Page 131 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

He stills, pulling back to see my face. “Yeah?”

“Mhm. Are you excited for your coming-out party this weekend?”

“Oh, fuck yeah,” Brad says with a grin. “Edible phalluses have been procured, porn stars have been assembled, and I’m ready to grind away on your hammies. Or your quads. Any preference on whether I’m in back or in front?”

I snort. “You can have any side of me you want, bub.”

“Oh, shit. That’s hot. If you happen to see a ‘Property of Brad’ fanny pack show up in your closet, don’t worry about it, okay?”

“Um.”

Brad jumps up, climbing off my lap and jogging for the door. “Waffles, Joey!”

With a laugh, I follow after him.

Brad is in the living room when I arrive, opening our boxes of chicken and waffles. “So here’s what I’m thinking,” he says, setting our controllers down next to our food. “We fuel up while taking out the zombies at the old textiles factory because they’re easy. Then you’ll have my rear once we reach the abandoned motel. I want you plastered to my back, Joey. Don’t be afraid to unload everything you’ve got. After that, once we make it through the overrun alleyway and get to the forest cache outside the city, I’ll return the favor. Bros gotta take care of each other’s fannies, dude.”

As Brad details our game plan, setting out silverware and drinks as he talks, there’s a profound sense of peace that settles over me. This, right here, is a simple moment. It’s not grandiose or accompanied by fanfare. But that doesn’t make it any less important. It’s Brad and me, spending our evening together. One of many more to come.

What I said to Brad is true. I’ve felt lucky since the moment he came into my life. When I saw him laugh and felt it like a physical blow to my sternum.

When he hugged me the first time and didn’t let go.

When he became my friend, listening when I talked and sharing his own stories—his own self—with me in return.

When he asked me to kiss him because he wanted proof that what he was feeling was real.

Every time he’s touched me, cuddled me, slept with his head on my chest.

Every press of his lips to mine and the way he smiles at me as if squinting into the sun.

Those eyes, so green, always laughing. Always happy and kind.

His honesty.

His goodness.

The way he loves.

I’ve felt lucky every day since meeting this man, and I know I’ll continue being the luckiest person alive.

Because of him. All because of him.

“Joey,” Brad says in amusement, snorting as he holds up a piece of chicken with his fork. It’s covered in syrup from his waffles. “Look. This chicken strip looks like a peen, dude! It even has two balls, see? Well, maybe one and a half. Something definitely happened to the second one. But still.” He wiggles the chicken a bit. “Think I can get it down in one bite?”

Yep, that’s the one.

I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving that man.

I can’t wait.

Chapter 33

Brad

“Birdie!”

“Fuck my life,” my bestie from another nestie mutters, his arms squashed at his sides as I hug him tight. “Cas. Little help here?”

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