Page 67 of The Long Game

Once Jack had a good hold of Fiona and was patting her back gently, Garrick dragged an enormous chair meant for sleeping or nursing close enough that their knees almost touched. Rhian handed Garrick a large carton, which he cracked open so the smell of fresh, hot lo mein hid the antiseptic scent of the hospital.

Rhian settled on the edge of the bed to share the tray table with Savannah. Not even the feast before them, though, could pry their undivided attention from Jack.

Jack kept patting Fiona’s back and wondered if he could pretend he hadn’t said anything. Fiona came to the rescue when she let out a belch that would have made any frat boy proud.

Her parents looked like she’d hung the moon.

Jack laughed at them while Garrick helped him transition Fiona from his shoulder down to cradle her against his chest. His hands had never looked so enormous or felt so inadequate.

He stared down into Fiona’s vague gaze and knew her parents would see to it that she’d always be safe and loved and wanted.Jack would do the same.

It felt enormous. And simple.

“I assume we’re talking about Grady,” Garrick said like it was no big deal and as if Jack had evercome to him to talk about boys in their entire lives.

“We’ve been spending a lot of time together. I’ve been helping him,” Jack explained, “with the whole Colton situation.” Everyone nodded. Jack had filled Garrick in on what was going on and Garrick had checked in since, offering his, Savannah’s, and Rhian’s help. “And it’s got me…thinking about stuff.”

Garrick chewed slowly, his gaze going to Rhian and lingering there before returning to Jack. “Change can be scary,” he observed.

“It is. Or it can be. But we’ve been friends a long time, so I don’t know what my problem is. There hasn’t really been any change. Except…” Jack trailed off, trying to put into words what he didn’t understand himself.

Garrick tilted his head. “Except?”

Jack focused on Fiona, sneaking one glance at Garrick before saying, “We’ve been sleeping together.”

The sound of Savannah trying to cough up the food she sucked into her lung almost drowned out the thump of Garrick’s carton hitting the floor between his feet. Garrick sat frozen, his loaded chopsticks halfway to his mouth, his other hand empty, staring at Jack.

“It’s justsleep,” Jack said. “Just sleeping. That’s it.”

With the help of Rhian whacking her on the back, Savannah managed to breathe again. Garrick picked up his dinner, whichby some miracle had landed upright. He took a bite and eyed Jack while he chewed and swallowed.

“So, when you say together, you mean he’s on the couch and you’re in the bed and you just sleep under the same roof?”

Jack rolled his eyes. “First of all, you know Grady would never fit on my couch. Or any couch.”

Garrick’s eyebrows went up, but Rhian—ever sensible—nodded. “Gradyissuper tall.”

“Right? Ridiculously tall,” Jack agreed. “He’d have to curl into a ball to fit.”

“So, he spends the night…in your bed,” Garrick said.

“Actually, we’ve been at his place, mostly. He’s got more room.”

“Do you mean, like, a guest room?” Garrick asked.

“No.”

“Twin beds?”

Jack glared at his friend. “No.”

“So, you just lie next to each other, doing that weird and awkward thing where you try not to touch?”

Jack’s face went hot. “Not exactly.”

Garrick’s eyes narrowed. “Do you lie there with one finger pressed to his cheek?”

Jack laughed and shook his head. “You’re such an asshole.”

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