to your new house soon. After you break it in proper, of course.” Gabe had winked before he walked away.
I headed to my new house once my food was ready to set the atmosphere for Chaz’s arrival. I knew my family would’ve hauled ass over, so I came right out and told them that I planned a special night with my guy. Of course, that started my mom on a round of “why haven’t we officially met him,” or “are you ashamed of us, Kyle Gregory?” I ended up promising my mom that Chaz and I would be over for brunch on Sunday morning without even asking him first. I’d seen that backfire a hundred times with my parents and knew better than to pull a stunt like that. I decided to wait until he was lying against me like a limp noodle after sex before I brought it up.
I lit the candles and set them on the fireplace mantel and hearth and in the four corners of the family room to create a romantic, circle of light. In the center, I spread a blanket on the gleaming hardwood floors and tossed some fluffy pillows on top of it. I had everything I needed except my guy. Chaz arrived carrying a wrapped gift box and wearing a huge smile.
“Hi, handsome,” he said. “Do you mind going out to the car and grabbing my suitcase?” I blinked at him in confusion, which made him burst into a fit of laughter. “Gabe told Josh, who then told me, that you said I was moving in with you.”
I shook my head slowly. “I never said that; Gabe did. I just didn’t correct his assumptions.”
“Don’t worry,” Chaz said with an easy smile. “I was just teasing about the suitcase, but I did bring you a lovely housewarming gift.” He shook the box as if I didn’t see it in his hands. “Are you going to give me a tour?”
“Would you mind if we ate first?”
“You know that I’m always ready to eat,” Chaz said. He tucked the gift beneath his arm, and I laced my fingers with his and led him to the family room. “Oh, Kyle,” Chaz whispered in awe, “this is beautiful.”
“Not cheesy?” I asked. I wasn’t sure if other dudes liked that sort of thing, but I wanted to do something to make the night special.
“Perfect,” Chaz said.
We sat facing each other in the center of the blanket while we ate our diner food. I enjoyed a turkey burger with chipotle aioli and steamed veggies while Chaz wolfed down a bacon cheeseburger and onion rings. Chaz was as vocal and exuberant while eating food as he was during sex. I had meant to feed him and give him the grand tour before I stripped his clothes off and broke in the house properly in front of a roaring fire. The moans, groans, and “so good” coming from his lips made my dick hard, and it demanded attention. By the time we finished eating, I’d forgotten all about any plan that didn’t include getting him naked as soon as possible.
I refused Chaz’s offer to help clean up the mess and told him to sip his wine and relax against the pillows. When I returned, he was sitting cross-legged in the center of the blanket with the gift he brought in front of him.
“Open it!”
I wanted to open his jeans and rip off his shirt, but I could see how excited and proud he was of the gift he bought for me. His enthusiasm was infectious, and I hastily ripped the wrapping off the package. The box I uncovered was plain brown cardboard with no advertising and didn’t give a hint about the contents inside. Chaz practically levitated off the blanket with excited anticipation.
“Oh man, I hope you love it,” he said nervously.
“I’m going to love it because you gave it to me,” I replied as I peeled the tape off the top of the box. I gasped when I pulled open the flaps and looked inside. “Oh my God! Chaz! It’s just like the one I had as a kid!” I lifted the metal X-Men lunchbox up and held it in front of me. “I can’t believe you remembered that story.”
“I’ll never forget the adorable pout in your voice when you talked about how your momaccidentallysold your lunchbox in the annual community yard sale,” Chaz said. “I think I loved the little air quotes you used even more.”