Freedom (The F-Word #5) - E. Davies Page 0,47

even look at Henry with the mental image in his brain.

“Get busy, Cece,” Jaden commanded. When he recovered his composure, Jaden finally managed to look at his boyfriend again. “No, I think we’ll be fine, as long as you aren’t shouting her name, too.”

“Oh, God. I hope I’m not. If I am, it’ll be get out and close the door behind you, please,” Henry said, grinning as he took Jaden’s hand.

And Jaden didn’t mind the touch. With Cece’s leash curled around his fingers and Henry by his other side, he felt… okay out here.

On their way back into the building, they bumped into Ron, the grumpy middle-aged live-in property manager. Jaden resisted a sigh and roll of his eyes when the guy side-eyed them like they were robbing the place.

“Thanks,” Jaden said pointedly when the guy didn’t hold the door for them.

He just grunted back and took the stairwell door with another long, hard stare out of the corner of his eye.

Henry raised an eyebrow and looked at Jaden. “Um… neighbor issues?”

“Property manager. He lives right below me. Even when I had a busted shower and he accompanied the plumber, he hardly looked at me.” Jaden rolled his eyes. “Probably thinks I’m a camboy since I never leave the apartment.”

“And you’re insanely pretty,” Henry followed up without missing a beat, grinning when Jaden’s cheeks flushed. “Aw. And you blush easily, too.”

“Stop that,” Jaden hissed and smacked Henry’s chest, but he couldn’t hide his laugh.

“Complimenting you? Never, sweetheart.” Henry hit the button for Jaden’s floor and beamed at him. “I can’t believe anyone doesn’t want to stare at you all day.”

Jesus, Jaden’s cheeks were on fire. He bit his lip and squirmed, his breathing suddenly shallow and quick.

Cece immediately wriggled between them, leaning against Jaden’s leg with a little whine. They both laughed, Henry gave a shrug of defeat and mock woeful pout as he held the elevator for Jaden again.

“Oh, no. I have a rival for your heart… and your bed.” Henry crowded up behind Jaden and nibbled his ear.

“I know which of you is more of a nuisance,” Jaden scolded fondly. He unlocked his apartment door and set Cece off her lead, then ushered Henry in before he shut it. “But never. There’s room for you both.”

Henry winked at him and pulled him in for another kiss while Cece was busy finding her water bowl. “We’ll find out tonight.”

Why did Jaden have the feeling he was going to end up with a sliver of the bed? And why did the thought fill him with an even warmer glow than the blush that still faded on his cheeks?

Maybe they were already becoming a family unit. Jaden wanted that—more than anything.

15

Henry

It was time. Way past time, in fact—but the last few years had never quite given Henry the confidence he’d needed.

He was crouching on the shore of the river, washing out supper dishes and packing the kayaking gear he’d left to dry. That gave him far too much time to think.

Being with Jaden had made Henry see things differently. It was hard not to draw parallels to his own coming-out. Nobody had been able to take away the hard parts of what he’d been through in his transition, but having loved ones by his side gave him a foundation he could always depend on.

He wanted to be that foundation for Jaden. And he wanted his own taste of freedom. No more avoiding talking about his childhood. No more dancing around questions about his scars. No more comparing himself to other guys, making sure he was doing it right.

Like his transness was something to disown and shove into a box and put away. Some people could be happy living that way—but that wasn’t Henry. But he also wasn’t the kind of person who wanted to tell everyone his life story. Finding a balance was going to be the hard part.

I can start small, he reminded himself. No need to tell the world. Just Trip at first.

So why did it feel scarier to tell his best friend than someone he didn’t even know? An uncomfortable squirm in his stomach reminded him: because Trip might not treat him the same as he always had anymore. And that would hurt so badly.

But if he let these fears keep holding him back, Henry would just stay safe in his little cocoon—the bubble that had quietly, without any great fanfare, solidified into an iron cage.

It was a risk for other reasons, too. Of course it was. Just