Page 33 of The Long Game

Barnaby’s eyes almost bugged out of his head, then he saw his boyfriend’s expression and dissolved into a fit of giggles.

Honest to god, the two of them couldn’t, collectively, squeeze out a drop of chill if their lives depended on it.

Travis arched an eyebrow, struggling to look stern in the face of Barnaby snort-giggling.

Finally, Barnaby gasped out, “While we were split up. He let me cry all over him and held me while I slept. It might have been the only decent kip I had the entire time we were apart.”

Jack felt slightly mollified. He’d known at the time that holding Barnaby would help and he figured Grady had come to a similar conclusion last night and that was why and how they’d ended up spooned together.

The fact that it didn’tfeelat all the same didn’t matter.

Travis pulled Barnaby into a long hug while they murmured quietly to each other. Jack had to look away because seeing them together made him ache for what he couldn’t have. What he hadn’t dared think about having until these two hot disastersshowed him how it could be done. Until Barnaby, damn him, had the nerve to ask why Jack wasn’t allowed to be happy, too.

Grady started cleaning up the mess their friends had forgotten in favor of canoodling and Jack jumped in to help. Once they finished loading the dishwasher, they said goodnight and walked together down the stairs to Grady’s apartment. Jack was very aware Grady had never answered his question.

When Grady hesitated at his door, Jack’s pulse leaped, but he quashed the hopeful excitement. “How are you doing?” he asked instead.

Grady rubbed a hand through his hair. “I’m okay. I’ll feel better when I talk to Colton Michael again.”

“You can do that tomorrow.”

Grady studied Jack’s face, then asked, “Would you come with me?”

Jack smiled. “Of course. If you want me there, I’m there.”

Grady grimaced. “Are you sure?”

“Look, if you’re willing to drive my mother to the end of the block, let alone all the way over to the medical center, I can sure as hell help you figure out this whole Colton situation.”

Grady chuckled. “Thanks.”

What Jack wanted to say was,anything for you, but that felt dangerous. Instead, he pulled Grady into a hug.

Which, it turned out, was not only equally dangerous, but had the added benefit of being awkward as hell. Jack couldn’t figure out where to put his hands or his feet—while being sure to keep his dick eight inches away—but he tried his best and squeezed Grady to his chest.

Grady was as stiff as a board, which dialed the awkward up to eleven. Just when Jack was about to let go and call it a failed experiment, Grady melted against him and curled his long arms around Jack’s back.

“It’s going to be okay,” Jack promised recklessly.

“Thanks,” Grady murmured, his lips moving against Jack’s hair. “I…I hope so.”

Jack gave him another squeeze and then had no idea what to do next. A voice in the back of his head told him to snuggle up closer, but he knew better than to listen to that.

“Did you mean it?” Grady asked quietly.

“What? That it’s going to be okay?” He couldn’t blame Grady for having doubts.

“About spending the night,” Grady clarified.

Jack’s heart skipped a beat or four. “Of course.”

He hoped his voice hadn’t sounded as hoarse as it felt scraping out of his suddenly dry throat.

When Grady stepped back, Jack made himself let go, still prepared to turn and leave. Maybe Grady was just making sure the offer was genuine and not taking him up on it or something.

“Come on.” Grady opened his door, took Jack’s hand, and towed him into the apartment.

Jack played it cool, pretending his heart wasn’t going way too fast for the circumstances. He was the most nonchalant motherfucker ever as he followed Grady into his bedroom and took the pair of gym shorts and t-shirt Grady offered. And he was definitelynot bothered at allwhen Grady pulled off his own shirt and replaced it with a fresh soft white undershirt.

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