Chapter 3

"I love you," Reed whispered from his new vantage point, smiling softly when Dmitri placed a gentle kiss upon his head in response.

"I think that's maybe why I didn't tell you," he continued a beat later, Dmitri shifting the pair until their bodies were pressed against each other in as many places as possible.

"Even though we weren't officially together back then, I think I've always known you'd protect me if I asked.

I didn't want to seem weak by needing you to though."

"Is not weak to be supported or to ask for help, Reed," his husband replied gently, turning Reed's chin up and placing a lingering kiss on his lips before adding more.

"I wish you had leaned on me more back then.

But I get it also.

I only told you how much I am struggling earlier this year and that has been a problem for me since my mother died, so...

really I am not much better."

Letting out a humourless laugh, Reed reached forward and cupped Dmitri's cheek, dropping their foreheads against each other and taking in three deep breaths that Dmitri mimicked, the space between them filled with the noise of their shared breaths and an unspoken understanding.

"But we have each other," Reed whispered eventually once his heart had stopped its staccato drumming and had settled into something that more closely resembled what a heartbeat should be.

"But we have each other," Dmitri echoed, kissing Reed as their phones lit up simultaneously to their right, reaching out to grab them with one arm, the other still wrapped firmly around Reed's torso.

"And we always will."

"Thank gosh for that."

Pulling open their screens, both men's brows rose in surprise as they registered the rapid number of notifications that were suddenly filling up their screens, Reed turning to look at the time and seeing "7:00 AM" reflected back at him.

"Guess our sleep focus turned off," he found himself muttering as his phone started to ping somehow even more aggressively, almost dropping it in his rush to silence the ringer, Dmitri doing the same before the pair turned to look at each other and promptly burst into a fit of laughter so strong it shook both their bodies and their bed as they processed the absolute absurdity of it all.

"This is second time you have broken the hockey internet in less than six months, Reed.

This is very impressive, it must be a new record!"

"You think I have Plainsview Kent beat after all these years?" Reed replied with a fading laugh as he finally caught his breath, shaking his head and standing from the bed, but not before a harsh slap punctuated the air as Dmitri's hand clapped his backside, Reed whipping his head around to glare at the offending man.

"I'll kill you, Dmitri."

"No you won't," Dmitri smiled cheekily, openly admiring the view of Reed's naked body, neither man having a penchant for clothes this far into their relationship since they both preferred the warmth of each other's skin when they slept (and perhaps the easy access too).

"No," Reed sighed, pulling open the top drawer and passing Dmitri a pair of underwear and socks before pulling on his own.

"I wouldn't do that.

Who else would take care of Misha if not you?"

"Excuse you!

Misha is very nice dog!

Anyone would be very lucky to have her as their child, but no one can have her because she is my child and only my child and I will not share her!

Misha, come here baby girl!"

"Ugh, not on the bed," Reed sighed even louder this time, making no move at all to stop said dog from clambering onto the bed and into Dmitri's waiting arms, the pair kissing each other directly on the lips in a way that made Reed's stomach roll.

She licks her own butt.

"Well, I'll leave you two be to have your little moment there," Reed said with another grimace, reaching into a subsequent drawer to pull out some sweats and a t-shirt, not even bothering to check who the shirt belonged to since he and Dmitri were so similar in size and had long since abandoned any attempt at his and his sections within their respective closets.

"See you down in the kitchen?"

Please pull out ingredients for pancakes, I will be right behind you once I am done cuddling our child."

"She's a dog, Dmitri."

"And you are just a man!"

"I'm your husband?

Now how do you think she feels hearing such cruel words from her other father?" Dmitri replied indignantly, raising his arm in the air to shoo Reed away with a derogatory shake of his fingers as he turned his attention back to the bundle of fur in his arms.

"Do not worry, moya lyubov, he does not mean it.

He is just cranky because he does not like being the center of attention unless it is about his hockey skills."

"Hey!" Reed found himself pouting, ignoring the smirk that crossed Dmitri's features as he registered the downward pull of his lips.

"That's my name!"

"Not right now it's not.

Only good dogs get to be called moya lyubov."

"Oh fuck off, I hate you so much you asshole!"

"No you don't," Dmitri grinned, his smile widening at the blush that appeared on Reed's cheeks without his meaning to.

"You didn't seem to mind when I had collar a around your neck last

"Oh my word, GOODBYE Dmitri, DON'T COME DOWNSTAIRS EVER, SEE IF I TDWE!"

And as Reed exited the room, it was to the loud happy peals of his husband's laughter following behind him.

Calloway Clan ❤️