Page 24 of Sugar

“Count on me, kiddo.”

“I’m not a kid.”

Piper laughed. “But you’ll always be my kiddo. I don’t care if you’re sixty.”

Nix sighed, but he was smiling. “I have to go, but thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too. Tell Mads I’ll let him know if Juno can make it.”

Nix’s eyes lit up. “Like Jupiter’s satellite. Mads would call it fate.”

“I don’t believe in that, but he might still be right. Talk later?” Nix nodded, then did what he always did and hung up before Piper could say goodbye. He dropped the phone to his side and grinned at his ceiling. His baby brother was getting married. And he might actually have a date for the wedding.

His phone buzzed, and he looked down, expecting to see Mads’s or Phoenix’s name. Instead, he saw Juno’s.

Juno: I’m on my way home. Can I see you when I get in?

Piper: For good or bad things?

Juno: lol good, nerd.

Piper: Come over. Can’t wait to kiss your lips.

There was no response, but he could picture Juno blushing, and that got his heart to racing all over again.

Juno got there an hour and a half later. Piper cooked, something he was trying to get better at, and he was pretty happy with how it turned out. He’d roasted an entire chicken stuffed with vegetables and surrounded by potatoes. It wasn’t the prettiest, but it made the whole house smell herby and fresh.

He left the door open, and he heard it shut, then Juno’s footsteps going from tile to carpet. Then a bag dropped. Not too long after, Piper turned and opened his arms just in time to catch Juno as he flung himself into the warm embrace.

“Hi,” Piper said, smudging a kiss along Juno’s temple.

He was flushed in the cheeks, his hair tied back with a few curly tendrils having escaped the hair tie. He was wearing a ratty T-shirt and swim shorts, and he looked freshly tanned like he’d spent all weekend at the beach.

Piper hoped he had.

“How was your trip?” He cupped Juno’s face, loving the feel of his pale, rough stubble.

Juno smiled and shrugged. “It was nice. The waves were decent enough we could surf a little. Miles’s boyfriend got stung by a jellyfish. His other boyfriend is a doctor, though, so he was able to treat it at the water.”

Piper blinked at him. “He’s got two?—”

“Yes, and please don’t get all pearl-clutchy about it. I’ve never seen Miles happier.”

Piper held up his hands. I would never. As long as he’s being treated the way he deserves, that’s all that matters.”

Juno sagged against him. “Why are you so great?”

“Oh, sugar. I’m not that great. I just really like you.”

Pulling back with a scoff, Juno looked over his shoulder, then grinned up at him. “You cooked? Aww, honey!”

Piper rolled his eyes and let him go so he could grab plates. “Something I’ve been working on since retiring. I rarely had time, and Nix’s food issues were so intense there wasn’t much point.”

“Food issues?”

“It’s part of his disorder,” Piper said. “My parents tried to force him to eat, and it was so traumatic I think it made it worse. He only eats like twelve things, and he’s on a ton of supplements. He had therapy for a while, but it just wasn’t worth it for the stress it was causing him.”

“I don’t mean to pry,” Juno said, and Piper realized his tone was snappy.

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