“Yeah, she is. Usually. I’ll talk to her when I get home.”

Then a horrible thought occurs to me.

“Um, Axel. She won’t say anything, will she? To my grandparents, I mean.”

“No, she wouldn’t do anything like that. She’s got a gay son, she knows you can’t assume that someone is out, or even if they are, that they’re out to everyone.”

I’m still worried, and it must show on my face, because Axel gives my thigh a reassuring squeeze, “If it makes you feel better, I’ll tell her you’re not out yet. She won’t out you, no matter what she feels about you staying over.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you think your grandparents will be up yet?”

“I don’t know. They usually get up around 6am, I think. Unless they can’t sleep.”

“Let’s hope they haven’t broken their routine today then.”

"Why does your mum even get up so early? I nearly had a heart attack when I saw her!"

"Oh, she does yoga on the beach at sunrise several days a week. It must be one of those days," Axel tells me as he pulls into my grandparents' driveway. "I'd forgotten about that. But seriously, it's not a problem. I'm allowed to have anyone I want stay over."

"Just so long as she doesn't say anything..." I frown.

“Don't worry, she won't. Want me to drive down to the house?” he asks.

“No. The sound of the car might wake them. And anyway, I want to be able to say goodbye properly.”

Axel puts the transmission in Park and turns the engine off. Undoing my seatbelt, I climb up on the seat and throw a leg over him, straddling him. Our faces are close enough for our noses to bump and I search his eyes. I see nothing but happiness and affection.

Leaning in, I close the gap and softly press my lips to his, which respond to my silent request and open for me. My tongue licks into his mouth, and we share the taste of each other, breathe the same air, and I try to show him with my kiss how much he means to me.

When we break apart, we’re both panting, and yes, we’re both hard. Axel slides his hand over my crotch.

“Think of me when you take care of this?”

“Of course.”

Reluctantly, and a few kisses later, I head down the drive. I enter the house quietly using my front door key. No-one is stirring. With a sigh of relief, I make it to my room without alerting anyone to my late arrival home, and I tumble into bed.

I have a ton of beautiful memories that make me smile as I remember everything that has happened over the last few hours. I’m ridiculously happy and I’ve never been so excited for the future as I am right now.

I slide my hand into my boxers and think of Axel as I comply with his last request, and then drift off to sleep with a smile on my lips.

Chapter 12

Reality Check

AXEL

I’m not exacting bouncing when I walk in the door after returning from dropping Justin home. Mainly because I don’t tend to show my emotions all that much. But I’m on a definite high and I feel so light. I’ve made up with my boyfriend – although we haven’t talked about it, heismy boyfriend now – and he’s forgiven me for my cowardly disappearing stunt, and I am so excited andoptimistic. The sun is rising, the birds are calling, and I have a stunning, cute, sexy boyfriend who I’m really into, and who is really into me. Age difference be damned, it doesn’t matter. We are so good together, I don’t even notice it. We only parted ten minutes ago, but I can’t wait to see him again.

I am so happy.

Which makes it all the more confusing to find my mother waiting for me in a fury.

“What were you thinking?” she demands, the minute I step into the house.

“W-What do you mean?” She’s caught me off guard. My head is all fuzzy with endorphins and she’s in a rage. It makes no sense.