Page 416 of Sticks and Stones
Honestly, he couldn’t bear to look them right now. Maybe later, he’d deal with it.
“We’ll be back as soon as we can. If you need me, Corby, or Gene, call us.”
Oh, he would.
“Ethan?”
He waited.
“Thank you for going to Will and telling him about it. Thank you for loving me enough that you’d risk me being angry over it.”
There was silence.
“Are you angry?” he finally asked. “Because I’m shit when it comes to relationships, Corbin. I did what I thought Gene would do. I hope I didn’t make you hate me for telling Will about what happened. I wanted to help you, because I could see how much he loves you, and how much you love him.”
He didn’t hate him.
In fact, it was the absolute opposite.
“I feel even more for the two of you. Thank you, EJ. I love you,” he said.
The man was grateful.
“We love you, too, Corbin,” he said, able to say it so much easier now than before Gene. “We’ll check-in. Stay safe,” he said, and then hung up.
Taking his phone, he went to sit on the couch to wait for Will. While he was sitting, he opened his phone, and saw that he had messages.
Opening the app, he read over them.
One was from his mother.
‘I love you, Corbin, and when you’re ready, let us know. We won’t pressure you and force you to face us. Just know that Dad and I are in your corner no matter what. Thank you for being my son. You’ve been nothing but my miracle. I love you.
Mom.’
It brought tears to his eyes.
Closing the message, he saw Will’s name, and he opened the messages. They’d been read, but not by him.
As soon as he read them, he started to cry. He’d almost given this up.
He’d almost let the man walk out of his life over his fears, and for that, he felt like an ass. He should have known Will would stick.
When he heard knocking on the door, he went to it, and peeked out the peephole.
It was Will.
When he opened it, the man smiled at him.
“Flower delivery for A Corbin Price,” he said, handing him a bunch of roses.
That caught him off guard.
“You don’t have to tip the delivery guy,” he teased, coming into the condo.
After he locked the door, and turned, he didn’t get to say anything before Corbin was on him.
Hugging him.
