Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Gunner’s grin could split his face in two as he looked up. “You liked it?” he asked, greedy for appreciation. “You taught me all I know after all.”
Caspian pulled Gunner up. “I can’t play like that. You use what I know and take it to another level.”
“Are the pancakes ready? How do I deserve such an amazing boyfriend?” Gunner took the opportunity to hug Caspian again. He still couldn’t get over last night. He’d risked their friendship by putting all his cards on the table in front of Caspian, and it couldn’t have been more worth it.
They were together. In love. And for the first time, he could rely on someone else’s care instead of trying to keep himself afloat in the stormy ocean of life.
“Everything for you,” Caspian said and pulled Gunner along, to the dining room, which smelled so green because of all the plants heating up in the sunlight. The table was crowded with little bowls full of fruit and other toppings, but there was also coffee, juice, and a huge stack of steaming pancakes as the centerpiece.
Caspian sped up and pulled the chair back for Gunner. Always the gentleman. Gunner laughed and gave him a kiss before sitting down. He couldn’t have felt more pampered. “Am I a prince today? You must have really enjoyed yourself last night.”
They’d been too tired to fuck again, but made out in bed so late into the night, Gunner didn’t even remember when he’d fallen asleep.
Firm arms settled around Gunner’s neck as Caspian leaned down, pressing his stubbly cheek to Gunner’s with a soft sigh. It was as if he couldn’t bring himself to stay physically distant. “You’ll always be my little prince. If that’s what you want.”
His words hung in the air, stealing Gunner’s breath away when their meaning sunk in. The concept of staying like this shimmered in Gunner’s mind with thousands of colors, but he held back his enthusiasm for Caspian’s sake, and distracted himself by grabbing a pancake.
“I would, but also, I get it that we couldn’t. Your job, your parents— it’s okay, Cas.”
“I wouldn’t be offering if I didn’t want to do it,” Caspian said, his voice sounding a bit sterner this time.
Gunner glanced over his shoulder, out of breath. “You’re serious.” His mind went blank. He’d already made peace with his future and didn’t know how to deal with this nuclear bomb of an offer.
Caspian kissed him on the cheek and sat in front of the other plate. “I’ve thought about it all night,” he said and took a pancake from the platter in the middle.
Gunner absentmindedly poured some maple syrup over his own, still too confused to think straight. “You know I want you no matter which body you’re in, right? I meant that.”
“Me too,” Caspian said and reached across the table to squeeze Gunner’s hand. “I realized that last night. But you can only play the piano as you are now, and you love that so much. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror if I took that away from you.”
Gunner’s eyes filled with tears. This was so thoughtful. So selfless. “And… and how would it work? When Dingo dies one day, there will be no going back.”
Caspian shrugged and drizzled syrup on top of his pancake. “Then we better not swap often. I’m happy being in either body, but you need those hands, and I want you to have them.” He swallowed, briefly looking away and pretending he was too focused on the choice of fruit to meet Gunner’s gaze.
“Cas? This has to be the best thing anyone’s done for me. I won’t let you down, won’t ruin your reputation, and I’ll try my best to make it work. But you know I can’t be an accountant, right?” He rubbed his eyes with a napkin and added more toppings on his pancake as his mind raced with the possibilities opening in front of him.
Caspian grinned. “No. You’ll be a piano teacher. And if you want, maybe you’ll even perform. And I’ll finish high school and think of my options. We’re still very young.”
Gunner chewed his sweet breakfast, watching Caspian with so much love it threatened to break his heart open. “First of all, the pancakes are amazing. Other than that, are you really okay with taking on the job I do for your mom?”
“I’m not a snob, I hope. And I like DIY, so it’ll be perfect for now.” Caspian added a dollop of whipped cream and cut a piece of his pancake, smiling at Gunner. “But you have to promise you’ll make my parents love me like their own, okay?”
“I will. I promise. They won’t be happy about me quitting accounting, but they’ll swallow it, won’t they?” Gunner didn’t want to seem ungrateful and filled his mouth with food but couldn’t stop looking at the perfection that was his man. Caspian would carry all that baggage, and put in so much effort, effectively starting his life over, just to make him happy. But he seemed adamant to do it, as if he’d considered all the pros and cons, and no longer had any doubts. If he wanted this, who was Gunner to reject such a generous offer?