Page 12 of Twice the Problems

Obviously reading his mind, Salem stroked his arm. “It’s okay, puppy. She wasn’t upset. I’m superb at rejecting people.”

Shaw snorted, but wasn’t dumb enough to speak.

The muscle in Quest’s jaw worked double time.

Dodge really wished he felt better.

Quest stood. “Come on, Dodge. We’re obviously interrupting a date. Let’s go to The Three-Legged Cowboyinstead. I noticed they had a menu taped by the door and we got a lot of interesting offers last night.”

Whoa. Quest was for real pissed and would make a scene if Dodge didn’t leave with him.

Shaw looked amused.

Salem stared at his menu like his life depended on it, but there was no missing the way his shoulders were set—the way they always were when he tried to hold himself together.

“Okay. Sorry, guys. I didn’t realize.” He stood and pushed in his chair. Without looking back or waiting for a response, Dodge followed Quest to the door. He rushedahead and held open the door for Quest, hoping to smooth things over. Dodge wasn’t sure exactly what he had done wrong, but it definitely felt like his fault. The second he heard the doors unlock on Quest’s truck, he ran to open that door for Quest as well.

Instead of climbing inside, Quest snagged Dodge’s waist and swept him inside the open doorway. The tall vehicle somewhat hid them from sight. Quest’s mouth covered his. Their tongues battled. The quivering inside Dodge eased. He didn’t feel quite as much tightness in his chest.

Quest pulled away and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry. Let’s just runthrough the drive-thru somewhere. I didn’t mean to ruin lunch.”

“Okay.”

Quest didn’t release him. He held Dodge’s stare. His heart was in his eyes. “I love you. I just can’t sit there with that bastard.”

Dodge nodded. “Okay. I love you too.”

“Really, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“How did you embarrass me?” Dodge was confused as hell.

Quest swiped a hand over his eyes. “That whole Three-Legged Cowboy thing and claimingpeople offered us a bunch of shit. Jesus. I don’t know what happened.”

Dodge cupped Quest’s face between his hands so he couldn’t get away. “Stop. I’m not embarrassed. If you think I care if people think I’m gay, you should know I don’t. If you think I don’t want anyone to know we’re more than ex-stepbrothers, that’s bullshit. I love you. I’ll never be ashamed of that. Okay?”

Quest nodded. He looked devastated. Dodge got it. Quest hated losing his temper, even more so when Salem was around. Salem couldn’t handle otherpeople’s anger.

Dodge kissed him. “It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Quest nodded again.

Love swelled inside Dodge’s chest. He saw how hard Quest fought to hold everything and everyone together. He had to feel like no one did the same for him. “Get in. I’m driving. I have an idea.”

With another defeated-looking nod, Quest circled the truck and climbed inside. Dodge filled the driver’s seat and waited until Quest had his seatbelt on to pull from the lot. Sometimes, knowing someone for a long time paid off. Dodge knew exactly how to fix this.

Defeat sat heavily on Quest’s shoulders. From the moment he saw Salem with someone else, rage coated his vision. Then Shaw had called Dodge an idiot. Someone else had blatantly hit on Dodge. Salem didn’t leave with them. Everything felt like a fucking mess. He had no idea where they were headed. Quest didn’t even pay attention to his surroundings. All he saw was the dozen ways he had fucked up today.

Then Dodge pulled into the parking lot of amini golf course that was owned by one of the biggest gossips in town. They had come here a lot back when Dodge first came to live with him. Then the owner had kept spreading rumors about Dodge among the upper crust. They had all been true, but that was another story, and a huge part of Dodge’s mental destruction. Until then, though, Quest had loved this place. It was loud and bright. Fun. It reminded him of Dodge’s personality when he was happy—like when they worked on creating a new game. Dodge could be so animated. Mesmerizing.

“Come on.” Dodge climbed from the truck before Quest could remind him who owned the place.

Quest reluctantly slipped from the vehicle. He barely made it two steps before Dodge was at his side, holding his hand. He dragged Quest toward the door.

“What are we doing?”

Dodge flashed him a smile so blinding, it stunned him into silence. He forgot what they were talking about. “Just trust me.”

“I do.”