Page 38 of The Long Game

“Come live with me,” Grady said, the terrifying words easier than he’d guessed, easier than breathing in the end.

Colton frowned. “What? For how long?”

“For as long as you want. Forever, if that works.”

If Jack could counton nothing else in the universe, he could count on Grady McDonnough, action hero, doing the right thing. He wanted to hug Grady and was glad they’d started this super weird hand-holding thing so he could at least squeeze Grady’s hand to communicate his support, if not his growing—and increasingly unwieldy—affection.

Colton’s eyes darted between Grady and Jack, then narrowed. “Do you two live together?”

“No,” Jack and Grady said in unison.

Colton’s expression turned sly. “Can I live with Jack?”

“What?” Jack yelped in surprise.

Grady’s knowing look at Colton made Jack nervous. “Can I ask why you’d rather live with Jack?”

Colton shrugged. “Jack’s cool.”

Jack opened his mouth to assure Colton he was not in any way cool, and that Grady waswaycooler, when Grady, rather unhelpfully, agreed. “He is cool. But I’m concerned you want to live with him for reasons that aren’t”—Grady cleared his throat—“appropriate.”

Jack sincerely hoped Grady wasn’t suggesting what Jack feared he was suggesting.

Colton rolled his eyes. “So he’s hot. I’m not trying to make him myDaddy, for Christ’s sake.”

Jackferventlywished to be swallowed whole by the couch.

Colton gave him a pitying look. “No offense, but you’re old enough to be my father.”

“I amnot!”

Grady pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered something Jack didn’t quite catch because he was busy doing math in his head. He was thirty-seven, and Colton was sixteen, so…

“Shit. Iamold enough to be your father.”

Grady dropped his hand and arched an exasperated eyebrow at Jack. Jack resisted the urge to respond with a childishwhat?!Now probably was not the time to embark on his mid-life crisis.

Colton smirked at his cousin. “I don’t know why you’re worried about me noticing your boyfriend is a babe.” He gestured at Jack. “Likethat’sa secret.”

“What is even happening right now?” Jack asked no one in particular.

Grady, the jerk, started laughing.

Jack glared at Colton. “You are such a shit-stirrer,” he said with equal parts horror and admiration. “And I’m not his boyfriend.”

“Really?” Colton asked, dropping his gaze to their clasped hands.

“Yes,” Grady said. “Jack is just a good friend.”

Colton eyed Grady. “Is there something wrong with you?” When Grady’s eyes narrowed, Colton put up a hand in surrender. “Okay, fine. Not my business.”

“Anyway,” Jack said, determined to get the conversation back on safer ground, “I want to help you, Colton, but you’d be better off living with Grady.”

Grady smiled gratefully at Jack and Jack smiled back, squeezing Grady’s hand.

“Are you two for real?” Colton asked.

Jack was pretty sure the question was rhetorical.

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