Page 70 of The Long Game

“No,” Jack said thoughtfully. “It’s perfect. One of my favorites.”

Which Grady knew. What he didn’t know was why Jack was looking at him like he had questions.

Grady was too much of a chicken to ask. “I’m glad,” he mumbled instead, stuffing a bite of yellow chicken curry into his mouth to prevent any feelings from falling out.

They ate in companionable silence. Jack was rinsing their dishes in the sink when Grady’s phone chimed with the alert from work.

Fuck. Please don’t be anything serious.He loved his job, but he was also counting the seconds until he could crawl into bed with Jack.

Grady frowned at the text message.

“What is it?” Jack asked, coming to stand next to him.

Grady considered playing it off as nothing but shoved the selfish impulse aside. Jack didn’t want to be coddled, and he had reason to know.

“It’s John Babcock. I asked some people to keep an eye out for him and they’re letting me know he got in a bar fight earlier.”

Jack tensed, but his expression was wry when he let out a snort. “Yeah, that sounds about right. Is he being charged?” he asked hopefully. Which—fair enough.

“Not clear. I’ll find out tomorrow when I go in, but it’s not likely anyone will want charges brought.”

“Wait. Where was the fight? Here in Moncton?”

Grady grimaced. “Yeah. Over at Bull’s.”Of course.A brawl broke out at least once a week at Bull’s Bar and Grill. If they charged everyone involved, they’d have to install a revolving door at the station.

“Okay. That’s good to know,” Jack said, voice flat and face blank.

Shit.Grady put his phone down and reached for Jack, then let his hands drop back to his sides. He wanted to do somethingto help, to make Jack feel better or safer or whatever he might need, but maybe now wasn’t the time to touch Jack without his permission.

Jack didn’t look at him. Didn’t react. “I’m sorry,” he said, his gaze somewhere over Grady’s shoulder.

“For what? It’s not your fault Babcock is a fucking idiot.”

“No, I mean I’m sorry my past keeps coming up.” He made a face, a sour twist of lips that Grady hated.

“I’m not.”

Jack finally met his eyes. “What?”

“I’m not sorry your past keeps coming up. Don’t get me wrong, I wish someone would rocket Babcock into orbit and you’d never have to hear his name again, but if heisgoing to be around, I want to help. If you don’t want that asshole anywhere near you, then I want to do whatever I can to see that happen.”

Jack almost smiled. “Thanks.”

“Also,” Grady added, hoping he wasn’t about to step in it, “sharing your past with Colton earlier was…it was huge. Thank you. Nothing I said would have made as big an impact. I couldn’tmake him see he has nothing to be ashamed of, but you”—he made another abortive attempt to reach for Jack and jerked his hand back—“you didn’t have to tell him, or me, any of that. You didn’t have to open yourself up. I want you to know I’m humbledyou trusted us.”

Jack’s cheeks glowed pink and Grady’s hands shook with the desire to cup them and pull Jack close.

“I want to know about your past, Jack,” he continued more quietly, his voice getting hoarse as the feelings fell out despite his best intentions. “I want to learn everything there is to know about you.”

“But what if it’s ugly? What if parts of me are still broken?” Jack asked, his voice just as rough.

“So what if there are? I only want to help heal them, if it’s true. If I can. We all have scars, Jack. We all have things that molded us into the people we are. They don’t make you ugly,” he said, his voice honed down and as raw as the ache in his chest and the pain in Jack’s gaze. “You’re the most beautiful person I know.”

Jack frowned. “That’s just genetics.”

“No, I don’t mean that. I mean,yes, you’re fucking gorgeous. But that’s not what I’m talking about, okay? I’m talking about what’s in here.” He gently tapped Jack’s chest. “You’re a good person. Always kind. Always willing to help others. Hearing about your past, about the terrible things that have happened to you and how you’ve survived, doesn’t tarnish that. You’ve had to be so fucking strong. How can that not make me see you as evenmorebeautiful?”

Grady’s heart pounded while Jack stared at him, his eyes searching Grady’s overly earnest, too-honest, utterly transparent, stupid face.

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