Page 21 of Part & Parcel

“’Cause it’s hot.”

Nick barked a laugh, and Ty smirked.

“Seriously, you should show him. That’ll solve your sex problems.” He took a drink from his cup of beer. “Solved mine a couple times back in the day.”

“Ty.”

“What? We’re being honest with each other, right? I’m just saying. Had a massive, massive crush on you the first, like, two . . . three years. Five. Five years.”

Nick rolled his eyes, surprised to find that he was blushing as Ty chuckled into his cup. He swiped a hand over his mouth, shaking his head. “Kelly and I don’t have sex problems. None that can be fixed with a cane, anyway.”

“If you say so. How’d you get it through security?”

“People don’t fucking check canes and slings and shit. Speaking of, where the hell is that sling Garrett told me you had to wear?”

“I lost it.”

Nick tilted his head to look at Ty over the top of his sunglasses.

Ty gave him an innocent shrug. “On the plane. Legit. What?”

“You better have a spare to be wearing when I send you home.”

Ty chuckled and sat back, looking out at the Green Monster. Nick watched his profile for a few moments. He knew Ty was keeping something to himself.

“What’s on your mind, Six?” he asked softly.

Ty sighed, his shoulders slumping and a small smile flitting over his lips, like he was relieved to have been called out on holding back. “Been waiting to read you in until you were doing better.” Ty met his eyes pointedly. “You doing better?”

“Yeah, what is it?”

“When Zane and I got back home after the cartel shit in Miami, there was a . . . welcome package waiting for us.”

Nick’s entire body went stiff and cold, his heart beating in his throat, fluttering so fast it made him light-headed.

“Nick?” Ty’s voice came from somewhere far away. His hand on Nick’s shoulder was warm, though, and Nick closed his eyes and let Ty’s touch pull him back from that feeling of drowning before it could go too far.

Nick sat forward, swallowing hard. “What kind of welcome package?” he croaked.

“Not like that,” Ty said in a rush. His hazel eyes were wide, and he was leaning close to Nick, his hand on the back of Nick’s neck. He shifted to wrap his arm around Nick’s shoulders, patting him like he was trying to calm him.

Nick licked his lips, preparing to tell Ty that he wasn’t about to fucking panic or something, but he was breathing fast and his ears were ringing and yeah, he’d been about to panic. He concentrated on Ty’s touch, closing his eyes and lifting his face to the sun. He took a deep breath.

“You okay?” Ty asked gently.

“Hold on.”

“Jesus, dude,” he heard Ty muttering as he took several deep, even breaths. The weight of Ty’s hand on him, the smell of the sunshine and grass, and the rhythm of breathing in through his nose, out through his mouth all helped to push back the panic, and he finally opened his eyes again.

He nodded at Ty. “That’s unpleasant.”

“That happen a lot?”

“No, first time. Go on.”

“Sorry.” Ty’s hand didn’t leave Nick’s shoulder. “It was an actual welcome packet, not a bomb.”

Nick gave a curt nod. “From the Company?”

---