Page 53 of Starved

“Maybe crystal would be better,” Esme mused and attempted to hide her grin in a thoughtful frown. “Crystal candlesticks are so pretty, but it’s hard to keep all those little cuts and facets dusted and shiny.”

“Silver’s tough to keep clean, too,” Tuck pointed out helpfully. “Gotta polish them to keep the tarnish off.”

Esme grimaced. “That’s such a pain in the ass.”

“A pain in my ass, you mean,” Tuck pointed out. “You always make me do it.”

“And you hate it,” Esme reminded him. “I think crystal will be better. Dusting sucks, but not as much as polishing.”

“You’re probably right. What do you think Spence? Silver or crystal?”

“Jesus tits.” Spence pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes in an uncharacteristically dramatic display of frustration, then dropped them to glare at Tuck. “I don’t give a shit. Get them whatever you fucking want, just leave me out of it.”

“Oh, maybe brass would work,” Esme exclaimed.

“Keep it up,” Spence warned. “Just keep it up and see where it gets you.”

“You threatening my wife?” Tuck demanded as Esme dissolved into giggles beside him.

“Hell, yes.”

“Just checking,” Tuck said with a grin.

Spence tossed his napkin down in disgust. “I need new fucking friends.”

“Aw,” Esme managed between giggles. “You know I love you, Spence.”

“Then quit busting my balls.”

“But it’s so much fun,” she protested.

Colin leaned over to whisper to Evan. “Should we take pity on him?”

Evan was watching their friends with a grin. “What’d you have in mind?”

With a tremble in his belly, Colin took a deep breath and blurted out, “We could tell them we’re…dating.”

Evan turned, surprise in his eyes.

Colin shrugged. “Spence already knows, and Jude. And since we were making out on the porch, it’s a good bet Tuck and Esme have figured it out.”

Evan nodded slowly, his gaze searching Colin’s. “True.”

Colin tried a smile and found it wasn’t hard at all. “So, we’ll tell them.”

“If we can get a word in,” Evan said, jerking his chin at the trio still bickering across the table.

Colin considered them. Spence scowling, Tuck teasing, Esme laughing. “I know how to get their attention.”

“How?”

“Like this,” Colin said and kissed him.

Evan jolted, and for a moment Colin thought he would pull away. But then the stiffness of surprise eased, and he parted his lips in welcome. With a shiver of delight, Colin accepted the unspoken invitation and deepened the kiss.

Evan tasted good, like bacon and waffles and desire, and Colin sank deeper. The giggles and chatter of their friends faded away, and for a moment, it was as though they were the only two people in the room.

Then a loud wolf whistle rent the air, followed by a cheer and raucous applause. Evan huffed out a laugh, his breath mingling with Colin’s. “Mission accomplished,” he murmured, and with a last, lingering kiss, eased back.

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