Read Online Of Love by Sean Michael - Free Book Online Page B

again. Calling him back. Okay. Okay. Be an adult. “’Lo?”
    “Kent? Don’t just hang up, okay? I just… can I come see you?”
    “I threw up. I might be sick, and you have your race. I think it was just nerves, but I can’t be sure.”
    Dex sighed. “How sure are you that it was nerves?”
    “Pretty sure. I don’t like being in trouble.”
    “I’m sorry I upset you. I’ll come see you. Give me fifteen.”
    “Are you sure?” He didn’t want to see Dex if Dex didn’t want to see him.
    “I’m sure. See you soon, sweet.” The line went dead.
    Kent brushed his teeth, wiped down the bathroom, and sprayed Lysol.
    It didn’t seem very long at all before there was a knock at the door. He had coffee made, and he found himself shaking as he went to the door. Dex had a warm smile for him and opened his arms. He went, because they might not be partners yet, but they were lovers and friends.
    Dex hugged him tight. “Did we just have our first fight?”
    “I think so.”
    “I’m sorry. You just surprised me,” Dex told him.
    “I didn’t…. I wasn’t hiding it from you. We weren’t together when I did it. Into a cup. Not her.”
    “So you’re having a kid. I just… I’m trying to wrap my head around it, you know?” Dex sounded sincere.
    They moved to the couch, Dex sitting close with an arm around his shoulders.
    “I… I know. I mean, I want a family, and I hadn’t had a relationship with anyone for a long time….” He had everything he needed to provide for a child.
    “Wow. Bringing up a kid on your own. That’s a huge commitment. Like, eighteen years and a ton of money huge.”
    “Yeah, I know, but I have it, and I… I don’t know how to explain.”
    “I can’t say I understand wanting a rug rat underfoot full-time,” Dex admitted.
    Oh. Well, better to know now than to get deeper than he was and break his heart. “That’s understandable. Not everyone wants to have kids. I get that.”
    Dex didn’t let go of him, still cuddling. “It’s just not something I’ve ever thought about. I mean… I’m gay, you know?”
    “Yeah. Yeah, I know. Me too. That’s why I went the turkey baster way. I’m going to be a good dad.” He was. No matter who didn’t get why.
    “Yeah, actually, I can really see that you will be.” Dex seemed genuine about the compliment.
    “Thank you.” It meant a lot to him.
    “Just don’t overdo it on the sweets,” Dex teased.
    “Can we still be friends? I mean, I won’t ask you to babysit or anything.”
    “Friends with benefits?” Dex suggested. “We mesh so well, and I don’t want to lose that.”
    “Friends with benefits.” He knew that would go away, but that was okay. He’d be busy in the spring and so would Dex with running. Kent stood up, desperate for a cup of coffee or tea or something. “Would you like something to drink?”
    “I would. You have any juice?” Dex stood too, following him into the kitchen and wrapping around behind him. “I really do care about you, Kent. I like you so much, more than anyone I’ve ever known.”
    “I care about you too. I never said anything about the baby because we hadn’t become friends yet, and it never works the first time. Never.”
    “It’s okay, I don’t think you tried to trap me into something by getting your friend pregnant.” Dex laughed. “God, now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d ever say.”
    Kent chuckled softly and poured an orange juice for Dex, a coffee for him, a nice sweet one with lots of cream.
    “So, uh, when do you get the baby?” Dex asked.
    “Well, she’s not very far along. She thinks June.” And really, at some point he wanted to call his folks, his sister, maybe his friends Dan and Andrew, who had a six-month-old of their own, and be excited.
    He handed Dex the juice and then sipped his coffee, letting the heat soothe him.
    Dex drank back the juice, put it down, and put an arm around Kent’s shoulders. “Wanna go sit again and cuddle?”
    “Yeah. How