Page 36 of Say It Again

“And I know I can come on a bit strong,” Daniel said, “but if I ever overstep by demanding legal advice, or threatening to put a tracker on you, or handcuffing you to a radiator so you can never leave—”

“What?”

“What?”

Aaron cocked his head. “That last part?”

“Oh, who could say? The point is, I hope you know you can talk to me. I promise I can be rational.”

Aaron sighed and spoke the first honest words he’d spoken all evening. “You did nothing wrong, kid.” The least he could do after being a liar-y liar was make sure the contract looked sound, and he happened to know an unlawful amount of attorneys. “Look, uh. I’d love to help you with your contract.”

Daniel’s face lit up. “Seriously?”

“Of course. Where is it?” He spun around, trying to spot anything that looked like a contract. There were plenty of half-empty glasses of water and slinky black items of clothing. There were also one, two, three feather boas? Why?

“Oh, I don’t have it yet, but probably by the end of this week.”

“That’s fine. Give me your parking tickets too. I’ll take care of them.” And by take care, he’d pay them off.

Daniel squealed in an eek as he clapped. “You are the best. Now, what do you want to do tonight?”

“Clean.” He nodded with his hands on his hips as his gaze swept the living room. “I want to clean your house so hard. Was it like this the last time I was here?”

“No. I’d had enough sense to shove everything into the bedroom. I figured if you made it that far, it meant you’d be willing to ignore”—he gestured a hand down his body—“the mess.”

Aaron snorted as he glanced down at his watch. He had an appointment with a client in thirty minutes, and he’d done enough damage here. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I actually can’t stay, sweetheart. I have plans.”

“Cancel them.”

He darted his gaze up to Daniel’s to find it impish.

“You have plans.” Daniel glided toward him in satiny pouty lips and quicksilver. “I want to hang out with you. Fucking cancel them.”

This conversation felt familiar. You have a boyfriend. I want to take you out. Break up with him.

“Then we can watch a movie or go for a walk—”

“Clean? Could we clean?”

“I’d rather die, but we could listen to music and chill. We could get it on somewhere—literally anywhere; right here is fine—or we could even lie down and have a good cry on the linoleum if you want.” Daniel shrugged a shoulder. “But I feel like doing that less.”

Aaron chuckled.

“Oh, what about a board game?” Daniel’s eyes brightened. “I have Scrabble.”

He chewed his lower lip. Would it really be so bad to spend a little more time with him? To let himself enjoy him for one more night? They wouldn’t get it on, he’d be sure of that. He didn’t need to sleep with him on top of deceiving him. But he’d never gotten such a whole-body thrill out of someone’s company. If it was going to end anyway, what was the harm in savoring him for a little longer? It took him a moment bouncing on his heels, but eventually he gave in to his smiley sigh.

One more night. The minute he got the contract addressed, he’d bow out of Daniel’s life once and for all. One more night was the new plan. Totally a decent plan. The best.

“Let me just….” Aaron trailed off as he sent a Sry can’t make it text to his client, who was sure to be pissed, but it was only one more night. His smile split his face as he shoved his phone into his pocket. “I love Scrabble.”

SEVERAL HOURS later, Scrabble had turned into laughter, had turned into a movie, had turned into more laughter until Aaron felt a little high on it. He sat on the sofa with Daniel’s head on his lap, raking his fingers through his sandy curls. He even felt a bit high on the comfortable silence that finally ensued. It was peaceful after all the laughter. Peaceful instead of clunky.

“You know what I was just thinking?” Daniel asked without opening his eyes. “I was thinking about how you’ve made me dinner and taken me to a fun class thing, and I’ve done nothing. Should I plan a date for us?”

“Hmm. I’m worried your idea of a date will involve zero food or entertainment and one hundred percent us ‘getting it on’ somewhere—literally anywhere; right here is fine—as you point to a tree stump in the woods.”

Daniel’s eyes shot open. “Have you been reading my diary?”

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