Chapter Nine
Thenightbecameablur of champagne and congratulations. When it finally wound down, and it was only a select few friends left, Salem’s shoulders relaxed. Six chairs surrounded the small table inside the kitchen, Salem at one end and Lazarus at the other. Dodge and Quest sat on the right and left of him. Joesph and Noir sat on the right and left of Lazarus. In the center of the table, along with a few open liquorbottles and filled glasses, sat the infamous Two Dares game. Salem eyed the deck, wondering how and why they were doing this. It seemed Noir had made a valiant effort to get to know the boys. From there, it hadn’t taken long for them to confess their secret career. Then, somehow, here they were. Salem had no idea how this would go or where it would end. All he knew was it wouldn’t be the same as last time.
This time, it turned out Joesph was the oldest. Somehow, miraculously, they had already made one loop around the table without anythinglewd happening.
Joesph drew his second card and read, “Hop on one foot or text your crush.” Joesph looked down at the wheelchair he sat in and chewed his bottom lip.
Dodge jumped in to save him. “That one is a bit unfair. You can draw another card.”
Joesph shook his head. “It doesn’t say what I have to text them.” He picked up his phone and typed for a moment before setting his phone facedown again. “There.”
Thankfully, no one was nosey enough to ask who or what Joesph had texted.
Dodge drew the next card. “Tell your biggest secret or tell the person to your right how you really feel about them.” Without missing a beat, Dodge looked Joesph’s way. “It was really great talking to you tonight. I hope you want to be friends.”
Salem’s heart squeezed. Dodge was such a beautiful soul. It was hard to make friends as an adult and it definitely wasn’t easy to ask someone to be your friend without sounding like a five-year-old. Salem loved him.
Joesph smiled. It was genuine and lit his eyes. “Absolutely.”
Salem grabbed a card before anyone daredmake Dodge uncomfortable. “Do the entire Electric Slide or take five shots of the nearest liquor.” There was less than zero chance Salem would do the Electric Slide. Luckily, there were already a few bottles of alcohol on the table he could stomach straight. Salem grabbed one and Dodge jumped up to get him a shot glass. He poured the first shot of tequila and quickly did all five while everyone counted loudly.
Lazarus blew out a low whistle. “Damn. You didn’t even flinch.”
Salem laughed, hoping to hide the way his head already spun. “This is the good shit. I worked in casinos my whole adult life before marrying JD. I’ve drunk a lot of shots.”
Quest shook his head. “Maybe stop there just the same. You don’t weigh enough for all that.”
Salem snorted but didn’t argue. He wasn’t a big drinker any longer.
Quest drew the next card. “Do a backflip or tell an uncomfortable story about yourself. Well, fuck. I’m too old to be doing backflips.”
“Not to mention you can’t do a backflip.”
Everyone laughed at Dodge’s interjection.
A big, goofy smile lit Quest’s face. “True.” He tapped the card on the table and stared into space, as if trying to think of a story.Finally, another smile passed over his lips. “When I was six, my mom introduced me to JD. It’s important to note I don’t know my dad. If my mom knows who he is, she never told me, and we don’t talk anymore because I chose JD over her.” Quest used air quotes around the last part. Salem got it. She was fucking childish. “Anyhow, I didn’t know my dad, so obviously, I didn’t know his family. So when Mom was all, ‘there’s someone I want you to meet.’ All I saw was an old man. A man old enough to be my grandfather. Hell, maybe my great-grandfather. So, of course, I got all excited and yelled, ‘Are you my grandad?’” A loud bark of laughter burst from Quest. “Mymom beat me for that.”
Salem’s smile fell at that last tidbit.
Joesph’s phone loudly buzzed on the table, saving Salem from saying all the words clogging his throat and ruining the night. Joesph turned over his phone and read his text. His face stayed completely blank. “Well, guys. I hate to bail on you, but it looks like I need to head home.”
Dodge stood. “Do you need a ride? I don’t remember if you’ve had anything to drink.”
Joesph’s expression turned sweet. “Thank you, but no. Stay. Enjoy your game.”
Dodge nodded.
Noir stood. “I hate to abandon you too, but it’s late.”
Everyone came to their feet.
Salem followed them to the door, saying his final goodbyes. A wave of relief washed over him when he shut the door behind them. He was beyond ready to have his peace back. The kitchen was empty when he returned. Their cleaning staff would pick up the mess, so Salem left it behind and went in search of his men. The light was on in the bedroom, so Salem started there. The room was empty, but the French doors stood open. Through the doorway, he saw Dodge shirtless and staring at the sky. Questwas nowhere to be found. Salem made his way outside. He didn’t want to disturb Dodge, but he equally needed to touch him. Salem molded against his back. With his cheek pressed against his skin, Salem ran his hand up Dodge’s chest until he covered Dodge’s heart. He savored the steady beat.
“Sometimes, I just stand out here and think about how small I am.”
Salem’s eyes stung at the wonder in Dodge’s voice. He was so much more than anyone saw. His mind was beautiful.
“There’s so much out there. I wonder if anyone else thinks about that—like how we’re not even a speck bycomparison. Yet I still believe you’re part of me. I still think this isn’t the first lifetime where I loved you and Quest. It’s like I knew you two already when we met, and I know I’ll find you both in the next life. I just don’t understand how less than a speck ended up blessed like that.”