Page 4 of Catching Him

Eric forced himself to stay on topic. “I’m not in the mood to drink and I’m pretty sure I have no tears left to give.”

Several people were dancing. A love song played, and Eric wanted to die.

“Would you like to head back to the room?”

Eric was on his feet and headed for the closest door before the question died on Oakley’s lips. Oakley was hot on his heels. The walk to their hotel down the street was a silent one. Eric felt heavy. They had walked so they could get plastered. Now, Eric just felt empty and weak. He should have stayed, had a blast, and let the world see he hadn’t been broken, but he had been. Eric didn’t know how to put himself back together.

A loud, obnoxious-sounding wail escaped Oakley, making Eric jump in surprise. “You’re not going to love me anymore after tonight. I made you come and now you hate me. Your silence says it all.”

Oakley’s act was so over the top that Eric could only stare and smile while Oakley pretended to melt down.

He grabbed Eric’s arm and held on. “Please don’t hate me. I have no other friends.”

Eric laughed. “Bullshit.”

Oakley turned sweetly serious. “But you’re my best friend. No one matters the way you do.”

Eric’s eyes burned. He had to look away. It was true they spoke every single day for at least an hour at a time, but it hadn’t really occurred to him that he might be the only person Oakley spoke to that often. But when he really thought about it, Oakley was his best friend too. He really didn’t have anyone else.

Oakley linked fingers with him. “Seriously, I’m sorry I made you come. I never meant to cause you pain. There was just no way I could get out of this invitation and absolutely no one else I would come with.”

He couldn’t have Oakley thinking he caused Eric pain. “I’m not sorry. You’re right. You’re my best friend. If you suffer, I suffer. That’s how it works.”

A bark of laughter burst from Oakley. “Yeah. Weddings, in general, are pretty painful.” He got serious. “It seems unmanly to admit it, but I thought I’d be married by now. I mean, I’m thirty-six. Am I not supposed to be a settled adult by now? Fuck if I know.”

Eric’s chest hurt. “I understand. When I moved in with Jakk, I thought that’s where my life was headed. Now, look at me. Further away than ever from having my picket fence.”

“We should get married.”

A nervous chuckle escaped Eric. “Cute.”

“I’m being serious.” He sounded like it. Eric couldn’t deny that. “I like you way better than anyone else. You’re always the first person I want to talk to in the morning and the last voice I want to hear every night. No one else matters like that to me. You could get out of your aunt’s place, and quit, if you want. If you’re not working, you can travel with me. We’d have a blast.”

He was one hundred percent serious. Eric opened his mouth to say no. He didn’t want to be trapped in a loveless marriage, but no words came out. Oakley’s proposition was likely to be the only real chance he had of having a life.

Oakley bumped shoulders with him. “Come on. You want this. I can see it. You know we’d be happy.”

Eric looked over.

Oakley looked strangely hopeful.

Eric didn’t know what to say. “There’s a lot we’d need to discuss. Like, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be celibate for the rest of your life, and I have no desire to be humiliated.” Until he saidthe words, Eric didn’t realize how badly he feared being the fool again. Maybe Jakk hadn’t cheated, but he had betrayed Eric on every other level.

Oakley pulled him to a stop. He went toe to toe with Eric. They were the same height. Eric found that sexy. In fact, everything about Oakley appealed to him. Oakley shuffled closer, making Eric’s heart beat a little faster. His expression screamed he would do bad things to Eric. Eric was ashamed to admit how badly he wanted that.

“I’m absolutely willing to share my bed with you and only you.” Before Eric could process that new bit of information, Oakley kissed him. An inferno lit. They both moved closer, as if they couldn’t stand an inch between them. Oakley held Eric’s hips, staying respectful. Eric didn’t want to be respected. He wanted to be touched. It had been so goddamn long since he felt anyone’s hands on his body. He ached. Oakley’s hard chest felt amazing beneath Eric’s palms.

Oakley pulled away. His heated stare had Eric swallowing in nervousness. He would be intense and probably liked it rough. “We’ll be fine in the bedroom department.”

Eric forgot what they were talking about. “Yeah.”

A triumphant-looking smile stretched Oakley’s lips. “I’ll make you proud to be my husband.”

Goddamn. Had he just agreed to marry Oakley? He couldn’t recall. His brain was too fuzzy. What the fuck? Oakley’s gorgeouseyes never wavered from Eric. Eric realized he wanted this. There was absolutely nothing Oakley could take from him that Eric hadn’t lost before. It didn’t matter this wasn’t love. This was better.

Chapter Three

The silent inner panicwas thick. Oakley could see it in Eric’s eyes and feel it in the air. He had no intention of giving Eric time and space. Oakley had him on the ropes. Eric had agreed to marry him, which was completely insane. He wasn’t oblivious to that. That didn’t mean Oakley planned to stop. Everything amazing that had ever happened in his life was due to Oakley jumping in with both feet and no fear. That was why he knew this marriage would be no different from every other success he had achieved.

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