Page 104 of The Way Home

Jamie reached over and rested a hand on his bicep. “I know the kids’ camp is important to you, Caleb. But is itmoreimportant than standing up for yourself?”

Caleb hesitated. “Camp is my only shot at working with the kids.” His gaze flicked to the rain-streaked window, suddenly embarrassed. “And I’ve been thinking about maybe going back to school. It would look good on my resume to… you know, work with kids. If I want to study pediatrics.”

A surprised intake of breath as Jamie’s hand slipped back to his own lap. It was the first time he’d admitted out loud that he’d been considering applying to medical school, and Caleb could practically hear the gears turning in Jamie’s brain.

“Oh,” Jamie said quietly. “So you think if you upset Halcombe, he will pull you from camp? And then you won’t have that for your resume.”

“Maybe.”

“But that’s precisely the problem, isn’t it?” Jamie’s hand returned, this time settling on Caleb’s shoulder. “He’s saying this stuff because he knows he has power over you. It’s…” Jamie huffed, and Caleb wanted to kiss him for caring so much.

“It’s not the same as my dad, J.” A lump rose in Caleb’s throat as he slowed down to turn into Jamie’s childhood neighborhood. “It’s really not.”

Silence filled the car as Jamie stroked the back of Caleb’s neck with gentle fingers. “I told you I’d protect you, Caleb. And this man is hurting you. He’s attacking who you are and using it to control you.” His thumb brushed the skin at Caleb’s collar. “Will you just read the email? That’s all I’m asking.”

They pulled into the driveway as the rain eased to a drizzle and the familiar house came into view. The lump in his throat loosened at the sight of Jamie’s childhood home.

As Caleb parked, he let the engine idle for a second. “Fine. I’ll read it.” Kicking himself for putting a damper on Jamie’s birthday celebration, he added, “I promise.”

Before anything else could be said, the front door flew open, andthe entire Collins family poured outside, rushing toward the car and effectively ending the conversation.

“Oi!” Benji and Sam slapped Jamie on the shoulder and dragged him into a crushing brotherly hug as a chorus ofhappy birthdayandyou’re so old, ya wankerfilled the driveway. Through the chaos of rowdy Brits, Jamie caught Caleb’s eye, his expression clearly saying:This conversation isn’t over.

Maggie swooped in next, wrapping Caleb in a hug that smelled like sage and fresh bread. Over her shoulder, his gaze drifted to the window boxes—dead flowers drooping sadly over the brick.

Jamie inherited his black thumb from his mother. The neat row of giant blue recycling bins along the side of the house, however, was proof of something else Jamie got from her: his fierce love for the environment.

Despite the lifeless flowers and the rain-soaked bins, the house itself looked beautifully charming in the drizzle. From the moment Jamie had brought Caleb here to meet his family, he’d fallen in love with the quaint brick house. And it hit Caleb then, standing there in the rain, that the last time he’d been here, his life felt like it was ending.

This house had once felt like the safest place in the world—a place he couldopenlylove Jamie. After the accident, it had felt like a waiting room for loss. Every visit had carried the debilitating fear that it might be the last time Jamie let him stay. That Jamie would heal and move on without him.

But now Jamie was laughing, getting crushed in one of Pippa’s bear hugs, curls damp and glasses fogged up by rain.

Caleb let out a slow breath. None of the bullshit with Halcombe, or even his dad, mattered the waythisdid. If he had Jamie, he could survive the rest.

“Y’alright, Caleb?” Maggie asked softly as she pulled back from the hug. “Things seem to be going a bit better, yeah?”

Her gaze flicked to Jamie and back again. Caleb nodded, blinking away the sting behind his eyes. “Yeah, Maggie. They’re great.”

“Here.” Jamie shovedhis phone into Caleb’s hand before he could escape. “Read it.”

Caleb let out a heavy sigh but took it. “Jamie…”

“Ah! You promised.” Jamie pointed his finger sternly. Even with the skeptical look on his face, Caleb’s eyes began scanning the screen, and Jamie couldn’t stop the hopeful smile tugging at his mouth. At least he was actually reading it.

Jamie wasn’t one to put his foot down very often—JB always said he let everyone walk all over him—but it was only because he trusted Caleb. Jamie was happy to follow his lead.

Not today, though. Jamie would be damned if he let some arsehole walk over his man.

As Caleb scrolled, Pippa plopped down beside Jamie and leaned dramatically into his arm. Shifting his weight back, he reached his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.

“Ya having a good birthday?” she asked.

He lifted his jam tart in a little cheers. “The best, obviously.”

“Well,” she said, drawing out thel, “we have one more surprise for you out back. Actually, Caleb does.”

“Way to keep it a surprise, Pip,” Caleb muttered without looking up from Jamie’s phone. The email was clearly longer than he’d expected. Pippa elbowed Jamie in the ribs and waggled her eyebrows before hopping off the couch when Maggie called her into the kitchen.