Page 19 of Chasing You

Kash squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m not going to argue with you, but I’m also not dating. I don’t know that I ever will. That’s not even important to me right now.”

“I get it,” Adele said. “I was being an irrational asshole, I know.”

Kash let out a watery laugh. “Yeah, you were. But you’re my irrational asshole, right?”

“Always. I will always be yours,” Adele murmured.

It killed him not to hear those words the way he wanted. But this would have to be good enough. He took a breath, then sat up straighter. His toes were finally starting to unclench, and he dug his socks into the grass, not giving a shit about stains. “If you’re coming with, we have to leave Sunday. My first appointment is Monday. Is that enough time to get your shifts covered?”

“Let me make some calls. Ridge can cover some of them, and I know there are a few guys who’ve wanted extra hours. They’ll be sending you muffin baskets for the OT.”

Kash laughed again, then held out his hands, which were trembling from his rush of adrenaline. “Help me up?”

Adele hopped to his feet, and Kash ignored the pulse of envy in his bones as both of Adele’s hands clasped over his and hauled him up. Kash immediately lost his balance, but Adele caught him against his chest.

“Hey.”

Kash looked up at him, ears burning. “Sorry.”

Adele shook his head. “No sorries. Not ever. Okay?”

Taking a breath, Kash straightened, then looked off into the distance. There were cars on the road. Someone was walking a dog. Someone was pushing a stroller. A couple was in their driveway talking. Someone was on the phone pacing in front of their mailbox. He had no idea how good or bad their lives were. Maybe one of them was dealing with the same fear he was. Maybe none of them were. It was Schrödinger’s box of health problems.

People were going about their lives with everything and nothing wrong.

So maybe he wasn’t special at all. Or maybe he was the most unique man in the universe. He doubted he’d ever get an answer.

“Okay?” Adele pressed again, clearly wanting a response.

“Whatever you say,” he finally answered and managed a smile.

Adele cradled his face and kissed him on the forehead. “Come on, you can help me pack. You always do a better job than I do.”

And that was true.

He did.

“No parties.”

“Dad—”

“No unprotected sex. No booze. No drugs.”

“Dad!”

“I have spies literally all over this neighborhood. Eyes everywhere. And I mean everywhere. There are no safe spaces this weekend.”

“I kind of want to make a prosthetic eyes joke right now,” Lucas muttered.

“Save it,” Adele said. “This goes for both of you. This place better be in better shape than the way I left it. And the two of you better not have a scratch on you.”

“Excuse me, sir, I can’t commit to that,” Lucas said, raising a hand like he was in school. “I fall a lot.”

Gage laughed, and Kash held his smile behind his hand so he could at least attempt solidarity with his best friend. It was wild watching him parent Gage like this, especially when he thought back to all the fuckery they got up to when they were kids.

The difference was Adele hadn’t come from a loving home. Not like this. Not even close. Kash had never wondered which way Adele was going to go, though, when it came to having a child. He remembered the look on his face the first time he held Gage in his arms. It was love at first sight, and Kash knew right then Adele was going to be the best dad on the planet. Gage would never know a single second of not being loved.

“I think they’ve earned your trust,” Kash said, cutting in.

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