Page 27 of Fighting Fate

Baylor chuckled as he crossed the room. “First off, you as a bear daddy. Mmm. Yum. Secondly, I don’t know that I’m naturally small as much as I was just starved as a kid.” He stole a kiss.

Chipper had learned Baylor didn’t say things, digging for pity. He was just straightforward. “Do you want a piece of cake too? I’d never let you go hungry.”

Baylor eyed his plate. “Can I just have a bite of yours?”

Chipper huffed. “You know damn well you want more than one bite.”

Baylor’s serious expression never wavered. It was like this was an important decision for him. “Can I have yours if I fix you another slice?”

He had no clue why it mattered, but he didn’t care. Chipper shrugged. “Sure.”

They headed for the kitchen.

Chipper sat while Baylor moved around the kitchen, getting out a second plate.

“Do you plan to tell me where you went?”

“I went to see Freddie and Micah.”

Chipper assumed he meant their graves. “Okay. You could’ve just said that. I would’ve understood.”

Baylor worked with his back to Chipper. “I know, but I needed to talk to them. Work some things out in my head.”

Chipper wasn’t so sure he wanted any more cake. They were back to him, feeling inferior. His appetite vanished. He would never let Baylor see that. It wasn’t Baylor’s fault he felt insecure. Chipper had known the score going in. “Did it help you work things out?”

“No. Rhorey did, though.”

Chipper’s eyebrows shot up. It was taking Baylor forever to slice a single piece of cake. Chipper wanted him to sit down and talk to him. “Rhorey? Where in the hell did you see Rhorey?”

Baylor laughed. “I know. The world is small as hell. When Corey said he lived in Florida, I had no idea he meant the same small-ass town Freddie was born in. That’s where he’s buried,” Baylor explained unnecessarily. He turned with a plate in hand and swapped plates with Chipper. “Oh. It gets better. It turns out Rhett’s first year of teaching at the high school, Freddie was in his class.”

“Damn. You met the pretty boy, huh?”

Baylor blinked, as if he had no idea what Chipper meant.

Chipper pulled a disbelieving face. “Come on, now. I’ve seen the guy. You don’t have to hold back.”

A smile exploded across Chipper’s face as Baylor broke. “Holy hell. Why is he so pretty? It’s unnatural. I can’t even imagine Corey meeting him. Not that I don’t think Corey could get someone like him. It’s just Corey is so serious.”

“He’s autistic.”

“Oh.” Baylor looked thoughtful for a second. “That explains a lot, actually. But still, Corey must’ve been fucking dying inside when Rhett looked his way.”

Chipper knew this story. He didn’t mind regaling Baylor with the tea. “Well, see…” Chipper’s voice died as he dropped his gaze to his plate to take a bite. It had a ring sticking out of the top. His chin lifted. His brain refused to work.

Baylor stood and moved to his side. He dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me? People will think we’re nuts, but I learned a very important lesson three years ago. Life can be ripped away from you at any moment. Waiting when you really want something is stupid. It might not be there tomorrow. So what do you say? Want to do something completely crazy with me and get married?”

Chipper couldn’t fucking believe it. He definitely thought he would have to beg for years to convince Baylor to take that big of a risk on him. He was blown away. Chipper wanted to ask if he was fucking with him, but he wasn’t that dumb. He knew Baylor would never do this unless he was a hundred percent sure. “Yeah. I want that more than anything.” He snatched Baylor off the floor and stood, squeezing him and stealing kisses. Baylor wrapped his legs around him and held on every bit as tightly.

“I love you.” He kissed Baylor hard. “Goddamn. I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you too.” Baylor forced him to soften, leading him into a sweet kiss. When Chipper couldn’t handle it anymore, he threw Baylor over his shoulder.

“Hey. I actually wanted that cake.”

Chipper put his ring in his mouth and sucked it clean as he grabbed his plate with the bigger piece and headed down the hall. He would personally feed his soon-to-be husband. Fuck. He hoped Baylor wanted all the bells and whistles. Chipper wanted the whole world to know Baylor was his. He tossed Baylor on the bed and set the cake on the bedside table. With his hands free, he took the ring from his mouth and tried it on. It was a little snug, but he gave no fucks. Baylor wanted to marry him.

His throat suddenly swelled. Someone wanted to keep him. Forever. He couldn’t breathe.

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