Page 53 of Out of Nowhere

“It wasn’t that bad. My mom let me out in the daytime when he was at work. It was the summer after I graduated high school, and we lived in Santa Cruz. She helped me make arrangements to move near my aunt in Maryland, which is where I got into security and met Sean.” He nodded at the redhead across the table and asked him, “How did you come out?”

“I never did. My family’s really open, and I was always saying I thought this girl or that boy was cute. When I was sixteen, Idated a trans boy. My parents were always cool with whatever my brothers and sisters and I wanted to do. I know I’m lucky. I had a buddy who was gay and his parents threw him out of the house at fifteen. My parents said he could live with us, but he went to live with his cousin in another state.” Sean shook his head. “I don’t get why it’s such a big deal.”

“My mother is thinking about her society friends and what they would think. She wants to show off her son and his wife and one point six kids,” Dex said. “But, you know what? I just don’t care anymore.” It was more like he didn’t want to care, but it felt good to say it the other way.

Underneath the table, Seo-jun took Dex’s hand in his, lacing their fingers together, and Dex had to admit that having him with him lessened the disappointment he felt in his mother’s reaction.

“When’s Salem moving in?” Jase asked, thankfully changing the subject to the new tech guy.

“He said this weekend.”

“I still haven’t met him yet. What’s he like?” Colt asked.

“He seems cool. Knows a lot about computers,” Dex said.

When dinner was over, Seo-jun pulled Dex aside. “Are you all right?”

“Do you mean because our shower sexcapade was the talk of the dinner table, or because I finally told my mother I’m gay?’

“Both,” Seo-jun said, touching Dex’s cheek softly.

Dex melted. Stepping into Seo-jun’s arms, he buried his face in his warm, wonderful-smelling neck. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Seo-jun hugged him for a long time.

Chapter Thirty-two: Seo-jun

“If I never see that son-of-a-bitch again, it’ll be too soon,” Colt said irritably as they left Jase, West, and Logan’s office after a debriefing on a recent case they did together.

Seo-jun had to agree. Roman Petrov, the billionaire they’d been hired to protect over the weekend, had been a real asshole, particularly to Colt, who, unlike Seo-jun, always went out of his way to be nice to everyone. As they were passing the tech office, Seo-jun paused in the doorway. Dex sat at his desk with the new guy, Salem Maddox, their heads bent close together as they looked at the computer screen.

From what Seo-jun had seen, Salem seemed nice enough. In his twenties, he was what Seo-jun would call unconventionally attractive with long, wavy, nearly black hair that he usually kept off his face and neck with a clip, striking features that likely came from a mixture of nationalities—Asian, judging by the shape of Salem’s deep blue eyes; and perhaps Mediterranean by his tan skin, thick, dark eyebrows, and long, distinctive nose.

“Jealous?” Colt whispered in Seo-jun’s ear, to which Seo-jun gave him an implacable look before knocking lightly on the door with his knuckles. When Dex turned around, a beautiful smile bloomed over his face, and Seo-jun’s heart sped up. For a moment, they simply stared at one another until Colt cleared his throat, breaking the spell, and moved past Seo-jun into the room.

“Hey,” Dex said.

“Hey,” Colt said easily, perching on the edge of an adjacent desk. “What are you guys working on?”

Seo-jun noticed the tips of Dex’s ears reddening, which happened when he became embarrassed…or aroused. Swallowing thickly, Seo-jun forced his mind away from thoughts of fucking Dex.

“Actually, Salem was helping me to work the kinks out of Gary,” Dex said.

“Must be working. The lights are still on,” Colt said, and Dex’s ears got redder.

Seo-Jun, who had still been standing on the threshold, walked in and placed himself between Dex and Colt.

“You almost ready to go?”

Dex was coming back to his place and spending the night.

“Uh, yeah. I think so.” Dex looked at Salem. “All right with you if we call it quits?”

“Yeah, I need to head home. I still have a lot to pack,” Salem said.

“Need some help?” Colt offered. “I don’t have to work tomorrow. I don’t think Sean does, either. We could follow you and help you get everything moved.”

“Are you sure? It’s about a four-hour drive,” Salem said.

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