Chapter 10 #2
“Gray and Thom were at the gym this morning and it turns out Gray has a very young admirer.”
“I didn’t say he was that young,” Eric said to Kevin, seemingly trying to make the situation better. It didn’t. “I just said Thom said he’s younger than—”
“Don’t,” Thom told his boyfriend.
“What happened at the gym?” Jack whispered, his eyes wide.
“Nothing happened.” He curled his hand around the side of Jack’s neck and ran his fingers over him.
“That’s not what I heard. I heard that—”
“I swear, I have not known a moment’s peace since meeting you,” Gray said to Kevin. He refocused on Jack. “Someone hit on me. I turned him down. That’s all.” He pressed their foreheads together. “Nothing happened.”
“So, Thom, would you say he was Oliver’s age or even younger?”
“Jesus,” Thom said. “You woke up today and chose violence. Leave it alone, Kev.”
“Oliver isn’t that young,” Jaime said from the other side of the table.
“Excuse me.” Jack pushed his chair back. “I’m going to wash my hands.”
“Kevin, I'm asking you to stop whatever the fuck you’re doing,” Gray said.
Kevin reached across the table, dragged his finger down Gray’s arm and then licked it. “Bitter.”
“Whatever.” Gray rose from the table and followed Jack. He quickly caught up with him. “Jack, wait.” Jack stopped but he didn’t turn around. “I’m sorry about all that.” He stepped around him so they were face to face. “What can I do to make this better?”
“It’s not your fault that someone came onto you.”
He clutched Jack’s hip. “I should have told you about it when I got home. I didn’t realize Kev would wage a blitz attack at brunch and blindside you like that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I forgot about it the minute it was over. I don’t care enough about that guy or any other guy to give them space in my head. Plus, when I got home, you were sweaty and shirtless and wearing those indecent shorts and my brain short-circuited.”
“You liked my shorts?”
“Very much.”
“I have them in other colors.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing them on you.” Gray swiped his thumb across Jack’s lips. “I’m even more excited to see them off you.”
“Would you have taken him up on it if we weren’t”—Jack paused—“doing whatever it is we’re doing?”
“Probably not because he really was too young, but that’s irrelevant, because we are very much doing what we’re doing.” He cupped Jack’s cheeks. “I meant everything I said. I don’t want anyone else. I only want you and I’m in this for the long run.”
“I know.” Jack nodded. “I believe you.” He winced. “I made such a scene. How embarrassing.”
“You are not the one who made a scene and the person who did has no ability to feel any shame.”
“Something’s going on with Kevin. He’s been a lot lately, even for him.”
“He’s always a lot.” He combed his fingers through Jack’s hair. “Do you want to get out of here?”
“No, that’ll be even more dramatic than running away from the table.”
“You didn’t run. You briskly walked in a very dignified fashion.”
Jack snorted. “Come on.” He took hold of Gray’s hand. “Let’s go back before we miss our chance to order.”
Thankfully, the restaurant was busy, so once they got back to the table, they had time to look at their menus before the server arrived.
“What can I get you all?”
As people placed their orders, Gray got closer to Jack and said, “Do you want to share? We can order one savory thing and one sweet thing.”
“Good idea.” Jack smiled at him. “Banana pancakes and the southwest breakfast bowl?”
“Perfect.” He smiled back.
“And for you?” the server asked.
Before Gray could place their order, the server said, “Oh. Gray. Hi. How have you been? I’m glad I ran into you.” He lowered his voice suggestively. “I’ve been hoping we could get together.”
He wanted to drag Jack away from the table because there was no saving that fucking disaster of a brunch.
“Gray?” Kevin piped in, because of course he did. “Do you want to introduce us to your tall, dark, and handsome friend?”
“I don’t know his name.” It was a rude thing to say, but it was the truth, and Gray hoped it would somehow make Jack feel a little better about this latest clusterfuck. “Can we please order?”
“It’s Gabe. I’m Chuck Bilbrey’s friend.” He squatted down and pitched his voice low. “We have a great barista. Do you like your coffee like you like your men?”
“I do, actually.” Gray twined his fingers with Jack’s and set their joined hands on the table.
“Sweet, strong, and able to keep me up all night. I’ll have an Americano with a double shot of espresso and a couple of pumps of sweetener.
” He focused on Jack, who looked pale and pained.
“My boyfriend will have an iced tea and we’re sharing our meals.
We’ll have the banana pancakes and the southwest breakfast bowl. ”
“Oh. Got it.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. Chuck said you were single.” He quickly finished taking everyone’s orders and left.
“Who’s Chuck?” Jack asked.
“He works for one of the companies I represent. I’ve been to a few business lunches with him.”
“And he introduced you to our very attractive waiter?”
“Maybe?”
“Oh, come on Gray,” Kevin said. “There’s no way you can forget a guy who looks like that. Then again, with the number of men you meet—”
“Kevin,” Gray said sharply. “A mistake repeated more than once is a decision. Cut it out.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing. Who said I’m making a mistake?”
“I’m saying it.”
“You’re all over Jack now so we’re supposed to pretend we don’t know about your very long and very varied history?” He looked around the table and waved his hand in front of his face. “Is it stuffy in here or is it just the hypocrisy?”
“Kev, come on,” Thom said.
“You’re telling me I’m wrong?”
“Hey, Jeffrey,” Eric jumped in. “How did your date go last night? Was it as great as the first one you had with him?”
Gray didn’t care about Jeffrey’s dating life, but he was immensely grateful for the topic change, so he turned his attention to Jeffrey.
“It was awful. He’s dumb and bad in bed. The man has two heads and can’t use either of them.”
“Yikes. What happened?”
As Jeffrey dove into his story, Gray looked back at Jack and whispered, “You okay?”
“You were right. We should have skipped brunch.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. If anyone should be apologizing, it’s me. I seem to have developed a very acute case of jealousy.” Jack put his hand on Gray’s thigh. “I’m going to get it together. I promise. I can be better.”
That broke Gray’s heart.
“You are perfect for me exactly the way you are.” He pressed his mouth to Jack’s ear. “I already told you, I think you’re sexy when you’re jealous.”
“This behavior is not sexy.”
“Everything about you is sexy.”
Jack ghosted his mouth across Gray’s jaw and hovered over his mouth, so close so their lips almost touched. “You always know the right thing to say.”
“I mean it.” He put his hand on Jack’s thigh and caressed him while he considered what he could do to mitigate the damage of the past few minutes. “I have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
This wasn’t the right time or place, but he decided to do it anyway because what Jack needed was tangible reassurance that he was committed to him and their relationship.
Keeping his voice as low as possible to give them at least a semblance of privacy, he said, “Since I’m spending all my weekends at your house now, how do you feel about me setting up the garage opener on my car and making a door code?”
The tension left Jack’s shoulders and face. “I feel like that’s a good idea.” He licked his lips. “If it’s what you want.”
Empowered, Gray pushed ahead. “It is. And maybe I’ll leave some things there too, so I don't have to take a bag back and forth?”
Eyes shiny, Jack nodded. “Thank you, Gray.” He moved his mouth to Gray’s ear and whispered, “I love you.”