Three Years Later (BoyxBoy)

Part Three

"Jean," Caden whispered, rousing him from his light slumber. "Hey. I know you're awake". A kiss was placed on his ear, and he groaned.

"No".

"I'm sorry," Caden said softly. "My flight leaves in two hours. I have to go".

Groaning, Jean rolled into his back and sat up, wrapping his arms around Caden's waist and pulling him into bed with him. "Don't go". It was Wednesday morning, just over for days since him and Caden had been reunited in the bar, and they had spent every possible moment together since, Caden even moving his suitcase into his apartment for the time. "Stay with me. Miss your flight".

Humming, Caden brushed his fingers through his hair. "If I miss my flight, I get fired," Caden reminded, and Jean sighed, releasing him. Still, Caden didn't move right away, gently gripping his jaw and turning his head to kiss his lips.

"Let me take you to the airport," Jean said once they had parted. Caden chuckled and rolled out of bed, going over to where his suitcase say open on Jean's futon.

"You worked late again last night, and it's not even five yet. You need rest".

"I need you". Caden paused, and then raised his head. "Caden". With a small sigh, the professor returned to him, standing beside the bed and holding his face in his hands. "I don't want you to leave".

"I don't want to leave," Caden responded quickly. "But I have to. You know that, and I know that". Jean nodded his head, dropping his eyes. "What if... what if I came back".

Surprised, Jean raised his head. "What?"

"I mean... it is summer break, and I don't really have anything to do for work but research, and I don't see why I couldn't do it here," Caden said, glancing around the apartment. "Would that be okay with you?"

"Of course it would be okay," he responded immediately, unable to keep the smile off of his face. "And... and I need go visit Florida at some point too, you know, to visit Nathan and all, and I'll maybe need someplace to stay".

"I don't live anywhere close to Nathan," Caden responded with a smile, and Jean shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah, well he's not that important to me anyways".

Laughing, Caden kissed him again. "I love you," he said, pressing their foreheads together.

Grinning, Jean kissed the corner of his mouth. "I love you too". With one last kiss, Caden moved away from him again, once again going back to sort through his suitcase, probably making sure everything was there. "You're going to call me and stuff, right?"

"Like when my flight lands?"

"Yeah," Jean confirmed. "Then, and other times too".

"Yes, Jean," Caden confirmed, flipping his suitcase closed and pulling the zipper shut. "We're in a relationship now, and maybe I'm wrong, but communication is kind of a viral component".

"This is true," Jean agreed, smiling when the other man looked back at him. "I'll call you too then".

"Oh, I'm sure". Caden crosses the room again, coming to a stop in front of him. "You're gonna call me when I'm in the middle of class and the middle of meetings and send me inappropriate things at all hours of the night".

"Ahh". Jean reached forward to play with the hem of Caden's shirt, wanting to remove it but knowing he would probably be scolded. "So you've already figured me out then".

"I've had you figured out since you were sixteen," Caden claimed. "You're going to be a nuisance, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it". Lips pressed against his forehead, and Jean closed his eyes. "You should go back to sleep. I have to head out".

Groaning, Jean leaned forward and pressed his face into Caden's abdomen. "You'll be back?"

"Yes".

"Okay," Jean breathed, dropping his arms to his side and dropping back against the mattress. "You can leave then".

"You'll sleep?"

"I will try".

Caden looked down at him for a long moment, eyes narrowed, "You're a liar".

"I will try. I might just end up masturbating, but that is not my fault," Jean admitted, and Caden rolled his eyes again, but seemed content. "I have a lot to think about after the time we spent together".

"You're talking about that dinner we got on Monday, right?" Caden teased and Jean laughed. "Not at all what we did after that".

"Of course not," Jean lied, smiling. Caden returned the look before glancing at the watch on his wrist and sighing. "You got to go?"

"I really have to go," Caden added. "Sandra's in a cab out front waiting".

"Alright". Jean sat up again, this time rising to his feet, forcing Caden a step backwards. "I'll walk you to the door then".

"Jean, your apartment isn't that big," Caden pointed out, only to be cut off by a hard kiss. As he recovered, Jean went to the futon and retrieved the older man's suitcase, wheeling it towards the door. With a small smile and a shake of his head, Caden met him there. "Thanks for the last few days".

"Any time," Jean said, passing the suitcase off. He expected Caden to leave right away— his coworker was waiting— but instead the man tilted his head up to look at him.

"Are you going to kiss me one more time, or do I have-" his voice trailed off when Jean laughed and slid his arms around his waist.

When he ducked down to meet Caden's mouth, the man met him halfway, eagerly parting his lips with his tongue. Through the kiss, Jean tried to communicate all the things he didn't have time to say, or repeat.

I love you.

I'm going to miss you.

I'm excited for whatever comes next for us.

Humming thoughtfully, Caden pulled away, breathing slightly heavy. "Wow".

"Yeah," Jean breathed, dropping his gaze to look between them, hands sliding over the other man's hip. "Wow". When Caden pulled away, he let him.

"I'll see you later, Miller".

Jean got the door for it, reminding himself that this time, it was different from the last time he watched Caden walk away. This time, he would be coming back.

"Yeah," he agreed. "I'll see you later, Coach".