Page 115 of The Way Home

Jamie felt his stomach twist. “I’m so sorry, Caleb,” he squeaked, unable to meet his eyes. “You went to all that trouble to buy me a bike and, here I am, unable to bloody use it.”

“Sweetheart, look at me.” Caleb released his hand and broughtgentle fingers to Jamie’s jaw, guiding his gaze back. Jamie had to look over his shoulder to meet those wide brown eyes.

Holy hell, Caleb looked tired.

The light brown in his eyes seemed duller than usual, and dark circles shadowed the skin beneath them. His gaze moved carefully over Jamie’s face, and a small frown creased the space between his brows.

Jamie braced himself for Caleb to say he was done. No more biking. It was too dangerous to be having panic attacks in the road—and he wasright.He couldn’t do this again; it was too bloody dangerous.

“What do you need?” Caleb asked quietly.

Jamie’s shoulders slumped. He turned in his arms and melted forward, resting his forehead against Caleb’s neck and breathing him in.

“I just want to bike to work.” His voice came out muffled by Caleb’s collar. It was true. That’s what he wanted. He wanted to be okay enough to do the thing he loved.

A gentle hand slid into his hair and squeezed, pressing him closer. “Then I guess I’m getting a bike.”

Jamie’s head shot up. “What? Why?”

“So we can bike together until you feel comfortable on your own.” His head tilted slightly. “Would that help?”

“Yeah. It would help a ton, but—”

“Oi! Caleb, I think I parked illegally!” They both turned to see Angie jogging toward them in her Chelsea practice uniform. “Hey Jamie,” she said, slowing to a stop in front of them. The sun caught the gold in her brown hair, and there was a small, sympathetic smile on her face. “Y’alright?”

“Yeah, Ang. I’m okay.”

She nodded, though she didn’t quite look convinced. Hooking a thumb over her shoulder toward Jamie’s bike, she added, “I’ll grab this, and then do you want to get ramen? I promised Caleb a snack, and I’m starving. Driving is stressful.”

Jamie cracked a smile. “Yeah, I could eat.”

Caleb’s arms tightened around Jamie for just a moment longer,like he didn’t quite want to let go, before finally helping him to his feet.

Muttering into his ear so only Jamie could hear, Caleb said, “We’ll get you back on the road, J. I promise.”

They walked Jamie’s bike to the ramen place around the corner and ate a very early dinner.

That weekend, Calebsat at the kitchen counter with his laptop, looking at flights. He’d found a cheap bike on an online marketplace, and he had to admit, his legs were pretty damn sore from just a few park rides. But it was helping Jamie gain confidence on the road, and that’s what really mattered.

“I think I found a flight.” Caleb picked up his laptop and walked over to the couch to show Jamie.

“Yeah?” Jamie slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. He’d just woken up from a short nap. It had taken some convincing to get him to actually lie down and relax instead of stressing over his upcoming exhibit, but within minutes of hitting the couch, the man had been snoring. Caleb had taken the opportunity to go down to the apartment gym to work out.

Now, over an hour later, Jamie’s curls were sleep-rumpled, and the mid-afternoon light was streaming through the open balcony door, catching the side of his face. He looked soft and sleepy, and Caleb had the overwhelming urge to pick him up, carry him to the bedroom, and spend the rest of the day making him moan.

A plan for after his flight was booked.

As Caleb approached the couch with his computer, Jamie eyed him suspiciously. “Did you smoke?”

Shit, he forgot he smelled like cigarettes. “Uh, yeah. I went down to the gym and then stepped outside.” A creative way to say he’d beat the shit out of a punching bag and then crushed a pack.

Apparently deciding that a lecture wasn’t it for today, Jamie turned his attention to Caleb’s laptop. “So you found flights?”

“Oh, yeah. My father has a procedure on the twenty-fifth, so I’ll fly out on the twenty-third, and… I don’t know when I’ll be back. It’s a one-way flight—”

“We,” Jamie corrected firmly, reaching for his glasses on the coffee table and sliding them onto his nose.“Wewill fly out on the twenty-third.”

“J…” Caleb rounded the corner of the couch and sat down. His music hummed softly from the Bluetooth record player in the background.