“A cruise? To Bermuda?”
“You know how Matt signed with OTS?”
“Yeah?”
“We hired a PR firm to help his case. Part of his marketing strategy is to clean up his image. We figured the best way to do that is to get himself a boyfriend.”
“I’m so confused. What’s this got to do with the cruise?”
“It’s a setup and a PR stunt. Matt will be there with his new boyfriend. They’ll be photographed together, and it’ll be leaked to the press. We’re going to spin it so he’s a good ol’ wholesome gay man in love, instead of what that gossip rag made him out to be which was … well, a dirty manwhore and the abomination all those crazy church people claim we are.”
“Okay, so who’s going to be his boyfriend?”
Damon grins. “Noah.”
A laugh escapes. “Noah? Poor Matt.”
“As un-PC as this is, they hit all the targets. Gay, interracial, and Noah’s from a prominent family, so they can’t accuse him of being a gold-digger after Matt’s money. They’re kind of a PR’s wet dream.”
“How did you get Noah to agree to this?”
“I reminded him how bored he is being the rich trust-fund guy. Plus, he finds Matt hot. I get to go along with them on this cruise to oversee everything, and I bought an extra ticket for you, because I know how much you wanted to travel and see the world. It’s only Bermuda, but hey, it’s not Canada.”
“That should be a tourism slogan. It’d work for anywhere. ‘Come to West Shittyville, Ohio. There’s nothin’ to do, but at least it ain’t Canada.”
Damon winces. “Fuck, don’t make me laugh.”
I lean in and press my lips to his. “Thank you.”
“I’ve had it organized for weeks, because I wanted to do this for you. If I had the choice between following you wherever you wanted to go or pitching a no hitter in a Major League Baseball game, I’d choose you. Every time.”
“Shit, that was practically a marriage proposal coming from you.” I kiss him again until I realize … “Wait. How exactly are we using the cruise to get back at Stacy?”
“When I asked her to organize the week off from work for you so I could surprise you, she said how much she wanted to come. I might be sending her an early birthday present in the form of her own room on board.”
My eyes narrow. “I still don’t get it.”
Damon cocks his eyebrow. “What’s your high school friend Jared up to lately? Think he’ll be interested in a free cruise?”
A smile breaks out. “You’re more evil than both me and Stacy combined.”
“Yeah, I am. Don’t mess with the Dik.”
I almost choke on my laughter. “You’re the best fake boyfriend a guy could’ve ever asked for, and after tonight, you’ll be the biggest sports agent in town. I’ll do some recon for you with all of Tommy’s teammates and see if anyone else needs a new agent.”
“If you keep finding me clients, I may have to hire you as my assistant.”
I shake my head. “Bad idea. We’d never get any work done.”
“True. I love you, Maddy.”
No matter how many times he says it, I can’t hear it enough. It doesn’t freak me out, and the idea of being with him forever doesn’t make me antsy. I crave him, more than I’ve ever craved anyone or anything in my life. I always used to think relationships meant compromising what you want for something somebody else wants, but I never realized that when you meet that one person who becomes your priority it’s not compromising because you’d willingly do anything to make them happy. Just like I know Damon would do the same for me.
I kiss him again. “You remember when we first met and I told you I felt like I don’t belong?”
Damon nods.
“I found it—where I’m supposed to be. It’s with you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DAMON
I heave the final box on top of the others and let out a breath. “Done. Finally.”
Maddox stands in the middle of his—no, our—apartment with an adorable scowl on his face.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“What’s up? Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact I have no apartment left? How much crap do you own?” He holds his hands out and turns in a circle. Granted, there are boxes piled up everywhere, and there’s barely a clear path to the bathroom … or kitchen, but it’ll be fine once I find homes for everything.
“Whatever we don’t have room for, I’ll put in a storage unit.”
Maddox falls back on his bed amongst a heap of boxes. There’s just enough room for him to squeeze his lithe body in between them. “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
“Jaws reference? Really?”
He throws his arm over his eyes.
“Babe, are you freaking out?” My heart pounds, and the same doubts I’ve had since we got together creep in. I’m worried I’m pushing him into something too serious before he’s ready. I thought we were over this, but maybe it’s all too real for him now that it’s actually happening.