“The team did well today, Reigns,” Coach Stanford says sidling up to me.
“They did, Coach,” I reply.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
I glance up at him questioningly.
“You may not be on the team now, but you were for over half of it. You helped get us here. It’s only right that you celebrate with us,” he tells me.
I walk inside with him and celebrate with my team.
“So movies and chilling tonight, that is what you wanted, right?” I ask him.
There’s going to be a big party tonight, and even though I was happy to go, Casper was adamant he didn’t want to. He nods at me, but there’s something he’s not telling me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. He opens his mouth to lie, and I call him on it. “Don’t say it’s nothing.” His mouth snaps shut, and I wait silently.
Shaking his head, he sinks down onto the sofa. “It’s stupid.”
“So? I still want to hear it,” I reply, turning to face him.
“Some guys from the other team were there last night, with Todd. Apparently, that’s his school now.” He shrugs.
“Oh fuck, what happened?”
“Just acted like homophobic assholes. The team put them out,” he answers smirking, and I roll my eyes, knowing exactly what Casper and the team would have done. “Anyway…” he shrugs, “… I don’t need a repeat of last night. What I want, tonight is to celebrate my win and chill with my boyfriend.”
It’s the first time he’s called me that, and although I know that’s what we are, I’m still as shocked as shit he’s said it aloud.
“You okay?” he asks frowning.
I blink and continue to stare at him. “I-I… it’s the first time you’ve called me that,” I mutter stupidly.
“Well, that’s what you are. The most important part of that sentence was one particular word.”
“Boyfriend?” I reply.
“No.” He smirks. “Mine.”
My stomach dips and his smirk turns into a smile. His eyes hooded. Leaning down, he kisses me fully on the mouth, licking along the connection of my lips, so they open automatically. His hands find purchase on my hips, dragging me closer, as his tongue strokes mine.
I pull back, and he frowns. “You said my, not mine.”
He grins. “Well, then, Caden, let me be clear. You. Are. Mine.”
I don’t get another word out before his mouth crashes down again, determined to prove the action to his words.
I look down at Casper sleeping soundly. He’s lying on his front, both arms tucked under his pillow. Leaning down, I kiss his spine, and he moans sleepily.
“Morning, baby,” he whispers.
“Morning,” I reply, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Casper turns over to face me. “Where are you going?” he asks, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to him.
“I’m going over to the fields, I want to take some photos. Sunday’s are usually pretty quiet out there so I won’t be in the way if I park the truck on the side of the road,” I explain. “Anyway, it’s nearly noon, you need to get your delectable, but lazy ass, up.”
He does an ab curl and kisses me, it’s not soft and tender, it’s hard and needy, and I feel my body react.
Pulling away, I put some distance between us. “I need to get this assignment done, I think…” I look away then back to him, “… I know what I want for my future,” I tell him.
“Oh?” he replies, genuinely curious.
“Don’t laugh, but I want to be a curator at an art museum. I’ll need to intern and stuff, but it’s what I want.”
Casper studies my face. “Firstly, I will never laugh at you. Okay?” I nod in reply, and he runs his finger across my eyebrow and down my cheek. “Secondly, I think you’d rock at that job, and I’ll support you in every way I can. Now go, before I drag you back to bed,” he tells me smiling.
I head out to my truck, Betty, placing my camera on the passenger seat.
Starbucks first, then the field.
Two hours later and I can’t stop smiling as I flick through the photos on my camera. I feel really good about what I’ve captured so far. Plus, the bonus is that I’m truly enjoying this assignment. It’s like my life has fallen into place and I shake my head, wondering how I got so lucky.
I realize I made a huge mistake as I head back to Betty, knowing my cell is inside her cab. My realization occurs a few seconds after a truck pulls up behind her, and a group of six guys—all with baseball caps pulled down low—hastily jump out. I try to act like they’re not there, hustling to get to Betty, but they’re on me before I make it. I’ve no idea who they are, or what they want, but I’m on the ground before I have a chance to even look at a single face.
It’s funny, or maybe it isn’t.
In a moment when life can become so abhorrent, so horrifically cruel it should be all our brain allows us to focus on, that’s when the beautiful mind comes into its own. Because in that second it provides escape, taking us away from the unbearable pain we’re living in the present.
Fists rain down on me like rocks, heavy boots striking my ribs with force, my lungs struggle to breathe, and my eyes strain to find solace. Searching out the only beautiful in that moment, purple and pink blur my vision as the tears flow uncontrolled. I don’t know where my camera went in the tussle, but if the field of Cosmos flowers I was photographing is the last thing I see, then I’m truly blessed my mind has decided to gift me with that
