Page 6 of Stick By Me

I stepped inside. Should I ask? If he said his brother and bestfriend were queer, what were the odds he was, too? Maybe not very good. Fuck.

Leo grabbed my arm, stopping me in the hallway, then leaned in and whispered, “I’m not all the way straight myself. It’s a long story. Still trying to figure that shit out.”

My heart jumped and I dropped my mouth open. Holy fuck. I twisted around, my gaze fixating on his plump lips, then snapping to his brown eyes, surrounded by messy waves of dark hair. “Have lunch with me.” I blinked a few times. Why did I blurt that out? “Me and uh, Jonah. We’re getting some lunch after this. I’d like for you to come.” I wrung my hands in front of me.

“Sure, sounds like fun. I like meeting new people.” He slapped me on the shoulder and strolled down the hallway, his ass filling out his jeans in the most satisfying way.

My heart did a happy dance. I’d hit the jackpot. Jonah was going to die when I told him.

CHAPTER THREE

LEO

Why had I admitted my big secret to a complete stranger? My pulse hammered in my chest as I strode to Delores, waiting outside the cage with Goliath panting inside, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. No denying how hot Archer was. Before Remy, Axel would have been all over him. ButIwas not my brother. I did not hit on guys. Girls, yes, but guys? I glanced behind me as Archer stepped up to us. God, he was gorgeous though. And those muscles…my traitorous dick twitched in my jeans.

Delores chatted with another woman in the hallway, then faced us as the other woman walked off. “Now that you’re dry, how about cleaning a few more of the cages, then do you want to walk Goliath?”

“Sure.” I glanced at Archer. He’d be strong enough to hold the dog back on a leash.

“Great.” She clapped her hands over her chest.

An hour later,we’d cleaned the rest of the cages and Archerheld Goliath’s leash, clomping toward the front door as he attempted to keep him from running.

Goliath huffed and strained as he fought the leash, his bushy dark, brown tail wagging.

“I’ve got him, you get the door.” Archer held the leash with both hands, tensing his face.

“Are you sure? I’d hate for him to make a run for it.” With a sharp chuckle, I held the door open.

Goliath attempted to bound through the door, but Archer stomped behind him, slowing him down.

“Don’t worry, he’ll settle down in a few minutes.” Delores called out from down the hallway.

“I hope so,” Archer gritted out.

I caught up to him and petted Goliath’s head as we trudged through the parking lot to the sidewalk on the larger boulevard. “Easy, big boy. I know you don’t get out often.” I glanced at Archer, his cheeks red, the thick lashes surrounding his brown eyes and his angled jawline. Was he tough and raw on the ice and more importantly, did it carry into how he was in bed? Shit, I shouldn’t think like this. He was probably way younger than me. “How old are you, Archer?”

Knitting his brows, he glanced at me. “Twenty-three.”

Goliath stopped at a weed in the sidewalk and sniffed it.

“Oh, thank God.” He huffed a laugh, then wiped his brow. “This dog is a handful.”

“Want me to hold his leash for a bit?” I stepped beside him and held out my hand. I’d forgo watching his thick biceps for a while to help out.

“Naw, that’s okay.” He flashed me the cutest smile, then wetted his lips as his gaze found my mouth. “Can I ask how old you are?”

God damn, how was this guy hitting all my buttons? “What?” I followed him down the sidewalk as Goliath ambled on.

“Sorry, is it rude to ask how old you are?” He strolled to a palo verde tree planted between us and a masonry wall.

“Oh, no, it’s not rude. I don’t think it’s rude.” I pondered the question. Wait a minute. I worried my lower lip. Did he think I was so old it was rude to ask? “How old do you think I am?”

“Um…” He winced as Goliath sniffed the tree trunk, then lifted his leg. “I don’t want to give the wrong answer.”

Shaking my head, I smirked at him. “Fine. I’m twenty-nine.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not that old. I’m not thirty…yet.” But pretty damn close. Shit, this guy was younger than Axel.

He nodded, looking me up and down, then lurched as Goliath jerked on the leash with a pounce on the sidewalk. “Shit, slow down, boy.” He pulled tightly on the leash. “How long do you think we should walk him?”

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