Page 1 of Twice the Problems

Chapter One

Thescentofexpensivecologne wafted over Dodge before he saw him. Salem. Wow. He was beautiful in a way Dodge hadn’t encountered before three years ago when the guy married Dodge’s dad. Well, stepdad. Dodge’s mom had married JD when Dodge was sixteen. His stepson from a previous marriage had already lived here. Meeting Quest was a different story. Salem was the one who caught him totally by surprise. Darkblond hair, slim body, and pouty lips came together to create perfection. He supposed that was what it took to catch the eye of a ninety-year-old billionaire and be married in under a month. Hell, JD had gone on vacation to the greyhound track in Pensacola to bet on the races. That was how short their dating relationship had been. Three weeks in Florida and JD had come home wearing a wedding band and smiling like a fucking idiot. The guy had smiled like that every day until his heart gave out in under six months. Since he left a majority of his wealth to Salem, Quest and he might have contested the will, except they had been here every day of thatmarriage. Not only had JD been happier than Dodge had ever seen him, but his mind had also been sound. JD’s money ended up exactly where he wanted it to go. Thankfully, Salem was the greatest person—next to Quest—Dodge had ever met. Unfortunately, the guy made Dodge feel things, and he didn’t know where to go with that.

Salem’s gorgeous smile lit the room when he spotted Dodge sprawled out on the couch. “Hello, beautiful.”

“Hi.” God, how did Salem not hear the longing, happiness, and love in every word Dodge said?

He watched Salem cross the room. His heart beat faster with every step.Salem bent and kissed his forehead. “What’s wrong? It’s not like you to be home this time of day. Did they close the gym?” Salem’s laughter took the sting from the question. He hated that was all anyone thought he was: a gym bro with nothing else to offer except a nice body. That was probably true, but fuck. He wanted Salem to see him differently. Dodge knew he did, but today, his thoughts were ugly.

Dodge shrugged. “I guess I’m kind of bored with life today. Why do you smell so good? Are you going somewhere? Can I come?” Damn, he really wanted Salem to make him come. Dodge wanted to slap himself. Why was helike this with Salem?

“You think I smell good? Awww. Thank you. Shaw is coming by to take me to coffee.”

Dodge nearly groaned. They had met Shaw Howe at their old roommate Tarek’s wedding. The guy was a big-time lawyer. Like everyone, Shaw eyed Salem like a starving man watching his meal cook in the microwave. The impatient hunger made Dodge want to punch him in his objectively handsome face.

Dodge rolled from the couch. “Welp, there’s my cue. I guess I’ll see if Quest wants to do something.”

Salem touched his arm, stopping him before he got away. His gazemoved over Dodge’s face, looking into his soul the way only Salem did. “What’s wrong, sweetie? You know you can talk to me about anything. Do you not like Shaw? I trust your judgment of people.”

He was so amazing. Salem was the only person other than Quest who didn’t treat him like an idiot. Dodge shook his head. He felt guilty for making Salem consider his feelings at all. “Nah. It’s not that. He’s just a lot smarter than me and I don’t know.” He shrugged.

“Don’t say things like that. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. There’s no one outthere as beautiful as you, and that has nothing to do with looks.”

Dodge dipped his head. He never knew what to say when Salem said things like that. Dodge knew he was just being kind, but it still made him feel good. “Seriously. Go enjoy your date or whatever.”

Salem kissed his cheek. “It’s not a date. It’s coffee.”

Dodge forced a smile and bit his tongue. Coffee was a date, but whatever. He walked away. He couldn’t think straight when Salem stood too close. Dodge needed to find Quest. Quest understood him like no one.

Quest’s bedroom light was off, and the curtains drawn. Dodge never knocked. They were closer than a closed door.

He crawled into bed with Quest. “Why are you still sleeping?”

A throaty chuckle came from beneath Quest’s pillow. The sound made Dodge smile—the way it always did. “Hangover.”

“Ah. I’ll talk softly.”

Dodge swore he heard Quest smile. “You’re good. You know I find you soothing.”

Quest always made Dodge feel cherished. Dodge knew he wasn’t special. He was a pretty faceand muscular body. Nobody wanted to hear his thoughts or asked his opinion. From the day they met, Quest had been different. Dodge couldn’t imagine life without him.

“I have something I need to talk about, but I don’t know where to start. My head is kind of a mess about it.”

“Salem.”

Dodge was taken aback. He didn’t respond.

Another chuckle caressed his ears. Quest appeared from beneath the pillow and tucked it beneath his head. On his side, facing Dodge, he gave Dodge his fullattention. “I know. He’s…”

“Yeah,” Dodge said, totally understanding. “You too, huh?” Dodge wasn’t surprised. He had seen the way Quest looked at Salem. They had similar tastes. Always had.

Quest’s feet brushed his. Silence grew between them. Neither of them wanted to be the first to admit how badly they wanted this.

Dodge was the first to break. “The usual rules?”

A bark of laughter burst from Quest. “We’re talking about Salem here. I think we’ll have to wing it a bit.”

They shared a smile. Dodge finally felt a hint of peace. Quest had him. Everything would be okay.