return

He had been utterly convinced that it was over with Seth. The past couple days had been miserable because of the guilt of having awared him, yes, and the general difficulty of a holiday that mostly represented abuse and grief, but mostly Caleb had been mourning the burgeoning relationship he'd had with Seth. He'd had to put on a brave face for Scottie and not let it slip to tell Katie, or Sam, what he was going through, because he knew if he let it slip it would fall off completely.

But then Seth said it didn't have to be over, and Caleb was overwhelmed with relief and the very real need to see Seth immediately, to keep the disbelief at bay. He paced quietly, bare feet against the wood floors, back and forth across the living room of their small house, nervously waiting. Scottie didn't wake up. His phone buzzed in his hand. And Seth was standing outside his door.

Caleb needed everything Seth was giving him in that kiss and took it gratefully, knowing Seth was making a deliberate choice to be with him, making that deliberate choice to be with Seth right back.