Page 18 of Demon Hunter

I knew that’s what this was leading toward, but it still sends a giddy wave of euphoria through me. “Are you sure?”

He nods. “Positive.” Then he winces. “Ian’s gonna kill us both for keeping it a secret.”

“Pfft. Let me deal with Ian.”

Chapter 8

Dylan

“You’rewhat?”Ian’s exclamation is about what I expected.

Matt gives a tiny shrug. “You heard me.”

His platonic life partner shakes his head in utter betrayal. “No. Nope. Nuh-uh. You’re messing with me. This is like when you told the doctor it’s 2015. Well, Matthias Coates, you have a weird sense of humor, but I’m on to you.” He rounds on me. “What did he bribe you with to get you to agree to this?”

“Sexual favors,” I reply promptly. “Though, now that I think of it, I was the one who offered those the first time. Over a year ago.”

Ian stares at me in disbelief, and then his face crumples—along with his knees. Only Marc’s lightning-quick reflexes have him landing in a chair instead of the floor. “It’s true? Oh my god. And it’s been over a year? Oh mygod.”

I’m actually enjoying myself, which isn’t something I thought I’d say while Matt’s in a hospital bed, wrapped in fiberglass casts and stitched together in various places. Ian’s drama is definitely fun to watch. “Technically, we’ve been dating for… what is it, Matty? Nine months now?”

“Nearly ten,” he corrects. “The sex was so good that we knew pretty fast it was more.”

Ian fake gags. “No details. I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me.”

“You’re one to talk,” Matt retorts, looking pointedly at Marc.

“Uh, I think the situation was a bit different!”

“What situation was a bit different?” Connor asks as he and Gabe walk in.

“And stop yelling, or the nurses will kick us out,” Gabe adds.

Ian glares at them both. “Did you know about this? Did you?”

“Tone it down, baby bro. I’ve only had one coffee, my boyfriend is across the country, and the water pressure at the hotel is shit. I’m not in a patient mood.”

We all stare at him, because “Connor” and “patient” don’t belong in the same sentence. Or universe.

“Did we know what?” Gabe asks calmly. He’s the patient one.

The question snaps Ian out of his stupor. “About this! That! Them!”

“Could we have fewer pronouns and more of everything else, please?”

Marc huffs in appreciation and tips his head toward Gabe. “Very clever, gatekeeper.”

While Gabe’s face shows he’s trying to decide whether he likes Marc’s praise or not, Ian blurts, “Did you know Matt and Dylan are together?Dating?”

“What?” Connor’s exclamation is genuine. Then his eyes go wide with what looks like remorse. “Holy fuck, Dylan, why didn’t you say anything? We would have let you sit with him more.”

I shift uncomfortably. “Matt wanted to be the one to tell you. I-If I’d said anything, it would be like admitting…” I don’t finish the sentence; they all get it.

Ian narrows his eyes accusingly at Gabe. “You haven’t said anything. Did you know?”

“No.” Gabe shrugs. “Not officially. But Tom suspected, and he mentioned it to me before he left. Since then, I’ve been payingcloser attention, and it seemed… possible.” He turns to me. “By the way, he also said if it was true, to apologize for the pressure he was putting on you to look after us. He was testing his theory.”

He… I laugh. “I knew I liked Tom. That’s ingenious.” Even if it felt like torture at the time.

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