Page 43 of Chasing Secrets
Sodas sweated in a galvanized tub, ice clicking like little bells whenever someone dug around for a cold one.
Preston sprawled beside Jalen on the blanket, barefoot, a smear of barbecue sauce drying at the corner of his mouth like war paint.
“Don’t trust Liam’s baked beans,” Preston warned, pointing his fork at the suspicious pan on the folding table. “He said, ‘secret ingredient’ and wiggled his eyebrows.”
“Hard pass.” Jalen laughed so hard his stomach hurt. “I barely survived your unicorn ice cream suggestion yesterday. I’m not dying by bean.”
Shadows pooled under the trees at the edge of the yard. Sunlight glittered on the house’s windows. Somewhere, a radio hummed along to a rock song that had too much guitar. It all felt normal, which, for Jalen, translated to surreal in a good way.
He felt it before he saw it. Eyes on him that didn’t feel like a weight but more like a warm hand between his shoulder blades.
Across the lawn, Chase watched him with that quiet, reverent look that crawled under Jalen’s ribs and set up camp. Not just looking. Studying him like he’d done something holy simply by existing on a piece of plaid blanket.
Preston followed his gaze then grinned around another forkful of potato salad. “Go,” he said, flicking his fork toward Chase. “I’ll guard the blanket with my life. And the deviled eggs.”
“Those eggs don’t need a guard,” Jalen said, pushing to his feet. “They need an intervention.”
Warm grass pressed through the thin weave of the blanket as he stood. Sun heated the back of his neck. He brushed his palms on his shorts for no reason, like he could wipe off nerves.
Chase met him halfway—just cedar and clean sweat and a breath of spice from the grill clinging to his mate’s skin. Strong arms wrapped around Jalen like that was the most natural thing a body could do.
Not crushing, not possessive. Just close. He fit there in a way that made him think of the word “home” and want to roll his eyes at himself for being that guy.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Chase murmured against his hairline. Breath warm, voice low enough that it soaked right into Jalen’s skin. “You look like sunlight. Proud of you.”
Everything in Jalen went soft and obnoxiously content. He huffed against Chase’s chest anyway, because being sappy in public felt illegal. “You’re going to ruin my street cred.”
“Tragic.” Chase kissed his temple. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
For a beat, Jalen let himself soak in the solid weight of arms around him, the steady drags of breath against his ear, the way he fit under his mate’s chin without trying.
A cheer went up near the cornhole boards. Wade fist-bumped Liam over a perfect throw, Bayne heckled them with a mouthful of chips, and Quinn pretended not to care whether his ribs disappeared off the platter in thirty seconds. Vaughn was seated under an oak tree, a paper plate balanced on his knees, eating in a way that said he wanted to be left alone.
Counting without meaning to, Jalen landed on fourteen wolves moving around each other like a machine that knew its parts. Apparently, family looked suspiciously like lawn chairs and paper plates and goofy smiles.
“Stay,” Chase murmured into his hair when Jalen shifted like maybe he’d step back. “I like you here.”
“Let me think about it,” Jalen said, but he stayed, cheek tucked against muscle warmed by the sun. His mouth went dry for no good reason. Or maybe a very good one. He’d rehearsed this in the shower, in bed at three a.m., at the sink while brushing his teeth. All those practice runs, and now the words tried to boomerang back down his throat.
A deep breath didn’t help. His heart thudded. He felt Chase’s answering beat like a quiet knock under his own breastbone. Just three little words everyone else threw around in their everyday lives.
“I have something…” he started then winced. “That sounds like I’m about to hand you a coupon book.”
Chase’s smile eased, small and crooked. “Hit me with your best deal.”
“Okay.” Jalen exhaled and pressed closer, his voice dropping just for his mate. “I love you.”
Wind lifted the hair at Jalen’s temple like it wanted to be dramatic on his behalf. He didn’t let it. He waited, pulse punching along at a reckless speed.
Chase’s face softened in a way that should’ve been illegal. No grand shock, no wide-eyed moment. Just warmth. Thumb sliding along Jalen’s jaw with that careful touch he used when he was holding something he cherished.
“Yeah,” he said quietly, like they were swapping a secret. “I love you too.”
Lips met his, slow and warm, a kiss that tasted like char from the grill. No urgency. Just confirmation and a private knowledge that they’d both said it out loud. He chased it for one more second before Preston whooped something about PDA and Zeppelin threatened to spray them with the hose.
Jalen stepped back just enough to breathe, fingers still hooked in the belt loop of Chase’s shorts like the universe would try to steal him. “If anyone asks, the sun made me do it.”
“I’ll blame UV exposure,” Chase agreed, grinning like a man who’d gotten away with something.
