The room remained silent, but the silence was accompanied by a hand slipping into his and squeezing ever so slightly.
When Cailen looked over to his hand, he recognized William's long fingers and looked up to meet his emerald green eyes, slightly shining but mostly just happy.
"It's okay." William said quietly, smiling at him through shiny eyes. "We love you no matter what." He repeated Noah's words and he could tell he meant every one of them.
Cailen made a noise at that- a noise that was partly a laugh and partly a sob as William pulled him into a hug. He really couldn't stop the tears that were soaked up by William's shirt and he thinks that he is not allowed to cry for at least a year after this.
He just felt so relieved and happy that it was finally out there and he didn't have to worry about losing anyone.
Soon, he felt another body press against his side and two more arms wrap around him as Matthew mumbled apologies and reassurances into his shoulder.
"We were always kind of hoping for Asher's sake," William mumbled quietly. "But we were never sure. Sorry if we got pushy." He apologized but Cailen just held him tighter because he really didn't have anything to be sorry for.
Eventually, they pulled away from each other, Matthew giving him a sheepish smile to which Cailen just shrugged to let him know it was okay, because he probably would’ve done the same if the roles were reversed, if not worse.
Cailen looked to the bed where Asher sat with his head hung again, feeling his smile fade as he took in his tense demeanor. He felt a small nudge on his back and looked over his shoulder to see Matthew smiling at him, nodding his head toward Asher.
He took the few hesitant steps towards the bed, smiling briefly when Noah squeezed his shoulder and went to stand beside William and Matthew.
He took an unsure seat beside the boy he loved, ready to be shoved away, but hoping to be forgiven.
He wouldn't blame Asher if he did, it would hurt like hell and he didn't know what would happen at that point, but he wouldn't blame him.
"Are you mad at me?" Cailen asked quietly, frowning at the snort he received at his question.
"Yes." Asher answered, making him frown even more and look into his lap. "Because you didn't talk to me, Cai. You- you should have just talked to me instead of running." He went on looking over at him. "I was so worried that I fucked everything up."
Cailen was mildly surprised by the F-bomb. He wasn't sure he's ever heard Asher swear before but he definitely wasn't complaining.
"I know, I'm sorry." Cailen apologized. "I didn't think, I just acted."
"You never think." Asher replied but now his voice sounded softer, a bit more fond and a bit more teasing, making Cailen look up to see him smiling at him.
"I'm an idiot." He admitted, smiling back at Asher.
"You are an idiot." Asher agreed and then he was leaning forward and pressing his lips to Cailen's.
Cailen froze instantly, his old instincts kicking in and his eyes widening in shock because he was all too aware of the three boys standing behind them, witnessing every second of this.
He was about to pull away, even though he knew he didn't have to, but then he heard the mock-cooing and wolf whistling and he relaxed, melting into the kiss, his eyes falling shut.
It was better than last night solely because of the fact that Asher didn't taste like a bottle of vodka, but like that herbal tea Eden always made.
It was also sweet, softer and not so heated. Despite the lack of desperation and it being quite brief, it still left him a little breathless and sitting there in a slight daze after they pulled away.
"Did you know?" He heard Matthew ask, but Cailen was too busy staring at the deep brown of Asher's eyes to care much.
"I had a feeling... It's different when you just meet someone. You look for these things that tell you who they are, right? When you think you already know them, you don't look as hard." He heard Noah explain.
Then Asher was kissing him again and he really couldn't hear anything with how hard his heart was pounding, this time in the best way.
It started off as small pecks on the lips, small pecks and soft brushes, Asher resting his forehead against his but it was quickly turning into something more and he was sort of helpless to stop it at the moment.
"Oi, get a room!" William called out, his words fond and teasing.
He heard the other boys snicker and decided that they had witnessed enough of their making up.
"Actually, this is my room, so if you'll let yourself out, that'd be lovely." Cailen pulled away, long enough to get the words out before Asher grabbed his waist and placed him on his lap sideways, reattaching their lips again.
"They work fast..." Noah commented.
Cailen could hear the laugh in his voice before he heard the actual laugh itself.
"Well, they've been in the relationship for years... they just didn't know it." William teased, but now his voice was distant, then he heard the door click shut and he knew they were alone.
Asher leaned back against the headboard of the bed with Cailen still on his lap and his arms going around Cailen’s waist entirely. He pulled away to look at Asher with his hand on Asher’s broad chest, feeling the happiest he's felt in a long time.
It was a warm feeling that had been growing ever since the weight of his secret had lifted and it only intensified when he looked at a smiling Asher.
Asher leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. Cailen smiled, placing a kiss on Asher’s cheek before putting his head on his shoulder. He felt Asher put a kiss on his head before burying his face on his hair and pulling him against his body more tightly.
He could easily get used to this.