Page 116 of The Way Home

“I’m going, Caleb.” Jamie turned fully toward him, pulling one leg up against his chest. “I said I was going with you, and I am.”

“J, come on.” Caleb pinched the bridge of his nose. “Your exhibit is that weekend. I already feel like shit that I’ll be missing it and the team’s last game—”

“I planned the bloody exhibit, but I don’t have to be there. JB can handle it.” Jamie nodded decisively. “And Clarence.”

“You hate Clarence.”

Jamie scrunched up his nose like a child being forced to eat a vegetable. “I don’t hate Clarence. He’s just a little slimy, is all.”

“You’re not missing your exhibit, Jamie. You’ve worked so hard.”

“And you’re not going to see your family alone.”

When Caleb sighed and looked up, Jamie’s bright green eyes were locked onto him—wide and stubborn, and leaving no room for argument.

“Do you understand that my father will not be nice to you?” Caleb said carefully. “He’ll be a dick. So will Bri, probably. I don’t want to put you in that position.”

“He’s going to be a dick to you, too.”

“Yes, but—”

“Butwhat?”Jamie snapped. The sudden sharpness in his voice startled Caleb. Jamie almost never raised his voice. “You get to take care of me?” Jamie continued, his voice climbing as he leaned closer. “You take me to doctor’s appointments, you drive me everywhere, you buy me a bloody bike and spend afternoons at the park with me until I’m comfortable again—” He started ticking off his fingers. “But what? I don’t get to do anything for you?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Yes, it is.” Jamie’s cheeks were pink now, his curls falling into his eyes as he jabbed a finger toward the laptop screen. “I love you, and I want to do this for you. I am your—” He stopped himself abruptly. His shoulders fell as the anger drained from him, and his eyes became watery. “I’m your partner,” he finished quietly. “This is what partners do for each other.”

Caleb felt something squeeze painfully in the center of his chest. “Okay.”

Jamie’s lips twitched, the faintest flicker of triumph. He stood, grabbed Caleb’s laptop off the table, and shoved it into his lap.

“Then two tickets to America, please.”

Letting out a quiet breath through his nose, Caleb returned to the kitchen table and opened the airline page again. Jamie settled back onto the couch, grabbing his book from the side table and tucking one leg beneath him.

Two tickets from London to Pittsburgh, plus a rental car to drive to Youngstown. Seeing Jamie’s name next to his made some of the bone-deep dread dissipate. The trip still made him want to vomit, but knowing he’d get to hold Jamie at the end of each day helped.

For some reason, it felt like it might be different if Jamie had a ring on his finger. Like if they were officially engaged again—if there was something visible there—his dad might keep his mouth shut. Might treat Jamie like family instead of just… Caleb’s boyfriend.

It was a stupid thought, because no amount of jewelry could define his love for Jamie. But, still. He knew his father and could safely assume there would be some nasty comments about it.

Across the room, Jamie’s nose had already disappeared into his book. A few minutes later, he stretched his arms above his head, showing a sliver of pale skin, then padded barefoot across the apartment and stepped out onto the balcony. Caleb could see him through the open door, crouching down beside the little row of pots.

“Alright, how are we doing today?” Jamie murmured to the plants. Caleb snorted under his breath and clicked confirm purchase.

Something he’d always loved about Jamie was how focused he was on what was currently in front of him. Surrounded by peopleglued to their phones, Jamie would stare up at a tree or sniff a flower. It was one of the billion things Caleb adored about him

It was precious seeing how invested Jamie got each year in his little herb garden Caleb planted for him. This year, though, he was extra excited, probably because it felt new to him. Staring out the balcony door, Caleb simply watched Jamie for a moment. The way the late afternoon sun lit up his curls and the soft linen shirt.

God, he loved that man.

Rubbing his jaw, he pondered offering Jamie a slow, lazy blowjob after this. It felt like that kind of day.

His phone buzzed against the coffee table, and he jogged over to pick it up.

“Hey Ang—”

“Caleb.” Her voice sounded upset. Glancing at the clock, he remembered that they had a team meeting today to go over film. It had probably just ended.