10. Chapter Ten #2
“He does.” He shoved the money bag and receipts into his satchel, then packed up the rest of his things. He had his phone, keys, wallet, tablet… It wouldn’t hurt to come in before Monday to make chili and do more inventory.
“Go.” Anna engaged the security system. “You’ll be late.” She headed to the back door first. “Come on.”
Jack locked the office and walked to the rear exit of the shop. He ensured the alarm had been set. His heart hammered. Soon, he’d connect with Henry. “Thanks.”
“Welcome.” She hugged him again. “Good for you to not let Ray win. He’s a jerk.” She nudged him. “Go get your man.”
“I will.” He settled behind the wheel of his car.
He should bring flowers or something, but no time.
All he had was himself. He hoped he’d be enough for the man he loved.
He’d learned a lesson with Ray. Only a desperate person would stoop so low as to try to divide a couple.
But only someone so distressed would try to hold on to a lover so tight.
He loved Henry that much and he wanted to hold tight but wanted Henry’s love in return. He’d take no less.
Henry disembarked from the plane and checked his phone again.
He hadn’t heard from Jack since the day before.
He worried if something had happened. He missed their conversations.
Jack wasn’t good at radio silence. He talked and texted a lot.
There was a chance he could be sick or tired.
Maybe he’d had a super busy day at the shop?
He walked through the terminal to the down escalator. Which carousel was his baggage supposed to be at? He’d have to check his information.
“Hi.” Jack stood at the bottom of the escalator.
Henry stopped short. He wanted Jack to be there but worried he might not show up. “Jack.”
“Do you want someone else?” He didn’t give Henry the chance to answer. Instead. He threw his arms around him and kissed him. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Tears pricked at his eyes. “You seem tense.”
“I am, but you’re making me feel right again.”
“I am? What happened?” He grasped Jack’s arm. “Is everything okay?”
Jack slid his hand down Henry’s chest, then laced his fingers with Henry’s. “We’ll talk in the car. Right now, we have to get your bag so we can go home.”
“Sure.” Jack confused him. He detected prickliness from Jack and wasn’t sure how to fix the problem. Then again, he had no idea what the hell the problem might be. “I think mine’s on carousel ten.”
“Over here.” Jack stood with him and squeezed Henry’s fingers. “You should update your social media.”
He frowned. “I guess so.” He paid little attention to his social media pages. He let the magazines do it for him. Now that he’d opted for a more private life, he wanted to keep his life that way. “What brings that on?”
“Did you have a good trip?” Jack asked.
He hated when Jack switched topics. He spotted his bag and pulled away from Jack to pick it up. “I did. I turned in my story, too, so I’m free for the weekend.” He yanked the handle up. “Ready?”
“Yes.” Jack fell into step beside him and grasped Henry’s hand again. He didn’t say anything until he and Henry reached the parking garage.
“Jack.” He stopped at his lover’s car. “What’s going on?”
Jack tucked Henry’s luggage into his trunk. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“And? Something happened.” He sank onto the passenger seat. He wanted answers. Now.
Jack sat with him, but in the driver’s seat. “I didn’t want to say anything in the airport, but Ray visited me today.”
“Ray?” His stomach churned. “Okay.”
“He showed up with photos of you and a couple of guys together. I recognized one of the men, but not the other,” Jack said. “I also recognized the ploy of a desperate man.”
He stared at Jack, trying to comprehend what he’d been told. “I’m lost.”
Jack left the parking spot and sped through the garage. “He tried to make me doubt you.”
“Oh.” Christ. Ray wouldn’t stop, would he?
“I don’t.” Jack held Henry’s hand. “I saw pictures of you with one of your exes and I realized I wasn’t jealous.
I felt sorry for Ray because he wanted me to give him another chance.
He wanted something we had once but wouldn’t have again.
He couldn’t let go.” Jack paid the fee and left the parking garage. “Henry, he wanted to split us up.”
“I’m not with anyone else.” He probably still had photos with his former boyfriends in his languishing social media feed. He needed to rectify the situation.
“I was upset at first because I thought you might be with someone else, but that lasted a whole second. I trust you. I also could see the pictures were old,” Jack said. “I’m tense because I let him get the better of me, but I’m not afraid of how I feel. You’re my man. No question.”
He’d love to wring Ray’s neck, but whatever. “I’ll change my photos.”
“I wasn’t worried about it,” Jack said. “I know who you’re sleeping with. That’s more than enough.”
He kissed Jack’s knuckles. “You’re mine, too.” He’d come home to an odd situation, but he didn’t care. He had Jack. “I took photos in Chicago—more than just the ones I texted you. It was a good trip, but next time, I want you to come along. It’s too lonely without you.”
“I saw I was in the ones you texted me.” Jack pulled onto the highway. “I felt like I was there.”
“Good.” He settled in his seat. “I brought you a present.”
“Oh?”
“I found a cookbook all about gourmet hot dogs. You can display it in the restaurant for more decoration,” Henry said. “It’s silly, I suppose.”
“I like it. I’m not gourmet, but fancy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Jack said. “I’m glad you’re home. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” He preferred home to traveling now. Home had Jack. “I need to stop by the condo and pick up my tuxedo.”
“I brought it over for you last night.”
“Thanks.” He’d forgotten he’d asked Jack to pick it up. “You’re too good to me.”
“And you’re too good for me.” Jack exited the freeway. “I know it seemed strange, me being upset. I’m not wild about seeing you with someone else, but I realize how much I care about you.”
“Being gone made me realize I’m not me without you.”
“Then let’s celebrate that tonight,” Jack said. “We’re us and we’re happy.”
“I love it.” He preferred being home. He hadn’t seen the initial problem Jack had mentioned, or been there to fix it, but he didn’t mind. He had Jack and they had a future together.
He had his man, and tonight, they’d be going out on the town—together.