Page 106 of Tangled up in You

Chris cocked his head. “Then you’renotagainst something developing with her?”

Mark didn’t bother answering, knowing from the playful way Chris’ lips quirked that he was fucking with him. He headed inside.

Nearly ten minutes later, Chris walked in and found Mark in the bedroom in the process of packing his gear. “She’ll be here at five for dinner.”

“And spend the night?” Mark asked.

“Yes and spend the night.” He dropped his cell onto the bed. “Please leave the cop in the closet tonight, huh?”

“I’m not a fucking cop!” he snapped.

Chris froze, holding his hands up. “Dude,” he gently said, “I was kidding. I’m sorry.”

Mark scrubbed his face. “Sorry. You know I hate that.”

Chris stepped in and rested his hands on Mark’s shoulders. “If I could give you any wedding present in the universe, I think I’d give you the ability to wipe the memories of that bullshit from your brain.”

“Yeah, well, not like I’ll see my family anytime soon.” Mark pulled him in for a hug. “I’m sorry.”

Chris patted him on the back. “Forgiven. I’m sorry I triggered you. I’ll start dinner. Let’s have a good evening, okay? Full reboot with Jesse?”

Mark nodded. “Full reboot.”

JESSE

Jesse’s palms sweated as she located the turnoff for the men’s cabin. She’d texted with Chris all afternoon and hoped she wasn’t making a mistake accepting their offer to spend the night.

Although yes, it made sense. Chris repeatedly assured her Mark didn’t hate her, and she tried to focus on that. It’d been yet another of countless examples of her neurospiciness rubbing an NT person the wrong way.

She called her father before she checked out of the hotel, reminding him she wouldn’t be within cell range for a while, so he wouldn’t panic. In fact, she planned to leave her cell with the rest of her things at the men’s cabin. It’d be useless on the hike.

When she arrived, the men walked out to greet her.

“Hi,” she said.

“Welcome to our castle,” Mark said. Then he smiled and stuck out his hand. “Mark Powell. Neurotypical foot-eater extraordinaire, part-time prickly asshole, and full-time Yellowstone park ranger. Enforcement division. Not a ‘cop.’”

Relief flowed through Jesse and she laughed as she shook with him. “Jesse Scott. Engineer, seismologist, and sparkly…vampire?” She glanced at Chris.

“Sparkly vampireunicorn,” he joked, flashing jazz hands again. “Can’t forget that.”

“What’s the vampire part about?” she asked.

“I’m kinda bitey,” Chris said.

“Long story,” Mark quickly said, shooting him a look. “For another time. Can we help you unload?”

Normally she’d insist no, she could manage, but she decided to trynotbeing herself since they were starting over. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Twenty minutes later they were sitting down to the most delicious lasagna she’d ever tasted.

And Mark loosened up. To the point that if she’d met this version of Mark at the bar she might have been tempted to explore Chris’ comment about dating.

Because…yeah.

Then again, they’re gay. Duh.

Okay, so it could be a hot fantasy after she returned home to spice up nights when she was alone in bed.

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