kitchen table. “Have a seat.” He poured a cup of coffee, then, when they were settled, smiled. “What can I help you with?”
Matt let it roll around in his head for a moment as he decided how to begin. He wasn’t sure how much he should say, but he had hopes that Craig understood Adam in places Matt didn’t. Before he realized it, Matt had outlined the entire problem and how he struggled to find a solution.
Craig listened patiently until Matt wound down. “I had a feeling he worried about some of that. Laurel had said he was hesitant about pairing. I didn’t realize it extended beyond that.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Well, Adam can be a little stubborn. No doubt about that.”
That made Matt laugh. “No, Adam?”
Craig chuckled, then considered Matt. “Maybe if you show Adam what you want with him.”
Matt frowned. What I want…. Matt nearly smacked his own forehead. “Duh.”
“Duh?” Craig asked, raising his eyebrows.
Matt chuckled. “A family, our own place—”
“A life,” Craig finished for him. “If you figure out how to get those things—well, you’re already working on the family thing—” Craig smiled and Matt laughed. “Right. Show him you’re serious about all those. It’s easy to say words, but hard to believe them.”
“That makes way too much sense.”
“Sometimes it’s really hard to see the answer when it’s right in front of you. Figure out how to show Adam you’re serious about those things, and I think it’ll go a long way. There’s no guarantee Adam will be ready to pair yet, but—”
“But if we can start out toward it, yeah.” Matt nodded. “Thanks. I just… I had no idea even where to begin.”
“To be fair, most people as young as you don’t normally have to face this stuff yet. I’m not sure I would have been able to figure it out twenty years ago.”
Matt smiled. “Well… I didn’t.” They both laughed. “Anyway, thanks.”
Craig patted Matt’s shoulder. “I’m happy to help.” He sighed. “Omegas have so much against them. I’m glad he’s got you.”
That filled Matt with warmth. Knowing how much Adam loved his dad and that Craig approved of them meant a lot to Matt. “Thank you,” Matt said, then stood. “Well. I’ve got some work ahead of me.”
“If we can help, let us know.”
Matt nodded. “I will. I’m not quite as stubborn as Adam is.”
“Hey, who’s stubborn?” Adam asked as he walked in.
Matt and Craig both laughed. “No one,” Matt said, grinning.
Adam stuck his tongue out. “Uh-huh. Ass—butthead.”
Matt’s grin widened. “Yup. You love me anyway.”
Adam rolled his eyes, but he smiled. “Keep up with the stubborn stuff, though, and you’ll sleep on the couch.”
Matt held his hands up. “I’ll be good!”
Craig laughed as he stood. He crossed the kitchen and laid a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on him. Give it a few weeks before you kick him out of your bed.”
Adam blushed. “Well… I’ve gotten used to having a human heater, so I’ll wait until I can buy an electric blanket. Then he’ll be in trouble.”
“That’s a good plan,” Craig said, nodding.
“Hey!” Matt pretended to be insulted.
Adam poked his side. “Just behave and I won’t need the blanket.”
Matt pulled Adam into his arms and dropped a kiss on one cheek. Then he gave a leer. “I’ll be good. Now that I get to sleep next to you, I don’t want to lose that.”
The blush on Adam’s cheeks darkened. “Not in front of my dad.”
Craig raised a hand. “I’m leaving.” As he stepped through the doorway, he paused and looked back. “Though… if you’re that worried, you might want to keep it down at midnight.”
“Oh God,” Adam moaned, closing his eyes. “Let’s move to your place. I will never be able to face my parents again.”
Matt kissed Adam again. “I think he’s just teasing you.”
“How do you know?” Adam asked, looking up at Matt suspiciously.
“We haven’t had sex at midnight,” Matt said with a completely deadpan expression.
Adam blinked, then shook his head. “I’m not sure if that comforts me or not.”
Chapter 20
There didn’t seem to be a huge difference to Adam with Matt living there. His closet was a little more crowded. There were extra bottles in the shower. They swapped desks out so the two of them could both do their homework at the same time. And he had a human heater every night in bed with him.
But they spent so much time together everywhere else that it didn’t seem all that different. Adam wasn’t sure if