Page 94 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

“When is Andrew’s open house?” He closes his lips over the fork and pulls back.

“Sunday.” Jamie catches a rogue drip of sauce from the side of Nathan’s stubbly chin with his thumb and wipes it onto his own tongue. “I’m surprised he’s selling the condo. He loves that place.”

“Thank you.” Nathan grins with full cheeks. Still focused intently on the highway. “He must be really smitten with Kurt?”

“He is. I’m excited for him.” Jamie smoothes a hand down the front of his University of Maine t-shirt, checking for sauce splattering. “We should plan to go see them in Montreal later. We’ll be in Vermont next. I Don't think it’s that far? Now that we’re full time RVers, we can go wherever we want whenever we want.”

“I’ve heard Montreal is amazing.” Nathan fumbles with the air conditioner dial. “I need to get a passport. Do you have one?”

“No.” Jamie giggles. “I hadn’t left Maine before you whisked me away to North Carolina.” He lifts off the seat and wobbles back toward the kitchenette, steadying himself on the fold down table, on route to toss away the empty lo-mien container.

Nathan grabs a glance at Jamie’s ass-cheeks shimmying beneath little black briefs. He bends over the trash can to press its contents down. “We may need to pull off the road for a bit.”

Jamie pops up, twisting his head around. “Why?” His eyes are big with concern.

“You, prancing around in your undies is stirring things in mine.” He growls, adjusting his cock, swelling against his thigh.

Jamie spins on a heel, beaming. “Behave, I’m getting dressed.” He laughs. Arching his back and slapping his ass cheek. “We’re almost there.”

“Tease.” Nathan pouts, returning his eyes to the road.

“We’ll have plenty of time for that when we get up to Dennis and Robbie’s cabin for the week of July 4th. You’ll love it up there.” Jamie’s voice carries from the back of the rig. “I went the last two summers. It’s a fun group of men too. You’ll like them all, I think.”

“They host this gathering every year?” Nathan calls back.

“Yep.” Jamie emerges in a fresh black linen button up and jeans. “They bought the cabin three or four years ago and have hosted the holiday getaway every year since.”

“How many guys go?”

“I think there were ten of us last year?” Jamie ponders. “Andrew went with me the first year. He hooked up with some guy named Perry who flies up from Atlanta. I got stuck fending off drunken advances from this twenty-something year old kid named Phoenix.” Jamie laughs. “Phoenix wasn’t there last summer. Thankfully.”

“I’ll protect you from the big bad twinks.” Nathan cracks up.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Jamie’s eyes narrow as he returns to his seat. “Those men get handsy!”

“Ooo.” Nathan peers from the corner of his eye, and winks.

Jamie furrows his brow, snarling grit teeth.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about.” Nathan chucks, reaching across the seats to squeeze Jamie’s knee.

“Ha!” His face softens into that crooked grin.

Nathan will never tire of those dimples.

Jamie’s phone chimes a new message alert.

Molly, “Hey Bitch. What’s your ETA?”

“We’re just a few minutes away. Can’t wait to see you all!” Jamie types back.

The Portland city skyline feels so different while looking exactly the same as ever. Jamie's belly gurgles with anxiety. Maybe it’s two days worth of cold Chinese takeout.

Nathan squeezes his knee again. Looking across the cab, smiling. “We’re home.”

His words calm every static nerve in Jamie’s body. “Hopefully Robbie isn’t still pissed at me.” His shoulders curl up and eyebrows cave.

“It’s been six months. Plus, he invited us to the cabin. You have nothing to worry about” Nathan assures.

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