Page 99 of The Long Game

“No, what?”

“I panicked.”

Garrick smiled ruefully. “He did.”

Rhian laughed. “God, it hit me all at once and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted it not to be true, even as I wanted him to love me back more than I wanted to draw my next breath.”

Jack’s heart hitched in his chest. He didn’t say anything, but Rhian’s expression said he didn’t need to.

“My suggestion,” Rhian said gently, “is to listen to Savannah. Just…lean into it. I don’t know Grady as well as I know you, but I think it will be okay if you do.”

Jack’s heart pounded in his chest, the hope and fear overwhelming.

“But even if it’s not,” Rhian added, making Jack’s chest go so tight he could barely breathe, “you have a lot of people who love you. A lot of people who want to celebrate your successes and will grieve your losses with you. If you were going for the wholeI am an islandthing, you fucked it up even worse than me, Jack Chevalier.”

Jack laughed, but it was damp and a little choked. “That doesn’t make it less scary.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Rhian agreed, “but I can tell you this:it will be worth it. Whatever happens, you’d regret not going all-in more than you’ll ever regret putting yourself out there. And if it works out the way you want it to?” Rhian grinned at Garrick and Savannah. “You get more than you ever thought possible, I can promise you that.”

19

Grady tried to relax in the rigid guest chair and silently wished Colton would stop bouncing his leg like he was trying to tap outWar and Peacein Morse code. They probably should have skipped the coffee—even if it was decaf—though, given the way Colton was clinging to the cup like it was his security blanket, Grady couldn’t regret it. Whatever helped Colton get through this was worth it.

Jack sat calmly on Grady’s other side, his hands folded in his lap. If Grady didn’t know better, he would have said Jack was relaxed. But Grady could see Jack was as tense as Colton. What Grady didn’t know waswhy. Jack had given him a big smile and a sweet kiss on his cheek when they’d met out front, though, so Grady wasn’t going to worry about it until he had some reason to think he should.

He had enough on his plate at the moment.

Daphne Levigne, Grady’s new lawyer, looked between the three of them, the files on her desk, and her laptop, occasionally pausing to type something or shuffle some papers. Grady and Colton had given her an exhaustive rundown on the last two years of Colton’s life and the McDonnough family in general,including Sam’s recent arrival. Daphne had typed notes while recording it all, stopping them to ask questions as needed.

Grady sincerely hoped she was damn good at her job.

“I filed the paperwork for custody of Colton yesterday, which means your biological family has been notified by now.” She frowned at her screen. “To be honest, I expected to hear from them immediately.”

Colton let out a breath. “That’s good, though, right? If they don’t have any interest?”

Daphne gave Colton a long look while Jack gripped Grady’s arm, and Grady put his hand over Jack’s. Grady didn’twanthis asshole family to fight them on this, but how could it ever be good when parents didn’t care?

“For our purposes, yes. This is probably a good sign,” Daphne agreed.

“Great,” Colton said, sucking down a huge gulp of coffee.

Daphne typed something, then turned to Jack and Grady. Her eyes dropped briefly to their clasped hands. “Okay, so the last set of questions I have are about your personal life.”

Grady tried not to look like a deer in headlights. “Okay.”

Most of the questions were about his job and savings and schedule. Jack assured Daphne they were searching for a new place to live that would fit everyone.

“That’s great. Now, when you saywe,Jack, does that mean…?”

“Oh, no, I don’t live with them,” Jack explained. “I’m just helping with the search.”

“But youaredating?” Daphne asked with another glance at their hands.

Colton grinned around his straw and Grady was relieved he was too busy mainlining sugar to offer any commentary.

“We are. Jack’s my boyfriend.” Grady loved being able to say that. It was never going to get old.

Daphne’s fingers hovered above the keyboard, and while her face gave nothing away, Grady felt a tickle of nerves. He straightened. “Is that…a problem?”

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