Page 105 of Worth the Wait

Jack pulled back to protest, but Callum kept talking.

“If something is too much, or it hurts, I’ll tell you, but I need this. I need you this way, so much.” Callum covered Jack’s heart with his hands. “You’re my husband.”

Jack smiled. “I am.”

“So do your husbandly duties,” he pleaded, pecking Jack’s lips.

“I got it, kitten.”

Callum grinned. “Will you spend the day with me?”

“Absolutely,” Jack confirmed. “We have plans, actually.”

Callum was more excited to hear those words out of Jack’s mouth than any person should be, but the idea of getting out of the house and being with Jack was the best news he’d had in what felt like forever.

After they showered and dressed, Jack directed Callum to the couch. He sat, confused, and waited for further direction.

The doorbell rang and Jack looked at him briefly before crossing through the living room and opening the door, revealing Verity and an extremely awkward looking Aaron on the porch.

“Hey,” Jack greeted, wrapping Verity into a bear hug and shuffling them inside. Aaron followed, looking around, his expression shuttering when he saw Callum on the couch. Verity separated themself from Jack and approached Callum, holding their arms outstretched.

Callum stood and accepted the hug, awkwardly at first, but then settling into it.

“I think this is the second time you’ve hugged me,” he muttered into Verity’s shoulder. His voice was muffled since he couldn’t wrap both arms around Verity’s shoulders, his mouth buried against their shirt.

“The first one doesn’t count,” Verity replied, patting him on the back.

Callum’s spine tightened and he straightened himself, pulling away from Verity uncomfortably. They looked at him with a sort of apologetic smile before reaching their arm behind them, fingers outstretched.

Aaron stepped inside finally and grasped Verity’s hand with his.

“Thanks for coming by,” Jack said, looking to Aaron. “Both of you.” He gestured to the couch, taking a seat on the coffee table. Callum sat on the couch beside Verity and eyed Jack speculatively.

“Callum and I haven’t talked about the attack,” Jack blurted, giving Callum a look that seemed to try and project calmness as he spoke. His eyes were soft and indicated that even though he hadn’t told Callum about the visit in advance, nothing was going to go wrong.

“He knows if he wants to talk to me about what happened, he can, but I’ll never push him to disclose anything. That said, Justin has told me that I owe you both some thanks.”

Verity shifted toward Aaron and patted his chest with their hand.

“You don’t,” Aaron countered gruffly.

“Jack doesn’t owe you anything,” Callum interrupted, his heart caught in his throat. “I do.”

“You don’t,” Aaron repeated, leaning across Verity to look at Callum directly.

Callum swallowed his fear and nodded. “I do. You saved my life.”

The words left his mouth like a hushed prayer and the tightness in his muscles abated immediately with the confession so he kept talking.

“I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come outside to look for me.” He looked at Verity, who closed their eyes tightly and shook their head.

“And you,” he said to Aaron. “I didn’t…”

Callum sniffled and blinked back tears. Jack reached forward and grabbed his hand, concern and worry and pride laced through the touch.

“I didn’t see what happened,” Callum continued, “but I know what you did. I know you stopped those guys. I know you saved my life. Keith’s life.”

“I did what anyone would do,” Aaron whispered roughly.