Page 48 of Say It Again

“I would just use the restroom if I were getting completely naked, and no. Pizza and a thank-you note.”

“It’s just….” She shrugged. “Not hot.”

“It’s not supposed to be hot.” He glared as he started toward the door. “Cutesy.”

WHEN AARON answered his front door, relief softened his shoulders. “Thank you. Thank you for coming over. I know your time is valuable.”

Corey leaned against the doorframe, suited and tied with a popped-collar peacoat cinched tightly around his waist. He was stylish in an overconfident way. No one argued if you had swag when everything you wore looked as if it’d been chosen by a team of professionals to tailor-fit your frame. “It’s not often that you call me, love. How was I not to rush over like a desperate girlfriend?”

Aaron grinned as broad as he could with all his teeth showing, which did nothing to negate his mood. What he really wanted to do was crawl into his bed and learn how to cry like Daniel. “Come in. It’s so good to see you.”

“Is it, Aaron?” Corey strolled inside with a suspicious eyebrow raised. “Is it good to see me?”

“Yes. Here, I’ll take your coat. How about a drink? What would you like?”

“What is going on?” Corey mumbled under his breath as he unraveled the scarf from his neck. “So long as you’re not poisoning me? Vodka. Neat.”

Aaron ordered his smile to sit tight as he leaned in and kissed Corey’s cheek, taking the coat. “Coming right up.”

“I haven’t been to your place in quite some time.” Corey slid his hands into his pockets and gazed around the apartment. “Lovely what you’ve done with it. I see I’m paying you too much.”

Aaron snorted as he poured two vodkas. It wasn’t nearly enough.

“You still have the piano?”

“I do.” He glanced up at the loft as he handed him the drink. “You want to hear me play? I’ll play anything you’d like.”

“I want you to tell me what the hell I’m doing here,” Corey said, his tone a bit lower. He could be intimidating when he wanted. It was all the swag. “I highly doubt it’s because you wish to play me the piano. You do nothing for free.”

Aaron scrunched his face, scratching the back of his head. “I need a favor.”

“Oh Christ.” Corey rolled his eyes. “What have you done?”

“It’s not for me.”

“Then who’s it for?”

“It’s for a really special guy I need to do right by.” He hadn’t necessarily planned to tell Corey that, but surely there was a human soul inside there that could be warmed by a display of vulnerability. “I’ve not been good to him. I’ve lied to him, and I’m going to hurt him—” He tried to keep his chin lifted, but it was no use. “I owe him.”

Corey studied him cautiously. “What does it have to do with me?”

“This”—Aaron snagged the contract from the table—“is a bill of sale. Can you look it over and make sure it’s sound?”

Corey’s eyes scanned it for a second; then he shook his head. “Oh, these things are standard. I’m sure it’s fine—”

“Please? I trust you. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with it.”

“Aaron,” Corey groaned. “I just left work—”

“Please?” Not that he had much pride to begin with, but he squashed what little tried to bubble up. “For me?”

Corey’s cool gray gaze settled on his, a bit annoyed, a bit intrigued. “I don’t do anything for free either, love.”

He swallowed. It wasn’t like he didn’t see that coming, but God, if ever there was a night he didn’t feel like getting on his knees. “I will happily pay you.”

“I don’t want money.”

“I—” Aaron snapped his mouth shut as he dropped his chin. Over the past couple of weeks, he’d let himself seep into the cracks of a world where friends did things because they were friends, and he had a special someone and an ordinary life.

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