Chapter Eleven
Crisp: I just wanted to let you know I’ll be home tomorrow. Can’t wait to see you. How’s Atticus?
Foster: He’s doing great. I’m so excited to see you. Have you been having fun?
Crisp: Yes! We went scuba diving yesterday, and I got to surf. Tidy caught some huge fish. He gave it to some kid fishing nearby who hadn’t caught anything. You know he hates fish. Lol.
Crisp: Tidy says he’ll send you a picture of it later.
Foster: Cool. Tell Tidy I said hi. Atticus says, “Hi, Crispay.” Idk. He was very specific on the spelling. LOL! You know he’s a weirdo.
Crisp: That’s what I love about him.
Foster: He says the feeling is mutual.
Crisp: I can’t believe you’re getting married this weekend. That’s so wild! I’m so happy for you. Well, happy for Atticus, anyhow. He’s getting a good man. You’re getting a weirdo.
Foster: I’ll make sure to let him know you said that. When will you be here? I know this was just a quick two-day trip. Just making sure you haven’t decided to extend it.
Crisp: I’ll be home in time for your bachelor party for two. I’d never miss your moment. Tidy says to tell Kirkland to save him a dance.
Foster: HAHAHAHA! Absolutely, I can’t wait to see his face. He has no idea what to do with all these thirsty people surrounding him now. He’s used to running a silent and obedient staff.
Crisp: That’s what he gets for moving with Atticus into a house filled with daddy issues.
Foster: Damn. I really miss you. I can’t wait to see you.
Crisp: Same.
Foster: Enjoy that Scottish hillside for me too, okay?
Crisp: I will. Love you.
Foster: I love you too.
Even though Jay never expected to feel this way, he kind of hated that he couldn’t join Crisp for Foster’s wedding.
He actually liked Atticus quite a bit. Anytime they were home, and Foster was busy doing other things, Atticus would always seek him out.
The guy hid behind a haughty mask whenever people looked too closely at him.
When his guard went down, he was the goofiest person Jay had ever met.
Crisp had promised to record the ceremony on his phone, but that wasn’t the same.
Foster was such a good friend to Crisp, and Jay hated that he couldn’t know him too.
Since traveling with only Crisp and Tidy, he had been freer, but sometimes he felt very isolated, especially with days like today.
Jay couldn’t even sneak from the room. Crisp’s entire family, along with the Bosi household, was here. Jay was trapped.
He turned on the TV and then turned it back off again. Jay paced and hunted for snacks. After he ate a snack, he felt guilty for all the overindulging lately, and he worked out. Jay showered and redressed. He was antsy as hell.
The door swung open and Crisp raced inside, pushing a food cart in front of him. The moment he cleared the doorway, Crisp quickly closed the door behind and sucked air like he had run all the way there.
Jay’s heart soared as he chuckled at the sight. “You look like you just survived a prison break.”
Crisp turned and met his gaze. Between the sexy tux and gorgeous eyes, Jay couldn’t look away. Crisp laughed. “That’s how it feels. It’s getting rowdy out there.”
“I noticed. You’re back now. It’s okay to breathe.”
Crisp’s chest swelled as if he inhaled deeply. A puzzled look came over him. “Wait. How did you notice?”
Jay motioned toward the door. “I’ve heard what sounds like hundreds of people trampling through the hallway. What did you bring?”
Crisp quickly locked the door. “I didn’t realize everyone was all over the place. You should’ve locked the door. Someone might’ve just walked in.”
Jay eyed Crisp. He looked extra stressed out. Jay knew Crisp. “This is not about the door, true? Tell me what’s in your head.”
Crisp swiped his hand over his eyes and wheeled the cart closer. “There’s some sort of fancy dinner here. It’s whatever they’re serving at the reception. Atticus sliced a couple of pieces of cake for us. If I know him, he’ll make a joke of the missing pieces.”
Jay snagged Crisp’s hand and pulled him toward him. “We’re not doing that. No avoidance today. Weddings are supposed to be happy. Why don’t you look happy?”
Jay could see the aggravation rising inside Crisp. He knew it wouldn’t be long until Crisp broke.
“Please tell me?”
At his whispered plea, Crisp sat. “I wanted you there. All I could think about the entire time was how badly I wanted to hold your hand. I wanted to sit with my brothers, with you next to me. We should get to do those things.” He held Jay’s stare. “I want to do those things.”
Jay blew out a sigh. “Thank God.”
Crisp’s forehead furrowed. “What?”
Jay nodded. “Thank God. I was just sitting here before you came back, thinking about how much I wished I was out there with you. You look so sexy and I’m so proud to be yours.
I think it’s time to tell your brothers.
This is eating away at you, and me too, if I’m honest. I don’t want to be something you hide anymore.
After the last couple of months without all the sneaking business, I hate this.
” Jay was so damn grateful Crisp didn’t fly off the handle at his confession.
Crisp smiled. He looked happier than Jay had seen him in a while. “Let’s go to dinner.”
Jay blinked. “That was an odd response.”
“Not really.” Crisp stood. “Do you want me to change, or do you want to dig out the tux we bought for that fancy-ass restaurant in France?”
It hit him. Going to dinner meant walking out the door with Crisp’s entire family here. A smile grew across his face. “I will match. Is there anywhere to go with a dress code?”
Crisp shrugged. His luminous smile was sexy as sin. “Let’s find out.”
Jay couldn’t stop smiling as he headed for the closet. Logically, he knew they might start some shit. He paused. His gaze slid Crisp’s way. “I don’t want to ruin Atticus’ wedding.”
Crisp leaned against the doorframe. The way he looked at Jay was like a loving caress.
“So we won’t. Pack an overnight bag. I’d really love a nice night out with you before the shit hits the fan.
Let’s cut through the passages to the garage.
We can come through the front door in the morning.
Well, the side door leading in from the garage. ”
Jay’s cheeks hurt. He swore he couldn’t smile any harder if he tried. “I really fucking love you.”
Crisp beamed back at him. “I really fucking love you too. You know it’s us against the world, right?”
“Always.” Jay already knew no matter what happened, they would deal with it together.
He had no plans on letting anyone kill him.
Jay also highly doubted Crisp’s brothers were willing to hurt Crisp like that.
There might be drama, but likely no bloodshed.
The sooner they could stop hiding, the better.
He was ready for them to get on with the rest of their lives.
They went dancing. There was a gay club not far from where they lived.
While they had eaten dinner at a ridiculously priced restaurant, and fit right in with their matching tuxes, the nightclub was different.
Funnily enough, no one batted an eye at their outfits.
Of course, there were also winged men and leather-clad daddies.
Half-nude men in harnesses and women dressed to impress. They didn’t stand out.
Jay dragged him straight onto the dance floor. He wasted no time moving to the beat of the music and grinding on Crisp. Crisp was right there with him. Jay looked in his element, and that fucked with Crisp’s head a little.
They had ditched their jackets in the car.
Jay’s sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.
He had his scars on full display tonight.
Crisp couldn’t let him stop there. While they moved together seamlessly—like they danced every night—Crisp held Jay’s stare while he slid each button on Jay’s shirt loose.
He had never been more thankful Jay was one of those people who refused to wear an undershirt.
Crisp dragged his fingertips down Jay’s bare torso. “You look so at home here.”
A smile exploded across Jay’s face at Crisp’s observation. “It was my job to be in places such as this. I’m very good and comfortable with a lot of things.”
Crisp lifted one eyebrow at the boast. “Have you been holding out on me?”
Jay’s laughter ended up muffled by the shouts going up around the club as some guy moved to dance on top of the speaker and lost a few articles of clothing in the process.
No doubt, in an effort to cool the guy’s fervor, the music changed to a slow song in an instant.
Crisp found himself clinging to Jay’s wide chest. He kept his chin tilted, holding Jay’s gaze.
They never felt less. Crisp didn’t know how to explain that.
They were always together—almost every second of the day.
Yet the heat and love between them seemed to only grow bigger.
He had watched Jay transform into a whole new person.
That person never stopped looking at Crisp as if Crisp was the only man in existence.
There hadn’t been a single chance for anyone else the second Jay caught his eye. Crisp just couldn’t see anyone else.
“You stun me speechless.”
The seriousness in Jay’s tone made Crisp take a slow breath to calm himself. Jay didn’t stop there.
“If you hadn’t found me, I would’ve found you. I don’t know how to explain that. I just know that it’s true.”
Crisp drew a shaky breath. “You don’t have to expound. I know. We would’ve found each other somehow. Of that I have no doubt.”
Jay kissed the tip of Crisp’s nose and then swiped a sweet kiss across his lips. The slow song ended, and Jay herded Crisp toward the bar. “You need a drink before I dehydrate you.”
Crisp laughed. “I doubt we’ll dance enough for that since I need to conserve energy.”
Jay kissed the shell of his ear as they waited for their turn with the bartender. “You’ll need all the liquids you can get. When we get to the hotel, I fully intend to—”
“Hey, gorgeous. What’s your name?”