Page 14 of Finally
“How?” Jack asked disbelievingly. “You briefly met Devon, so you already know he’s—”
“Insufferable. Yes, I’m well aware. Whoever set you up with him should be banned from having any future opinions about anything.”
“I don’t know that I’d phrase it quite like that.”
“You wouldn’t because you’re the nicest person in the world. Sometimes I hate that for you, by the way.”
“Same.” Jack chuckled.
“I, on the other hand, have no compunction about calling a spade a spade and that guy was a tool.”
“Nice play on words.” Jack smiled at him.
“The English minor comes in handy sometimes.” Gray grinned back and then clasped Jack’s forearm and squeezed it. “Seriously though, I have a plan that will get our friends off your back and ensure all your dates from here on out are an absolute delight.”
“Please enlighten me.”
“Choose me to be your date.”
With an eye roll and a head shake, Jack glanced down at his plate and forked his next bite. “I already have dinner with you more frequently than I do with anyone else so I guess you’re right.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Lips around his fork, Jack glanced at him and furrowed his brow in confusion.
“Right now, Kevin and everyone else keeps throwing men at you because you’re single and they think you’ll be happier if you have a boyfriend. I happen to agree with them on that last part so let’s solve it. I’ll be your boyfriend.”
Jack gulped down his food. “You’ll be my boyfriend?”
“Yep. I realize I don’t bring a ton of experience to the table for this exact role, but I think my other qualifications make me the best candidate for the job. Plus, I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary to prove myself. We can think of it as an unpaid internship that could result in a permanent position if I do well enough.”
After a few moments of silence, Jack said, “Gray?”
“Yes?”
“I have no idea what we’re talking about.”
Sliding his hand down to Jack’s, Gray wove their fingers together. “Let me be clearer.” He raised Jack’s left hand, leaned forward, and kissed the back of it. “Jack Storm, I’d like to date you.”
After more quiet contemplation, Jack said, “Because you think this will make everyone back off from setting me up with people?”
“Among other things, yes.” There was a lot being left unsaid, Gray realized, including the actual reason for his offer. But once he had Jack all to himself, he’d have plenty of time to make him comfortable and ease into a new type of relationship. Gray had been moving toward this moment for years so on his side thepace was glacial, but Jack was running on a different timeline and his needs were what mattered. Slow and steady wins the race, and with Jack as the prize at the end, Gray had endless patience.
***
“Do you think they throw away the parts they cut off?” Gray asked.
“Looks like it.” Jack squinted at the television as he untucked his leg from underneath his backside. “I don’t know why they do that with perfectly good cake. It’s such a waste.”
“I’m assuming it’s so they have straight edges when they frost it, but you’re right. There must be some way to use it.”
“We can ask the teacher in class tomorrow afternoon.” As promised, Gray had signed them up for a three-week baking class. The first one was the following day, and Jack was looking forward to it more than he had anticipated. “Do you know what we’re making?” Still not comfortable, Jack stretched his shoulders back, scratched his neck, and then crossed his legs, resting his left foot on his right knee.
“Mmm,” Gray pursed his lips. “I think the schedule’s on the website. I’ll check.” He picked up his phone from the end table and started typing. “You okay there?” He darted his gaze toward Jack and grinned. “You’re extra wiggly tonight.”
“I can’t get comfortable.” Jack put both feet on the floor, but instead of staying still, his right foot reflexively started tapping. His body was tired from a long workday and a big meal, but his brain was on overdrive because of their dinner conversation. The dichotomy of tired and wired had him on edge. He didn't quite understand what Gray had meant by being his boyfriend and he didn’t know how to ask without guilting Gray into doing something he didn’t want to do.
Were they actually dating or were they pretending to date? Had Gray been doing Jack a favor by offering to play boyfriendin public or did he intend for the game to carry over into their private time? If it was the latter, what did that mean? Jack’s sex life had always resided somewhere in the neighborhood of nonexistent and disappointing. When he was young, it was because Jaime hadn’t been interested in the physical aspect of their relationship. After they broke up, Jack hadn’t felt safe enough with anyone to enjoy himself, so he rarely tried. But he felt safe with Gray, and to hear their friends say it, Gray had an extremely free and non-discerning policy when it came to sex, so would the boyfriend idea include Gray touching him? It wasn’t the first time Jack had fantasized about that possibility, but he could usually get his thoughts under control. Their earlier conversation now made that impossible.
